Top 5 Vegetarian Dishes To Try in India

We've been lucky enough to spend a considerable amount of time on the road, and one of our favourite parts of travel is trying new and delicious foods from around the world. Without a doubt, India boasts some of the most aromatic, diverse and delicious meals on Earth.

The interesting part of Indian cuisine is that much of it is vegetarian. We are typically carnivores, but in India, we've spent months on end without even having a bite of meat. India is the lowest consumer of meat products per capita in the world, so it's no surprise that there's a huge assortment of delicious vegetarian foods on the menu here.

Below are our five favorite vegetarian dishes in India.

1. Masala Dosa: This crispy, potato-stuffed, chickpeas pancake is definitely at the top of our list of vegetarian dishes to try in India. Typically a South Indian dish, Masala Dosa can be found in restaurants throughout the country and even in many parts of Southeast Asia.

The best way to eat this scrumptious snack is to break off a piece of the pancake with your hands, wrap up a small portion of the curried vegetable and potato stuffing, dip it in the accompanying sambar and pop it in your mouth! This is typically served as a breakfast or lunch meal.

Image By: Mckaysavage via Wikimedia Commons

2. Idli & Vada: These two tasty, South Indian breakfast items are almost always served together and unfortunately, they're hard to find past noon! Idli is a traditional, disk-shaped cake that is made from fermented black lentils and rice which is steamed to give the snack a fluffy, soft consistency.

Vada (pronounced wada) is a crispy South Indian doughnut made from a deep-fried batter of gram flour, mashed or diced potatoes and/or dal lentils. You may often find these served alongside a Masala Dosa, or on their own.

Image By: Harsha K R via WikiMedia Commons

3. Malai Kofta: The Indian-vegetarian version of stewed meatballs, Malai Kofta is a classic North Indian meal that finds its origins in the Mughlai cuisine. "Malai" refers to the creamy sauce and "koftas" are the deep-fried cheese and vegetable dumplings that are found floating in the rich and creamy stew.

Image By: Divya Kudua (Flickr: Malai Kofta)

4. Pav Bhaji: Kind of like an Indian sloppy joe, Pav Bhaji is traditionally a Mumbai dish, but it can now be found in many other parts of the country. The word "pav" is actually the Portuguese word for the soft, bun-like bread that is used in the preparation of the dish. This style of bread making was introduced into Mumbai's culinary scene during the brief presence of the Portuguese in India. "Bhaji" is the traditional Indian name for a vegetable dish and this particular curry is a thick and creamy stew made from mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes, onion, bell pepper and green peas.

Image By: Prasad SR via WikiMedia Commons

5. Chana Masala: Also known as chole masala or channay, this popular Punjabi dish can be found in both India and Pakistan. The main ingredient is chickpeas, but they are typically mixed with onion, chopped tomatoes, coriander seed, garlic, chillies, ginger, dried mango powder, crushed pomegranate seed and garam masala. The meal is a bit dryer than many Indian curries, but it's very aromatic and the fruity ingredients give the dish sour/citrus after-tones, which really rounds out its overall flavor.

Hungry Yet?

Just looking at all of these amazing dishes, makes me want to hop on a plane and head to India right now. Next time you're travelling in India (or are at an Indian restaurant), try some of these delicious vegetarian dishes. You may just be amazed at how filling and satisfying they can be. Also, try eating the Indian way... with your hands! It may get a bit messy, but it's fun and it's a great way to be more intimate with the food you eat. So dig in, enjoy and soak in the flavors of the delicious vegetarian Indian cuisine!