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Celebrate Diwali with 25 delicious Northern Indian recipes, from flavorful appetizers and hearty main dishes to traditional sweets and desserts.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a time to gather with family and friends, share delicious food, and celebrate together. Food is a big part of the festivities, with everything from savory snacks and flavorful curries to traditional Indian sweets made to share with loved ones.
This collection of vegan North Indian recipes includes appetizers, curries, vegetable dishes, rice, flatbreads, and desserts, so you can put together a festive spread that everyone will enjoy! Mix and match your favorites to create a Diwali feast everyone will love!
Appetizers and Starters
Vegan Samosa Pie
Like Samosa? you need to make this Samosa pie! It's like a giant veggie samosa and has everything we love about Samosas…but comes in giant pie form! This is a great savory pie perfect for the holidays but also makes for great party food. Gluten-free and nut-free option.
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Samosa Dip (Chaat Platter)
This loaded Samosa Dip brings all the flavor of samosa chaat to a shareable party platter! Samosa-spiced potatoes, crispy chickpeas, tangy chutneys, creamy yogurt and crunchy veggies make every scoop a delicious mix of textures. No pastry or folding needed! Nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free, with 13g protein and 10g fiber per serving
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Tikki Chole (Spiced Potato Patties with Chickpea curry)
Tikki chole – crispy potato patties with easy chickpea curry – a popular Indian snack, has an absolutely amazing flavor! Serve with tamarind or cilantro chutney for even more deliciousness.
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Chilli Garlic Tofu Puff Pastry
These Indian-inspired chilli tofu puff pastry parcels are the perfect fusion appetizer for a Diwali or Indian-themed party. Or really any other party, because they are just so delicious! You all will love these Indo-Chinese Chilli Garlic Tofu in crispy parcels! Options for gluten-free and Soyfree
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Main Course and Curries
Restaurant-Style Dal Makhani
Dal Makhani is one of the most ordered Indian dish in restaurants. You can make authentic, buttery, rich dal makhani at home. It’s just as good as the restaurant version! Black gram and kidney beans are simmered in a creamy spiced sauce and is perfect for special occasions or a great dinner. With Instant Pt and Sauce Pan instructions. (gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, oil-free option)
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Punjabi Chole (North Indian Chickpea Curry)
Punjabi chole is a North Indian chickpea curry with a unique and delicious blend of flavors. In this Instant Pot Punjabi chole, the beans cook in the Instant Pot in the sauce until they melt in your mouth! Serve with rice, naan, or flatbread. Glutenfree Soyfree Nutfree
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Tofu Amritsari Masala – Spicy Smoky Creamy Tomato Sauce
Tofu Amritsari Masala. This Amritsari Sauce uses toasted cayenne and spices with a creamy tomato sauce. Add chickpeas, veggies or veggie meats for variation. Vegan Glutenfree Recipe. Can be Soyfree, Nutfree.
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Butter Tofu Paneer – Restaurant Style Tofu Butter Masala Recipe
Restaurant Style Tofu Butter Masala Recipe – Easy Indian Butter Tofu “Paneer”. Dairy-free Tofu Paneer Butter Masala. Tofu is marinated and baked then simmered in tomato ginger cashew sauce. Vegan Gluten-free Recipe.
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Saag Aloo Restaurant style
Indian Saag aloo — crispy chunks of spiced potato over a bed of absolutely flavorful spinach curry — is just a fabulous combination! This restaurant style version is deeply seasoned with incredible flavors and textures. Gluten-free soy-free nut-free
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Restaurant-Style Butter Chicken Vegan
You will love this delicious, restaurant-style butter chicken recipe! Marinated and crisped Tofu is our “chicken” in a creamy, decadent Indian butter curry sauce. Find out how to make vegan butter chicken tofu! (gluten-free with nut-free and soy-free options)
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Tofu Barra (Vegan Chicken Barra) North Indian Silky Onion Curry
This is a vegan version of chicken barra, a creamy chicken dish from North Indian Mughlai cuisine. You can find it in some restaurants in India, You’ve got to try making this for it unique flavor and texture. It has a creamy silky sauce made with crispy onion and cashews, the protein is marinated in the sauce and roasted! Gluten-free, options for soyfree and nutfree
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Restaurant Style Aloo Gobi
An easy healthy spin on restaurant-style aloo gobi that has all the flavor of the authentic Indian potato and cauliflower curry we love ordering at our favorite takeaway but is way lower in fat.
