If you love Indian food, you probably appreciate how many restaurants serve incredible vegetarian dishes. While other parts of the world struggle to make tasty vegetarian options, Indian cuisine has had this type of food for centuries.

Due to the tasty nature of Indian vegetarian dishes, you may search for a pure vegetarian restaurant, a southern Indian restaurant near me, and the best south Indian food near me. You’ll likely find Woodlands pure vegetarian Indian cuisine menus.

But what if I told you that you could make delicious pure vegetarian Indian cuisine from the comfort of your own home? It’s much easier than you might think, and you can get all the ingredients from your local Asian or Indian grocery store. Keep reading to learn about pure vegetarian Indian cuisine and several vegetarian dishes you can make in your kitchen.

What Is Pure Vegetarian Indian Cuisine?

Simply put, pure vegetarian Indian cuisine is a meal that doesn’t include meat or animal products like eggs and dairy, which includes vegan-friendly dishes. Indian cuisine has a long history of vegetarian dishes, dating back to ancient times when Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced widely in India and emphasized non-violence towards animals.

Jainism has also influenced pure vegetarian Indian cuisine. This religion doesn’t eat root vegetables like potatoes and onions because they believe it causes harm to the plants when you harvest them. As a result, many pure vegetarian Indian dishes use non-root vegetables and legumes as their main ingredients.

One of the reasons why pure vegetarian Indian cuisine is so famous is because these dishes pack strong flavor and nutrients. Spices like turmeric, ginger, cumin, and coriander add depth and warmth to the dishes. And with so many varieties of vegetables and legumes to choose from, these meals are often filled with protein and fiber.

Pure Vegetarian Indian Cuisine

Simply put, pure vegetarian Indian cuisine is a meal that doesn't include meat or animal products like eggs and dairy, which includes vegan-friendly dishes. Indian cuisine has a long history of vegetarian dishes, dating back to ancient times when Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced widely in India and emphasized non-violence towards animals.

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Prep Time 8 hrs

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 9 hrs

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup Black lentils (urad dal)
• ¼ cups Kidney beans (rajma)
• 1 Onion, diced
• 2 Tomatoes, diced
• 1 Chopped green chili
• 1 Tbsp Ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
• 1 Tbsp Garlic paste or minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp Vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 3 Cloves
• 3 Green cardamoms
• 1 Black cardamom
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon Garam masala
• ½ teaspoons Turmeric
• 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
• A pinch of nutmeg
• 3 Tbsp Butter
• ½ cups Heavy cream or coconut cream
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

 

• Put the black lentils and the kidney beans in a large pot of clean water. The water should cover the lentils and beans. Soak for at least 8-9 hours or up to 24.
• After soaking the lentils and beans, rinse them until clean and drain them.
• Add the lentils and beans to a large pressure cooker. Add 3.5 cups of water and stir well.
• Cook the lentils and beans in the pressure cooking and let the pressure cooker whistle 18-20 times.
• After 20 whistles, the lentils and beans should both be tender. If they are not, add another 0.5 cups of water and cook for five more whistles. The lentils and beans are done when they are super tender and have no resistance when you bite them.
• In a blender, puree the tomatoes until smooth.
• Add butter and heat over medium heat in a large pan.
• Add your whole spices to the pan (cumin seeds, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon stick) and let them sizzle for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
• Add the diced onions and cook until they are golden brown (about 8-10 minutes).
• Stir in the ginger, garlic, and green chili. Cook for 1-2 more minutes until fragrant.
• Add the pureed tomatoes and cook for 8-10 minutes until they are thick and reduced.
• Stir in the cooked lentils, beans, garam masala, turmeric, red chili powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until well combined.
• Stir in the cream and let simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Serve hot, garnished with cilantro and rice or naan bread.
• Enjoy!

Keyword dal makhani, northern indian, punjab, pure vegetarian

Tips & Tricks for Pure Vegetarian Indian Cuisine

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, add a little water to the dal and heat in a pan until warm. This dish also freezes well for up to 2 months.

You can also make this dish in a slow cooker. Follow steps 1-7, then transfer to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until lentils and beans are tender.

Feel free to experiment with different vegetables in this dish, like adding diced carrots or peas. You can also add more heat by adding more green or red chili powder to the dish.

This dish may take a long time to come together, but the results are worth it. If you love Dal Makhani, make large batches and freeze them to save time in the future.

Nutrition Information of Pure Vegetarian Indian Cuisine

One serving of this Dal Makhani dish is around 350 calories. It has 14 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber, making it a satisfying and nutritionally dense meal.

Conclusion

Pure vegetarian Indian cuisine offers a delicious and healthy way to enjoy plant-based meals. Dal Makhani is one of many famous dishes you can easily make at home. Give it a try and impress your friends and family with this tasty dish!