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Traditional recipes, such as Bhindi Masala (Stir-Fried Okra) and Eggplant Bhartha (Roasted Eggplant), alongside modern interpretations like Tandoori Tofu and No-Churn Ice Cream with Cardamom and Saffron, will enhance your celebration. Please note that all recipes in this collection are vegetarian, as many people abstain from meat during these auspicious days.
01of 15Chhole (Chickpea Curry)View RecipeThis healthy Indian recipe is a flavorful chickpea curry that you can make in just 20 minutes. Also called chana masala, this dish is a comforting and delicious dinner.
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Chhole (Chickpea Curry)
View Recipe
This healthy Indian recipe is a flavorful chickpea curry that you can make in just 20 minutes. Also called chana masala, this dish is a comforting and delicious dinner.
02of 15Indian-Spiced Kale & ChickpeasView RecipeAn aromatic blend of spices makes this dish a winner. Serve with steamed brown basmati rice for a substantial vegetarian meal.
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Indian-Spiced Kale & Chickpeas
An aromatic blend of spices makes this dish a winner. Serve with steamed brown basmati rice for a substantial vegetarian meal.
03of 15Baingan Bharta (Punjabi Spicy Roasted Eggplant)View RecipeThis spicy eggplant dish, popular in India and Pakistan, can be eaten hot or at room temperature. Serve with brown basmati rice and naan. If you have any leftovers, save them; the dish tastes better on day two when all the flavors have had a chance to meld.
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Baingan Bharta (Punjabi Spicy Roasted Eggplant)
This spicy eggplant dish, popular in India and Pakistan, can be eaten hot or at room temperature. Serve with brown basmati rice and naan. If you have any leftovers, save them; the dish tastes better on day two when all the flavors have had a chance to meld.
04of 15Bhindi Masala (Okra Fry)View RecipeTo avoid the sliminess that turns many people off okra, Indians cook it over high heat in a lot of oil. In this healthy okra recipe, we get similar results with less oil using a nonstick pan. For an authentic taste, use a hot, smoky Indian chili powder, such as reshampatti. Serve with brown basmati rice and yogurt.
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Bhindi Masala (Okra Fry)
To avoid the sliminess that turns many people off okra, Indians cook it over high heat in a lot of oil. In this healthy okra recipe, we get similar results with less oil using a nonstick pan. For an authentic taste, use a hot, smoky Indian chili powder, such as reshampatti. Serve with brown basmati rice and yogurt.
05of 15Cauliflower Tikka Masala with ChickpeasView RecipeIn this vegetarian riff on a popular Indian dish, we swap in cauliflower and chickpeas for the chicken in tikka masala. The cauliflower’s nooks and crannies are particularly good at soaking up all the intense flavors of the sauce. Serve over rice for an easy healthy dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes.
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Cauliflower Tikka Masala with Chickpeas
In this vegetarian riff on a popular Indian dish, we swap in cauliflower and chickpeas for the chicken in tikka masala. The cauliflower’s nooks and crannies are particularly good at soaking up all the intense flavors of the sauce. Serve over rice for an easy healthy dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes.
06of 15Chickpea & Potato CurryView RecipeThis fast Indian-style curry comes together with ingredients you most likely have on hand, like frozen peas and canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Plus, using these spices shows how simple it is to make a curry sauce for an easy vegetarian recipe. Serve with whole-wheat naan to sop it all up.
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Chickpea & Potato Curry
This fast Indian-style curry comes together with ingredients you most likely have on hand, like frozen peas and canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Plus, using these spices shows how simple it is to make a curry sauce for an easy vegetarian recipe. Serve with whole-wheat naan to sop it all up.
07of 15Indian Mango DalView RecipeMore than 60 different types of dal (or dhal) are made across India. The basic dish contains lentils or other legumes flavored with aromatics and spices. Here, yellow lentils (toor dal) and mango are cooked in a more traditionally Southern India style—more souplike. Both ripe and underripe mango will work: Less-ripe mango imparts a tart flavor and holds its shape, while riper mango breaks down more during cooking and gives the dish a sweeter taste. Serve over basmati rice or with roasted chicken.
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Indian Mango Dal
More than 60 different types of dal (or dhal) are made across India. The basic dish contains lentils or other legumes flavored with aromatics and spices. Here, yellow lentils (toor dal) and mango are cooked in a more traditionally Southern India style—more souplike. Both ripe and underripe mango will work: Less-ripe mango imparts a tart flavor and holds its shape, while riper mango breaks down more during cooking and gives the dish a sweeter taste. Serve over basmati rice or with roasted chicken.
08of 15Slow-Cooker Dal MakhaniView RecipeUsing a slow cooker for this dal curry recipe is brilliant—the lentils cook until they’re perfectly tender. For the creamiest results, use whole urad dal (versus split), which you can get online or at Indian markets. This particular bean breaks down beautifully, giving the dish its rich, creamy texture. For a stovetop variation, see below. Serve it over rice with Indian-style green chutney and a side of plain yogurt.
