Here are 25+ Indian Vegetarian Recipes to add to your Holi menu including a bonus Indian Cocktail recipe. These recipes include Sweets, Savory Snacks, easy lunch & dinner dishes for your Instant Pot, stove, oven or microwave.
The best part is, many of them can be done in under 30 minutes, so that you spend less time cooking, and more time enjoying the festival! Spice Cravings wishes you all a very Happy Holi!
Festival of Colors- Holi
Out of all the Indian festivals, Holi is my absolute favorite! It is the festival of colors after all! Growing up in India that was one day when everyone could officially go crazy, and get away with it 😉
I still remember how the day before Holi I used to buy every possible color powder I could find in the stores, and, get my water guns ready for the big day. I would always wake up before everyone else in the house with sheer excitement of the day ahead! Superfun!
Indian Festivals = Delicious Food
The one thing that is common in all Indian festivals is a variety of amazingly delicious food. Every region in north India has their own spin on holi delicacies.
From flavor-packed snacks to mouth-watering desserts, it is a day spent in food heaven:-) My personal favorite of all these recipes is homemade Gujiya! I can just make a meal out of it 🙂
Holi Sweets
Khoya Gujiya Recipe | Deep Fried Milk Fudge Turnovers
Deep Fried Gujiya, or Milk Fudge Turnovers, are a popular dessert made in the northern part of India around the festivals of Holi and Diwali. It is a deep-fried sweet dumpling that is made by stuffing pastry dough with sweetened milk fudge (khoya), chopped nuts and coconut flakes and is glazed with a thick sugar syrup.
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Baked Gujiya in 30 minutes | Milk Fudge Turnovers
Gujiya or Milk Fudge Turnovers are a popular Indian dessert commonly made in the northern part of India around the festivals of Holi and Diwali. Traditionally, gujiya are deep fried sweet dumplings, but in this recipe, I show you how to make baked gujiya that you will less guilty about.
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Gajar ki Burfi | Carrot Burfi | Carrot Fudge
Gajar ki Burfi can be best described as Carrot Fudge. It’s a delicious fudge-like variation of the classic Indian sweet, called Gajar ka Halwa! This healthier recipe substitutes some of the milk powder with almond flour and cuts cooking time using the instant pot pressure cooker.
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Besan Ladoo in Microwave
This is a 30-minute microwave recipe for Besan Ladoo or Laddu, which is a Indian sweet made of besan (chickpea flour or gram flour), sugar & ghee (clarified butter).
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10-Minute Coconut Ladoo | Coconut Fudge
Coconut Ladoo or Nariyal Ladoo (Laddu) is an Indian sweet that is made with dried coconut flakes, condensed or dried milk and sugar. This quick 10-minute recipe requires no baby-sitting and stirring, by using the microwave and a simple hack to keep the ladoos soft and fudgy.
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Instant Pot Carrot Halwa | Gajar ka Halwa
An easy Instant Pot recipe for Carrot Halwa, or Gajar ka Halwa, a traditional Indian dessert made with grated carrots, milk, sugar, nuts and cardamom! Includes vegan and dairy-free instructions.
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Rice Pudding | Kheer | Arroz Con Leche in Instant Pot
Here is a dump & start pressure cooker recipe for Creamy Rice Pudding! In this easy recipe, I transform rice, milk & sugar, into two amazing flavors- Indian rice pudding Kheer, or Spanish Arroz Con Leche!
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Kesar Badam Halwa | Saffron Almond Pudding
Kesar badam halwa, or saffron almond pudding, is the undisputed “king” of Indian desserts. Made using just 5-6 simple ingredients, it is one of the most delicious and decadent desserts.
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Mango Cheesecake in Instant Pot (Gluten-Free Cheesecake)
If you love mangoes and cheesecake, this gluten-free Instant Pot Mango Cheesecake will blow your mind! Sweet mango blended with a custard-like cream cheese filling and baked in a crushed pistachio & cardamom crust. YUM!
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Sooji Sheera | Semolina Indian Pudding
Sooji Sheera is an Indian dessert made by pan-roasting semolina and cooking it with milk and sugar. I add a few tablespoons of almond meal to boost the protein content and infuse a flavor of almond in this dessert.
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Pigeon Peas Dip | Matar Chaat in Instant Pot
Easy dump & start pressure cooker recipe for Matar chaat, a popular Indian pigeon peas dip! Enjoy it as a dip or as a flavorful meal with a side of Naan or Kulcha.
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No Fry Dahi Bhalla Chaat
A no-fry recipe for Dahi Bhalla chaat, a popular Indian street food. Tasty pan-fried lentil fritters are soaked in seasoned yogurt & garnished with Indian spices and chutney.
