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    21+ Indian vegetarian dinner ideas + recipes to make at home easily

    Dec 27, 2022 by Sravanthi. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Jump to Recipe

    What to cook for dinner? Check out these Indian vegetarian dinner recipes and ideas and make your next meal effortless.

    In this post, I will show you how to make a healthy dinner in less time and enjoy a home-cooked meal with your family!

    indian dinner ideas in a collage
    Contents
    • What is the typical Indian dinner?
    • Tips to make easy dinner
    • How to use leftovers for dinner
    • Vegetarian Dinner recipes
    • Curry recipes
    • One pot meals
    • Vegetable pulao recipe
    • Recipe
    • Indian vegetarian dinner recipes - Vegetable pulao
    • PIN the recipe for later use

    What is the typical Indian dinner?

    Indian dinner varies according to the State and region. Usually, North Indians will have any Indian flatbreads like chapati, bakri, and paratha, along with curry or dal. And typical South Indians will eat rice with curry, dal, or sambar.

    Instead of rice, other grains like millet or quinoa will also make a healthy and wholesome side dish.

    Tips to make easy dinner

    • Plan the dinner before so you will only spend a little time deciding the menu.
    • Use gadgets like an Instant pot, oven, and blender to make meals in less time. 
    • I usually meal prep the beans and legumes and store them in the refrigerator. And when you are out of time, these come in handy, and you can make dinner in less time. Please check my cooking 101 recipes to cook, store and use the beans, legumes, millet, and quinoa to make your dinner.
    • Reuse the breakfast and lunch leftovers. It can be challenging to cook the exact amount of food at each meal. However, there will be leftovers, and I try to reuse them and prepare a new meal.

    How to use leftovers for dinner

    • If you have leftover oatmeal or steel-cut oats from breakfast, you can make this savory oatmeal.
    • If you have cooked millet from lunch or breakfast, you can quickly make the millet yogurt rice, millet salad, or millet stir fry.
    • If you have any leftover beans curries like chana masala or kidney beans curry, I make hummus using it and serve it with bread slices.   

    Vegetarian Dinner recipes

    All of us at our home have the same dinner. So all these dinner recipes are suitable for toddlers, kids, and adults.

    All these dinner recipes are

    • Easy to make.
    • Made from scratch.
    • Delicious and healthy at the same time.

    Curry recipes

    These vegetarian curries and dals will be great side dishes for rice, chapati, naan bread, or other Indian flatbreads.

    Saag Chana

    chana saag in a bowl
    Serve this easy, vegan, and gluten-free Indian-style curried spinach and chickpeas with either rice or any Indian flatbread, like naan bread, chapati, or paratha.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Chana Masala

    indian chickpeas curry in a bowl
    If you love Indian food, this Chana Masala would be your favorite side dish. With only pantry ingredients, make this delicious gluten-free curry for your weeknight dinner.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Vegetable chickpea curry

    coconut chickpea vegetable curry in a bowl
    Make this simple chickpea vegetable curry in a soupy coconut broth and serve it with rice or flatbread. This will be ideal for your busy weekday dinners or even relaxing weekends.
    This flavorful mixed vegetable curry recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and protein-rich.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Black beans curry

    black bean curry with rice in a plate
    Make this delicious and creamy black beans curry in under 30 minutes, and enjoy your home-cooked lunch or dinner even if you are out of time. This curried black beans recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and protein-rich.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Kidney beans curry (Rajma curry)

    bean curry with vegetables in a bowl
    Make this bean curry with veggies for your lunch or dinner, and your healthy, guilt-free meal will be ready in no time. This quick, affordable, and healthy bean curry is vegan and gluten-free.
    You can skip the veggies or use any seasonal veggies and make the nourishing curry.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Indian potato spinach curry

    spinach potato curry in a bowl
    Make this easy potato spinach curry (Aloo palak) in under 30 minutes for your lunch or dinner today. This curried potatoes and spinach is a vegan and gluten-free recipe that is healthy and delicious.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Black eyed peas curry

    black eyed peas curry in a bowl
    Are you looking for quick high protein vegetarian meals? Make this Indian black-eyed peas recipe today and enjoy this along with rice or any flatbread or as a taco filling or as a sandwich filling.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Saag tofu

    palak tofu in a bowl
    Do you want to sneak more greens into your meals? Make this easy, delicious saag tofu with simple ingredients in no time. This gluten-free and vegan saag paneer will surely please your taste buds.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Bell pepper stir fry

    bell pepper stir fry in a bowl
    Are you out of time? Then this quick veggie stir fry will be best for weeknight dinners. Make this easy bell pepper and spinach stir fry and serve with flatbread, quinoa, or rice.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Baked paneer curry

    baked paneer with veggies in a tray
    This oven-baked paneer (Indian cottage cheese) with veggies is an easy and healthy appetizer that will please everyone. This gluten-free and protein-rich baked paneer is a very versatile recipe, and you can serve this in many ways.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Indian dal

    instant pot dal with rice in a plate
    Make this easy Instant pot dal recipe with staple pantry ingredients and enjoy a relaxed meal at home in no time. This vegan and gluten-free Indian dal recipe is a keeper, as you can make any dal using this.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Red lentils curry

    instant pot masoor dal in a bowl
    Make this easy and quick Instant pot masoor dal and enjoy a nourishing meal even on busy days. This vegan and gluten-free red lentil dal will be an ideal lunch or dinner.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Lentil curry

    coconuit lentil curry in a bowl
    This Instant pot lentil curry with the goodness of spinach and coconut milk will please everyone and makes your meal healthy and delicious. Make this vegan, gluten-free lentil spinach curry with simple pantry ingredients and enjoy it with the whole family.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    One pot meals

    Usually, we will get less time to make dinners, and these one-pot meals will be handy in these cases. All these one-pot recipes are a complete meal; you need not make any other side dishes to serve them.