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Vegan Palak Tofu “Paneer” – Tofu in Spinach Sauce
This Vegan Palak Tofu Paneer is the easiest and the tastiest dairy-free, gluten-free Saag Tofu. Tofu in Spinach Sauce. Can be made soy-free with chickpea tofu. Ready in 20 Minutes!
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Vegan Masoor Dal Tadka Indian Split Red Lentil Dal
Restaurant-Style Masoor Dal Tadka (Indian split Red lentil Dal tempered with whole spices) is easy and to make, super comforting, creamy, and oh so flavorful! Glutenfree Soyfree nutfree coconutfree
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Bread and Rice
Spinach Potato Stuffed Naan Bread
This recipe for Vegan Stuffed Spinach Potato & Cheese Naan turns out perfect every time, without any added yeast! thanks to a mix of dairy-free yogurt and baking powder. Served brushed with garlic butter – so good! Soyfree Nutfree. Gluten-free option included. Makes 3-4 Naan
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Spinach Paratha (Spinach flatbreads)
Soft, flavorful spinach paratha is a delicious breakfast, snack or side! This North Indian-style flatbread is packed with spinach and can be stuffed with flavorful tofu filling. (nut-free with options for gluten-free and soy-free)
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Vegan Gluten-free Naan Almond flour flatbread
Gluten free Almond Flour Naan – a delicious Indian flatbread that uses low carb almond flour and pairs perfectly with all Indian food, also a great side to soup or salad. Grainfree Yeast-free Soyfree vegan Indian bread recipe. 14g carbs per naan . No rolling out and kneading the dough needed
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Instant Pot Mushroom Biryani
Delicious vegan mushroom biryani in the Instant Pot. Mushroom biryani is an amazing vegan version of chicken biryani made with meaty mushrooms, fluffy basmati rice, and flavorful spices. Vegan Gluten-free soyfree recipe. Nutfree option. Stove top instructions included
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Sweets and Desserts
Indian Vegan Gulab Jamun Donuts Dry Mix
Learn how to make Vegan Gulab Jamun using my simple dry mix. this festive Indian sweet consists of soft cardamom-scented donut balls soaked in rose water syrup. Dairy-free and with gluten-free option! Makes 22 to 26 balls
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Vegan Rasmalai Tres Leches Cake
This Vegan Ras Malai Tres Leches Cake is the ultimate make-ahead dessert! A light sponge soaked in cardamom and saffron-scented nut milk. Dairyfree Eggless. It only gets better with time, so perfect for holidays, and Indian festive season!
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Instant Pot Gajar Halwa – Indian Carrot Halwa Vegan Dairyfree Recipe
Instant Pot Gajar Halwa / Gajrela – Vegan Carrot Halwa Recipe. Carrot Halwa is an Indian dessert, a flourless Carrot Cake Crumble/pudding that is spiced with cardamom and served during festivals. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Dairyfree Recipe.
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Kheer Ladoo (Indian Rice Pudding Truffles)
Creamy rich Indian rice pudding rolled into balls and coated in various toppings to make a perfect dessert that’s a hit at any dinner party. These kheer ladoos (rice pudding truffles) have an amazing texture and cardamom flavor! (gluten-free and soy-free)
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Kulfi Tiramisu (Indian Cardamom Pistachio Tiramisu)
Kulfi Tiramisu – this Indian tiramisu fusion combines creamy, cardamom-scented kulfi with coffee infused cake to create a showstopping, layered dessert. It’s absolutely epic!
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Shahi Tukda (Crisp syrup soaked toasts with Rabri pudding)
Try Shahi Tukda – a royal dessert that’s easy to make! Baked buttered slices of bread soaked in cardamom-scented syrup and topped with custard.
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Vegan Malai Burfi (Milk Cake)- Indian Fudge Bars
Vegan Malai Burfi (Milk Cake)- Indian Fudge Bars. Dairy free Burfi For Indian Festivals. Creamy Cardamom Fudge. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Recipe. Just 8 ingredients. Make 16 small bars
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