Whether you've gone completely vegetarian or just want to change things up, this selection of dinner ideas will make it difficult not to eat meatless all week. The best vegetarian dinner recipes are included here, along with suggestions for easy weeknight meals and weekend classics.
If you are having dinner questions, try these delectable methods to incorporate more calcium, proteins, and other nutrients into your diet, along with some amazing tips to elevate vegetarian food to a whole new level. Fortunately for you, since veggies cook more quickly than meats, going green might really save some time as well.
Satrangi Biryani
Satrangi in Hindi means 'seven-coloured'. The colours are added in the form of many different vegetables to this biryani dish. The taste of this biryani is irresistible, and when it's packed with healthy veggies, you won't even feel bad about treating yourself. The variety of veggies that contribute many colours to the rice-based meal gives it its name.
With a tonne of bell pepper, carrot, beetroot, french beans, mint, and other aromatic spices, this recipe for biryani is really delicious. Cooking this biryani gently in an earthenware pot keeps its flavours clean. The clay pot is filled with veggies, haldi, yoghurt, cashew paste, onions, and other ingredients. The earthen pot is seal-packed with atta or roti and then put in the oven to cook further.
Mushroom Masala
For those who are unaware, mushrooms are fungi that can be eaten and used in curries and masalas. They are not considered vegetables but are protein-packed ingredients for vegetarians. The benefit of mushrooms is that they make a fantastic meat alternative. For those who prefer meat, mushrooms' chewy texture and capacity to take on the flavour of spices make them ideal.
Preparing this flavourful curry involves some initial preparation, such as making the onion paste and tomato puree. Both tasks are simple with the help of a good blender or food processor. The caramelization of the onion paste enhances the sauce, lending it a richer taste. Adding fresh curd brings a creamy texture and delightful flavour to the sauce. This versatile sauce pairs wonderfully with steamed rice, soft dinner rolls, or Indian breads like roti or paratha.
Mix-Veg Korma
Korma is a predominantly meat-based gravy by origin. The Mughal era is when korma first appeared, which explains the dish's rich flavour and texture. This dish is often made with meat cooked in yoghurt sauce. In the vegetarian version, vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, green beans, onions, and tomatoes are combined and cooked in a creamy sauce flavoured with coconut and yoghurt. Spices such as cardamom, cumin, mace, star anise, bay leaf, and more are also used to add more flavour to the dish. The perfect pairing for this yellow curry is naan.
Chickpea Cauliflower Sabzi
There will be twice as much meatless meat in this one. It may surprise many to learn that chickpeas may occasionally be used in place of meat. They are delectable substitutes because of their taste, which is smooth and somewhat sweet. Additionally, cauliflower can occasionally be used in place of meat due to its ability to absorb different flavours, just like meat, along with its texture when it's cooked.
Add the onion, garlic, and ginger for the base of the curry. After that, add some spices like cumin, chilli powder, cinnamon, black pepper, and more. Add the cauliflower and your liquids once they are aromatic. After some simmering, add the chickpeas. Just after removing it from the stove, you can add some spinach if you'd like. The heat from the curry will cause the spinach to wilt.
Rajma Masala
Kidney beans in Hindi are called rajma. But the popularity of this tasty vegetarian curry has made the recipe almost synonymous with the bean. Rajma refers to both the beans themselves and this particular recipe that uses them. The kidney beans are cooked first in this simple rajma dish, and then they are put on a sautéed foundation of onions, tomatoes, and spices. After adding a little water, the fragrant and savoury masala foundation is boiled down to a gorgeous gravy consistency and garnished with cream.
When cream is added, the rajma becomes genuinely restaurant-quality and rich enough to serve guests. It is an easy dish that isn't complex and it is hard to get it wrong. Typically prepared on the weekends, rajma masala is ideal for a Sunday dinner at home. Is there really any need for anything else when you have rice and rajma? Apart from using some naan bread to mop up the excess gravy, they taste great with simple steamed or jeera rice.
Paneer Butter Masala
This recipe for Paneer Butter Masala combines Indian cottage cheese, or paneer, with a sauce called "makhani gravy," which is made from cream, cashew, tomato puree, and spices. This delicious and well-liked vegetarian dish, often called "Paneer Makhani," is adapted from the recipe for butter chicken.
Cooking butter paneer is also quite simple. First, puree the tomatoes and onions. Afterwards, sauté cubed paneer in oil till browned. Now make a butter masala. Add some cumin seeds to a pan and sauté the onion-tomato masala with sugar, salt, and spice powders. Cook until the oil starts to separate. Place the paneer cubes in the masala and mix thoroughly. Cream, coriander, and kasuri methi leaves should be added. Warm Paneer Butter Masala is best served with roti, paratha, garlic naan, steaming basmati, jeera rice, or even pea pulao.
Bhindi Masala
Bhindi Masala is a traditional North Indian meal made with bhindi or okra. The main component of this semi-dry dish is okra pods, or "bhindi" in Hindi.
One of the easiest and most delicious dinner recipes is Bhindi Masala. For a quick dinner, this recipe just requires a few staple pantry items like onions, tomatoes, and ginger, along with spices like turmeric, chilly powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and more that cook in less than 20 minutes.
First, cook the bhindi till the sliminess is nearly completely gone. After finishing that, you have to cook the masala and then mix in the cooked bhindi. How do you serve it, exactly? Together with hot dal and roti. Naturally, though, you are free to serve it with rice, paratha, or whatever way you please.