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Slow-Cooker Dal Makhani
Using a slow cooker for this dal curry recipe is brilliant—the lentils cook until they’re perfectly tender. For the creamiest results, use whole urad dal (versus split), which you can get online or at Indian markets. This particular bean breaks down beautifully, giving the dish its rich, creamy texture. For a stovetop variation, see below. Serve it over rice with Indian-style green chutney and a side of plain yogurt.
09of 15Daal Tarka (Spiced Lentils)View RecipeJenny HuangVariations of daal (or dal) and tarka (or tadka)—a mixture of aromatics, vegetables and spices spooned over the top of the daal for extra flavor—are served throughout the Indian subcontinent and parts of southeast Asia. This version is served at Nepali Mountain Kitchen, part of the Mango House community in Aurora, Colorado. Give the dish a generous stir before digging in to ensure the tarka gets thoroughly incorporated.
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Daal Tarka (Spiced Lentils)
Jenny Huang
Variations of daal (or dal) and tarka (or tadka)—a mixture of aromatics, vegetables and spices spooned over the top of the daal for extra flavor—are served throughout the Indian subcontinent and parts of southeast Asia. This version is served at Nepali Mountain Kitchen, part of the Mango House community in Aurora, Colorado. Give the dish a generous stir before digging in to ensure the tarka gets thoroughly incorporated.
10of 15Chitrannam (Lemon Rice)View RecipeUse up leftover rice and make it into something delicious with this healthy Indian recipe. Because cooked rice refrigerated overnight dries out a little, it’s better suited to absorb all the flavors in this dish without getting sticky or mushy. In a pinch, use frozen or shelf-stable precooked basmati rice, available in many stores. Urad dal and roasted chana dal add texture and authenticity to the rice—look for both types of dal in Indian markets or online.
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Chitrannam (Lemon Rice)
Use up leftover rice and make it into something delicious with this healthy Indian recipe. Because cooked rice refrigerated overnight dries out a little, it’s better suited to absorb all the flavors in this dish without getting sticky or mushy. In a pinch, use frozen or shelf-stable precooked basmati rice, available in many stores. Urad dal and roasted chana dal add texture and authenticity to the rice—look for both types of dal in Indian markets or online.
11of 15Spelt Indian FlatbreadView RecipeThis healthy, whole-grain Indian flatbread recipe, known as chapati, is a breeze to throw together at a moment’s notice and is ideal for scooping up dal and other thick soups. Spelt is a whole grain related to wheat that adds a nutty flavor, but whole-wheat flour works well too.
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Spelt Indian Flatbread
This healthy, whole-grain Indian flatbread recipe, known as chapati, is a breeze to throw together at a moment’s notice and is ideal for scooping up dal and other thick soups. Spelt is a whole grain related to wheat that adds a nutty flavor, but whole-wheat flour works well too.
12of 15Kothmiri Chatni (Cilantro Chutney)View RecipeIndian chutneys (or chatnis) are savory, vibrant and exploding with flavor, with a thin, saucy consistency. In this green chutney recipe, cilantro creates the basic sauce that serves as a condiment for many Indian snacks, street foods and sandwiches. The serrano chile gives it quite a blast of heat, so use less if you like a tamer sauce. Try this chutney in place of your favorite hot sauce.
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Kothmiri Chatni (Cilantro Chutney)
Indian chutneys (or chatnis) are savory, vibrant and exploding with flavor, with a thin, saucy consistency. In this green chutney recipe, cilantro creates the basic sauce that serves as a condiment for many Indian snacks, street foods and sandwiches. The serrano chile gives it quite a blast of heat, so use less if you like a tamer sauce. Try this chutney in place of your favorite hot sauce.
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Mango Lassi Pie
14of 15Almond BurfiView RecipeBurfi is an Indian sweet treat often served and gifted during Diwali and other festivals—or whenever one has a craving. Usually made with either condensed milk or ghee (or both), it’s a decadent sweet that’s not quite a cookie, not quite a candy, but something in between. It’s often described as a kind of fudge. Throughout South Asia and the diaspora, different families have their own unique ways of making it, and that’s the beauty: From the size and shape to the toppings and mix-in spices, everything can be customized. Even chocolate burfi is a thing! This version uses nonfat dry milk powder, almond flour and less sugar than most other burfi recipes for sweet satisfaction that’s just a bit lighter, so you can feel good about serving up seconds.
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Almond Burfi
Burfi is an Indian sweet treat often served and gifted during Diwali and other festivals—or whenever one has a craving. Usually made with either condensed milk or ghee (or both), it’s a decadent sweet that’s not quite a cookie, not quite a candy, but something in between. It’s often described as a kind of fudge. Throughout South Asia and the diaspora, different families have their own unique ways of making it, and that’s the beauty: From the size and shape to the toppings and mix-in spices, everything can be customized. Even chocolate burfi is a thing! This version uses nonfat dry milk powder, almond flour and less sugar than most other burfi recipes for sweet satisfaction that’s just a bit lighter, so you can feel good about serving up seconds.
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Cashew-Cardamom Shortbread
Pooja Makhijani
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