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Vegetable Puffs Recipe
Warm, flaky and crispy on the outside, buttery and delicious from within, these Vegetable Puffs are great as a tea-time snack, or, as a lunch surprise for kids! These puffs are made with a healthy assortment of vegetables tossed in an aromatic Indian masala and stuffed inside a golden-brown baked puff pastry shell.
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Oven Roasted Chickpeas
Oven Roasted Chickpeas are crispy, crunchy, tiny-little flavor bombs that are just ideal for snacking, or, as salad toppers. Try them, they are IRRESISTIBLY GOOD!
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No-Fry Onion-Spinach Pakora (Gluten-Free Indian Fritters)
Crispy, golden brown and irresistible, No-Fry Onion-Spinach Pakora or Fritters, are an extremely popular snack in Indian cuisine. They can also be combined with a yoghurt-based curry called Khadhi.
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Quinoa Veggie Burger Patties | Quinoa Veggie Tikki
Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, this is a delicious vegetarian twist to the classic hamburger: Quinoa Veggie Burger! This recipe has instant pot and stove pot variations for cooking the quinoa and uses potatoes and peas with onions and Indian spices for a tasty burger patty.
Get This RecipeEasy Instant Pot Holi Lunch Recipes
Chole Bhature | Chickpeas Curry with Fried-Puffed Bread
Chole Bhature is a popular dish from the Punjabi cuisine in Northern India, where a Chickpeas curry, called Chole (Cho-lay), is served with a puffed, deep-fried bread, called Bhatura (Buh-too-ray). Growing up, Chole-Bhature used to be our regular Sunday brunch.
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Instant Pot Punjabi Kadhi & Rice | Yogurt Curry with Rice
Punjabi Kadhi with rice is a delicious yogurt and chickpeas-flour based curry, called Kadhi, with chickpeas-flour fritters, called Pakoras, served over aromatic basmati rice! This is a one-pot Instant pot recipe for a classic Indian comfort food.
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Saag Paneer | Palak Paneer in Instant Pot
30-minute Instant Pot recipe for Palak Paneer, or Saag Paneer, a popular Indian curry made with soft paneer cubes simmered in a flavorful spinach gravy.
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Paneer Butter Masala | Paneer Makhani in Instant Pot
An easy Instant Pot pressure cooker recipe for Paneer Butter Masala, or Paneer Makhani, a popular Indian vegetarian delicacy. Made with Indian cottage cheese (paneer), simmered in tomato puree, Indian spices, and finished with a touch of heavy cream.
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Instant Pot Chana Masala Biryani | Chickpeas Biryani (Vegan)
Chana Masala Biryani or Chickpeas Biryani, is a combination of two popular Indian dishes, Chickpeas Masala Curry & Indian Rice Pilaf called Biryani! I make this vegan dish in an instant pot, which really blends the flavors together.
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Instant Pot Aloo Gobi | Indian Cauliflower and Potatoes
Aloo Gobi is a delicious vegetarian side-dish in northern-Indian cuisine, in which potato (aloo) and cauliflower (Gobi) are cooked with aromatics and seasoned with mild Indian spices. Make this vegan and gluten-free Punjabi delicacy in your Instant Pot or skillet in under 30 minutes.
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Instant Pot Chana Masala
A simple recipe for a popular Indian spiced chickpeas curry called Chana Masala. This hearty and delicious curry is made with dry or canned chickpeas, which are rich in protein and are naturally vegan & gluten free. Enjoy it over aromatic basmati rice, or pair with Naan.
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15-Minute Kadai paneer
15-Minute Kadai paneer is a delicious & elegant dish made with Paneer, peppers & onions. Seasoned with fragrant Indian spices, this is a real crowd pleaser.
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Dal Makhani in Instant Pot
This restaurant style Dal Makhani is a creamy, rich and flavor packed lentil curry made by cooking whole black lentils and kidney beans with aromatics and toasted Indian spices.
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Paneer Tikka Masala in an Instant Pot
Paneer Tikka Masala is the king of vegetarian dishes in the north-Indian cuisine. This popular Punjabi delicacy is made by simmering paneer cubes (Indian cottage cheese), in a tomato puree and onion gravy with aromatic garam masala, and is finished by adding heavy cream to give it that velvety smooth texture.
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Jal Jeera Mojito | Indian Spiced Mojito Cocktail
In this recipe, I pair the minty and spicy Indian beverage, Jal Jeera, with a classic mojito. There is nothing more refreshing than a Jal Jeera Mojito (Indian Spiced Mojito) on a hot summer day. Refreshing, chilled, minty and spicy! Yum!
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