    Khichdi (Kitchari)

    khichdi in a plate
    This easy and comforting Kitchari is a delicious and healthy meal any day. Instead of rice, you can use other grains like millet, quinoa, and steel-cut oats and make a delightful dinner.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Chickpeas rice

    chickpeas and rice in a bowl
    One-pot rice with chickpeas, veggies, and basic spices is an ideal dinner on busy days. This vegan and the gluten-free dish is a complete meal that is flavorful and delicious.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Kidney beans pilaf

    beans and rice in a bowl
    Simple rice and beans is a comfort food. This vegan and gluten-free dish, beans pilaf, is very versatile, and you can serve it as pilaf, taco, or burrito.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Lentils and rice pilaf

    Another one-pot rice dish with brown lentils and seasonal veggies.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Millet Pongal

    Though Pongal is usually served as breakfast, this will be a healthy dinner option. And Instead of millet, you can make this Pongal with rice, quinoa, oats.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Mint pilaf

    instant pot mint pulao recipe
    This mint-flavored rice with mung sprouts, veggies, and Indian spices will please everyone. Instead of sprouts, you can use other beans like kidney beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, or chickpeas.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Tomato rice

    instant pot tomato rice in a bowl
    Are you out of veggies? Then this tomato rice is the perfect meal to make. With staple pantry ingredients, a flavorful dinner will be ready in no time.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Quinoa pilaf

    instant pot quinoa with vegetables in a plate
    This quick and healthy Indian-style quinoa pilaf will be our weekday dinner. Within 30 minutes, you can make a healthy and tasty meal at home.
    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Vegetable pulao recipe

    Recipe

    Tried this recipe?Give the rating by clicking ★ below

    Indian vegetarian dinner recipes - Vegetable pulao

    Sravanthi
    Looking for quick and easy weeknight dinners? Also, looking for healthy yet indulgent weekend dinners? Check these healthy Indian vegetarian ideas and recipes that are delicious and you can make them easily at home. Start with this super simple yet healthy Instant Pot vegetable pulao recipe!
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4
    Calories 387 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cups basmati rice
    • 2 cups cooked peas You can use any beans or chickpeas
    • 1.5 cups water
    • 1.5 cups vegetables (mixed veggies, chopped into cubes)
    • ½ cup onion (thinly sliced)
    • 1 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste optional and you can use either one also
    • ½ teaspoon red chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon garam masala powder or curry powder
    • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1.5 tablespoon oil
    • 1.5 teaspoon Salt adjust according to your taste

    Instructions
     

    • Soak the basmati rice in water for 30 minutes or less. Then, chop the veggies and keep them aside.
    • Start Instant pot in saute mode. Once it is hot, add oil to it.
    • Now add sliced onions, ginger, and garlic paste.
    • Let onions fry until they are golden brown.
    • Now add chopped veggies. I like to add veggies according to the season. You can use veggies like potatoes, carrots, beets, beans, kohlrabi, turnip, peas, cauliflower stalk, and broccoli stalks. If you use beets, the color of the pilaf will be pink.
    • Cook the veggies for a couple of minutes.
    • Add spice powders - red chili powder, garam masala powder, ground cumin, coriander, and salt. Mix everything well.
    • Add cooked beans or peas now and give a good mix of everything.
    • Now add water and taste the salt. Water should taste a little salty, as veggies and rice will absorb it.
    • Wash the rice gently 2 or 3 times to remove the starch completely. Drain the water from the rice thoroughly and add it to the Instant Pot.
    • Mix it well and close the Instant Pot with the lid.
    • Cancel saute mode. Seal the vent and select the manual or pressure cooker option. Pressure cook it for 5 minutes on HIGH pressure.
    • Once the Instant pot beeps, turn it off and quickly release the pressure after 5 minutes.
    • Take the inner pot out and let it rest for 10 minutes. Mix it well after 10 minutes; the vegetable pilaf is ready to serve! Garnish the pilaf with fresh cilantro leaves, and enjoy it hot!

    Notes

    Nutrition values are my rough estimates. Please feel free to use your calculator if you rely on them for your diet.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 387kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 14gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.02gSodium: 919mgPotassium: 595mgFiber: 12gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 3550IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    1. Laurie Rasor

      July 21, 2021 at 7:40 am

      5 stars
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    Hello, I’m Sravanthi. Here I share easy, healthy, and tasty recipes. I believe in “we are what we eat” and always try to eat homemade food. All my recipes are free from processed foods or ready-made foods and can be done easily without spending much time in the kitchen. more about me!

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