Indian Recipes You Can Adapt for Every Type of Eater

Fact checked by Mark Johnson
Last Updated: May 23, 2022

Did you know that traditional Indian food can help support your immune system, increase brain function, and may even increase your lifespan? These benefits are all huge and are significant when trying vegan lunch recipes Indian vegetarian cuisine fans may love. We looked at some of the best Middle Eastern vegan recipes to find lunch recipes Indian vegetarian fans will love. In this article, we discuss:

The best spinach recipes vegetarian Indian food fans love include various exciting options. For example, the traditional Indian dish, Palak Paneer, uses cheese but can be adjusted to use spinach instead. In addition, the tofu helps provide the missing texture you'd otherwise get from the cheese.

Spinach Meals: An Indian Favorite

The best spinach recipes vegetarian Indian food fans love include various exciting options. For example, the traditional Indian dish, Palak Paneer, uses cheese but can be adjusted to use spinach instead. In addition, the tofu helps provide the missing texture you’d otherwise get from the cheese.

  • Ingredients for this dish include onions, garlic cloves, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, red pepper flakes, curry powder, ground cumin, salt, water, spinach, tomatoes, fresh ginger root, and paneer. You can adjust these ingredients to suit your specific taste and preferences.
  • Start by heating olive oil in a skillet, adding onion, garlic, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, red pepper, curry powder, cumin, and salt. Next, add water, spinach, tomatoes, and ginger and cook for about 20 minutes. Blend this mix, brown for about five minutes, and serve over rice or naan bread.
  • This dish should take only 40 minutes to make, though can take considerably less if you prep. It is often a good idea to have these ingredients ready before you cook your lunch. Doing so can let you take these meals to your work and cook there, or prepare your meals quickly when running home for a break.

Low-Carb Indian Ideas for Vegans

If you’re starting a low carb vegetarian Indian diet, you need quick Indian vegetarian recipes that won’t take up your entire lunch hour. Cauliflower Upma is an excellent option because it’s keto-friendly and very healthy. It’s also completely vegan and uses cauliflower in exciting and fun ways.

  • Start this meal by separating your cauliflower into florets and stalks and grating the florets into a fine powder that looks a bit like rice. Next, heat coconut oil and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, ginger, green chili, and hing. Sauté for 30 seconds before adding and cooking onions.
  • Add peas, carrots, kale, and any other veggies you want to the mix and cook for two or three minutes. Simmer this mixture for 4-5 minutes, garnish with coriander, lime juice, and grated coconut. You have just made a fantastic dish you can eat for lunch and save for later if you don’t finish.
  • You can increase the ingredient amounts you use with this dish to save some for dinner. Or you can use the extra amounts to serve friends, especially if you are having an Indian lunch party. There’s nothing quite like serving this amazing dish to your vegetarian friends and seeing their eyes widen: recipes like these prove that vegan food doesn’t lack flavor!

Silken Tofu: A Great Option

When considering quick lunch ideas for Indian food, it is a wise idea to consider silken tofu recipes vegan eaters will love. Silken tofu goes very well with many fresh meals and can be a dish if you know how to prepare it. Let’s look at one great tofu recipe that may fit well into your day.

  • Start by cutting your tofu into blocks and slicing red potatoes into round shapes. Keep the skin on the potatoes. Add olive oil to a pan and simmer, adding turmeric, cumin powder, dried thyme, and Himalayan pink salt. Simmer until it browns and add onions, peas, bell peppers, potatoes, and tofu.
  • Cook this mixture while stirring it regularly to make sure the sides don’t burn. Add cumin seeds to the mix as you cook or after finishing. You can serve this dish as-is or over rice, depending on your preference. It also goes well with a nice, thick piece of naan bread.
  • Try out different flavor combinations to get that Indian touch. For example, you may add a curry mix to give your dish a more authentic flavor. You may also roast the tofu to give it the slightly burned taste you get with Indian barbecue. The options are all up to you and vary depending on your taste.

Delicious Vegan-Friendly Wraps

The best vegetarian finger foods Indian cuisine has to offer include amazing vegetarian wrap recipes Indian food fans love. These wraps include Jowar Rotis, a fantastic mix that is easy to make and takes only 30 minutes to prepare, giving you just enough time to enjoy it on your lunch break.

  • Start by combining jowar flour, whole wheat flour, carom seeds, and salt into a deep bowl and knead into a dough. Next, divide the dough into four portions and cook each on both sides to brown them. These are the wraps that you’ll fill with your delicious vegetable stuffing!
  • Heat a non-stick pan and add cauliflower and carrots. Cook for three minutes before adding cabbage, potatoes, coriander, chili powder, and salt. Simmer for three minutes and serve this stuffing directly into the wrap. You’ve just made some delicious finger food that will taste amazing without adding to your waistline.
  • You can adjust this recipe by adding whatever ingredients sound the most appealing to you. For example, some people like combining jowar wraps with saag to create a rich meal. You can also swap in tofu for other ingredients, especially if you’re trying to increase your protein levels.

FAQs

Can These Recipes Be Used for Dinner?

You can quickly adapt these Indian vegetarian recipes for dinner and make them for all types of eaters in your family, whether vegetarian, vegan, or meat eaters. You can just add a few side dishes to make them more enjoyable, such as naan bread or your favorite Indian curry.

Is Curry Vegan?

While not all curry is vegan, most Indian curry is because they don’t use meat sauce. Ensure that you pay attention to the ingredients before assuming a vegetarian curry is totally vegan.

What Is Saag?

Saag is a popular South African dish that includes spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, and broccoli spiced and served as a single dish. There are many saag recipes vegetarian eaters will love.

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Jason Hughes
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