Indian
Spice, soul, and centuries of vegetarian tradition
India has one of the world's richest vegetarian culinary traditions — from street food chaat to slow-cooked dals.
About Indian vegetarian cuisine
Indian cuisine is perhaps the most naturally vegetarian-friendly of all the world's major culinary traditions. With deep roots in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist practices that celebrate ahimsa (non-violence), vegetarian cooking in India spans thousands of years and hundreds of regional styles. From the mustard-seed-laced dishes of Bengal to the coconut curries of Kerala, the lentil stews of Punjab to the fermented rice dishes of Tamil Nadu — the breadth and depth of vegetarian options is extraordinary. Vegetarians dining at Indian restaurants will typically find not just token options, but entire menus dedicated to plant-based cooking. Look for dals (lentil dishes), sabzis (vegetable curries), biryanis, dosas, and paneer dishes as reliable choices.