Indian Vegetarian Holiday Recipes

Find 30+ Authentic Indian Recipes that are vegetarian (egg free too!!) for celebrating Thanksgiving, potlucks, or any holiday gatherings!

Holidays are all about spending time with family and enjoying good food. Across cultures, holidays bring people together to share meals, create memories, and enjoy traditions.

For Indians, it might be paneer tikka, pakoras, samosas, and biryani; for Americans, it could be turkey and pumpkin pie during Thanksgiving. Similarly, Italians celebrate with pasta and tiramisu, while Mexicans enjoy tamales and moles during their festivals. Every holiday revolves around special dishes that represent the culture and traditions of the people celebrating.

This collection is of simple and authentic Indian vegetarian recipes that bring amazing spicy and savory flavors to your dining table. Rich curries, flavorful rice, crispy snacks like paneer tikka, bread rolls, or desserts, this collection has something for every occasion. The recipes are simple, use easy pantry ingredients, and are perfect for both everyday meals and special celebrations.

Happy Holidays!

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30+ Holiday Recipes for Indians- Veg and Easy

Appetizers

Roasted Makhana

This elegant recipe of Roasted Makhana or Phool Makhana involves slow roasting of makhana dunked in desi ghee for a quick healthy snack! Made in two ways- salted and caramelized with sugar, these crunchy makhanas are going to be your favorite ones soon!

Tawa Paneer Tikka

Paneer Tikka is a delicious Indian appetizer known for its smoky, tangy, and spicy flavors. This recipe uses a steel tawa to cook the marinated paneer cubes for a perfect Indian starter!

Onion Fritters

These deep fried Onion Pakora are one of the popular Indian tea-time snacks that go well with homemade Green Chutney! Light and crisp, each bite of this incredibly delicious onion pakoda is indulging.

Chawal Pakoda Rice Fritters

These Rice Fritters made with leftover white rice are a comfort snack that gathers in less than 20 minutes with minimum prepping

Sweet Potato Chaat

A humble blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors, this Sweet Potato Chaat is made by slowly roasting sweet potatoes on the stovetop and topping them with curd, black pepper, green chutney, saunth, coriander leaves, and pomegranate seeds!

Makhana Chaat

This Makhana Chaat is a light and flavorful snack, perfect for Navratri. Made with roasted makhana (fox nuts or lotus seeds), this chaat is a delicious blend of crunchy makhana, Tamarind and green chutney,

Drinks

Carrot Juice

This simple and vibrant-looking Carrot Beet Ginger Juice is a blend of red carrots, fresh ginger root, and red beets flavored with fresh mint leaves. And all that sweetness in the freshly pressed juice without any added sugar!

Amla Juice

Amla juice is a tangy and healthy drink made from fresh Indian Gooseberries. These little fruits are super good for you because they give the ultimate Vitamin C boost that helps keep you healthy.

Ginger Tea

This warm and cozy Ginger Tea, made with fresh root of gingers, is a traditional refreshing drink that helps you have a bright start to your day!

Mains

Chana Masala

Made in spicy onion tomato gravy and flavored with Indian spices, this Punjabi Chana Masala Recipe is heavenly and perfect for a weeknight healthy meal!

Paneer Tikka Masala

Simmered over slow flame, tawa-fried marinated paneer cubes, dunked into spicy onion tomato gravy, this classic paneer curry goes best with paratha or naan!

Paneer Jalfrezi

This Easy Paneer Jalfrezi Recipe is a spicy flavor-packed stir fry with paneer chunks dunked in pumpkin, pepper, and tomato semi-dry curry.

Palak Chana Dal

A popular recipe from North India, this Spinach Chana Dal is a total comfort meal when teamed with jeera rice, Paratha or Chapati.

Chana Saag

Chana Saag, made with dry chickpeas and fresh leafy greens is a popular Indian recipe.

Saag Paneer

Bursting with the amazing flavors of mustard greens, spinach, and aromatic Indian spices, this Saag Paneer is a popular Indian Winter Recipe.

Poori Recipe

Made with just 3 main ingredients, this Simple Poori Recipe is perfected over the years and is an authentic Indian unleavened bread. Team it with Aloo Subji or Chickpea Curry for a hearty Indian Meal!

Roti Recipe

Roti, or Indian Chapati, is a whole wheat flour flatbread, and this is the perfect Roti Recipe to make it fluffy and soft. Just 3 ingredients and a simple process!

Lemon Rice

This Lemon Rice made in ghee is bursting with flavors of tangy lemon, curry leaves and cumin seeds along with crunchy veggies like onion and tomato! Much-loved Indian delicacy that can be teamed with curd or Sambhar curry!

Jeera Rice

This easy Jeera Rice Recipe makes perfect, non-sticky, and fluffy rice quickly in under 20 minutes!

Vegetable Rice

If you have any leftover rice and you need a perfect fail-free recipe, you must try this Indian Vegetable Rice, tempered with cumin seeds, bay leaf, and fresh veggies in Ghee.

Side Dishes

Beet Raita

This traditional Indian Beet Raita not only adds a burst of color to your plate but is a healthy side dish too!

Bathua Raita

this Bathua ka Raita is made in winters in North India as these green leafy are for warming the body.

Accompaniments

Amla Chutney

Amla Onion Chutney is a tangy and flavorful Indian dip made with raw and fresh Indian gooseberry, onion and garlic. Easy to make, this spicy green dip pairs well with snacks and meals.

Amla Pickle

This Amla Pickle recipe is flavored with Indian spices- dried red chilies, fenugreek seeds, Fennel seeds and Turmeric and is super easy recipe that helps you create a Instant Amla Achar.

Coriander Mint Chutney

Cilantro Mint Chutney is a popular Indian green dipping sauce that uses fresh cilantro, mint leaves, and green chilies. A perfect dip served with Indian snacks like onion fritters, samosa, or bread pakora!

Desserts

Suji Halwa

This melt-in mouth Mango Kesari Halwa is an Indian traditional delicacy that is flavored with fresh mango, ghee, saffron and cardamom.

Roasted Makhana

Winters are perfect time to munch on the healthy homemade Til Ladoo. Til or sesame are nutrition-packed seeds and since they are hot in nature, it's totally fine to have them in winters.

Jaggery Rice

Jaggery Rice, or Gur Wale Chawal, or meethe chawal (also called Vella Sadam) is a classic Indian dessert that combines the natural sweetness of jaggery with aromatic basmati rice flavored with ghee, saffron, coconut flakes, fennel seeds, green cardamom, and turmeric powder.