A roundup of 9 delicious Indian recipes! From kofta to biryani to vegetables, there is something for every person and every occasion. I dare you to ditch the takeout and see what you can do to build layers of flavor at home. Make it a dinner party if you’d like! I have a lot more Indian recipes than what is listed here, but I’m making it a point to only pick my favorites. These are the recipes that are so perfect that they’ve earned their spot in my family forever.
I’ve been making Indian food for a couple of years now and quarantine really gave me a chance to learn a lot from my mom! There is still a lot to learn because Indian cuisine has a lot of dishes and cooking styles, but I think these recipes are a wonderful way to start planning your next Indian feast. This roundup mostly includes the stars of the table, with a couple of fun extras. They are perfect for a nice weeknight dinner or a special occasion!
Jackfruit Kofta
This is hands down my proudest recipe development moment (ok it might be tied with my vegan rasmalai). My dad looooves jackfruit, so we’ve had this one his birthday for the last couple years. Kofta usually includes some kind of meat or paneer balls, but jackfruit is perfect for it. This recipe just requires canned jackfruit, so if you’re unfamiliar with jackfruit, you need to get your hands on it!
Bhindi Bhujia (Okra)
Pictured here are my mom’s hands around the bhindi bhujia she taught me to make. I think I will always say my favorite vegetable is bhindi. It evokes so much nostalgia, yet none at all because I eat it so often. If you don’t like okra because it’s slimy, this recipe is perfect for you! Its flavor comes from whole spices, but it still comes together fast and is perfect with some roti.
Chole (Chana Masala)
I love everything in this roundup, but if someone were to ask me my number one favorite food, this is it. Chickpeas get cooked in a deep, flavorful, spicy gravy (hint: black tea is involved) and I could eat it for days on end. There are actually a lot of ways to make chole, but this one is my personal favorite. It’s a little more complex than the most simple kind, but it’s so worth it and great for meal prep.
Jackfruit Biryani
Jackfruit makes a return in this biryani, which is the best vegan biryani I’ve ever had and a family favorite! Jackfruit is what I would consider the best plant-based meat substitute for texture and flavor purposes. And biryani always includes layered saffron-infused basmati rice, so you know it’s good.
Vegan Palak Paneer (Palak Tofu)
This one’s a staple! My mom is a huge fan of paneer but she’s been making and enjoying the tofu version ever since I went vegan. Every time we get one of those big Costco bags of spinach (so every 2 weeks or so), this is what I eat twice in a row. It packs a lot of spinach in just one dish and is the best way to eat spinach in my opinion!
Vegan Shahi Paneer (Shahi Tofu)
Shahi paneer was my favorite after school lunch. (I didn’t have after school snacks, only second lunches.) It’s a rich dish that meets the stereotype of creamy Indian food! My vegan version is creamy with cashews and yogurt, so it leaves you feeling ready to take on the world.
Pav Bhaji
This is hands down my favorite way to eat large volumes of vegetables. It runs deep with flavor and while the traditional version is most often made with only potatoes, my mom likes to do it with a variety of vegetables. At the end, you can’t even tell what went into it. All I know is it’s delicious and I like it more with sourdough, which is not traditional at all. Eat it with pav (fluffy dinner rolls) if you’d like!
Samosas
Not gonna lie, these are a bit of a project but SO worth it if you want to bring out your inner Indian street food vendor. I was almost one for Halloween but was convinced otherwise (maybe next year though). There is an air-fried option and fried option! If you already love samosas, just wait til you have one of these.
Instant Garlic Naan
Because we have to have a flatbread to pair all this with and what better than a fluffy naan that takes less than 30 minutes? I love pairing this most with those thick, creamy gravies, like the jackfruit kofta and vegan shahi paneer linked on this post!
BONUS: Desserts
If you would like to properly round out your dinner party of delicious Indian recipes, here are a couple of sweets I love. I’ve never been a huge fan of Indian sweets and still need to give them a second chance, but I did enjoy the milkier sweets. So here are plant-based versions of kheer and rasmalai!
Hope you enjoy these delicious Indian recipes and please let me know if you try any of them; I love seeing your creations! You can comment on this post or tag me on Instagram @upbeetanisha.
