List of Vegetarian Menu Ideas – from Appetizer to Dessert

Our small circle of family friends back home usually hosted dinner at one or the other person’s place every few weeks.  My aunt was hosting one at her place last year and was discussing some menu ideas with me.  As I mentioned each dish, either she already made it before or she recently ate at someone else’s place.

You know, ‘what to make for dinner?’ and ‘what to cook for a party?’ are the most common questions you and I have as the master chefs of our home.  So while searching through cookbooks and websites for some dishes, I realized having a database at one place would be a good idea – at least starting from Indian food.


After typing about 20 items, reality hit me.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to list out every vegetarian dish from one region of India, let alone include the whole of Indian cuisine.  Besides, there are several websites that already have vast databases, along with Indian and International recipes, and are regularly being updated with newer ones.  There is allrecipes.com, epicurious.com, tasteofhome.com, sanjeevkapoor.com, tarladalal.com, food.about.com to name a few.  No way in this lifetime will I be able to compile all the dishes in the world, or all the possible vegetarian Indian dishes, at one place.

But I decided that as I came across something from any cuisine that sounded good enough to cook for dinner or a party, I would add to this list.  Starting from last year, here’s where I have reached.  When I come across more, I will add it here.  In the hope that the next time we’re planning a meal, we won’t get frustrated with the question ‘what to…’ – you know.

If I have the recipes on my blog, I have linked them.  If not, please do a google search for the recipe.  I might eventually upload a recipe for each item in this growing list here...hopefully in a few years.  HA!

Meanwhile - here are some vegetarian breakfast ideas for busy people.


                                       Soups                                       
Tomato Soup
Mushroom Soup
Minestrone Soup
Asparagus Soup
Corn Soup
Pumpkin Soup
Coriander and Lemon Soup
Vegetable Soup
Mulligatawny Soup


                                                 Salads                                                       

Indian style Tomato-Carrot-Cucumber-Onion Salad
Beetroot and Peanut Salad

                                          Appetizers / Chaat                                     
Pav Bhaji
Sandwiches
Baked Beans Toast
Corn Bhel
Baby Corn Fritters
Pizza Toast
Vegetable Burger
Dabeli
Dahi Vada aka Dahi Bhalla
Dhokla
Mysore Bonda
Mirchi Bhajji
Raj Kachori
Papdi Chaat
Aloo Katori Chaat
Bombay Vada Pav
Pakora assortment
Ragada Pattice
Moong Dal Vada
Frankie
Vegetable Cutlet
Vegetable Seekh Kebab
Lauki Muthia
Radish Muthia
Paneer Tikka

                                           Chutney                                             
Apple and Tomato Chutney
Tamarind-Date Chutney
Coconut Chutney
Peanut Chutney

                                         Raita                                           
Boondi Raita
Pineapple Raita
Fruit Raita
Vegetable Raita

                                      Roti, Naan, Paratha                                    
Tandoori Roti
Missi Roti
Makke Di Roti
Butter Naan
Bhatura
Laccha Paratha
Matar Stuffed Paratha
Rajma Paratha

                                    Veg Stir-Fries, Curries, Gravies                                 
Malai Kofta
Vegetable Kofta (yellow gravy)
Lauki Kofta (Bottle Gourd in Tomato Gravy)
Aloo Matar
Aloo Gobhi
Kashmiri Dum Aloo
Dahiwale Aloo (Potatoes in Yogurt Gravy)
Vegetable Jalfrezi
Mushroom Matar Makhni
Aloo Tamatar ki Sabji (Potatoes in Tomato Gravy)
Hariyale Aloo
Methi Matar Malai
Navratan Korma (red makhni gravy)
Sarson ka Saag
Gatte Ka Saag
Ker-Sangri Ki Sabji (dry, spicy version)
Tilli-Phalli ke Karele (Bitter Gourd in Sesame and Peanut Gravy Recipe)
Besanwali Mooli ki Sabji (Radish stir-fried with Chickpea Flour)
Mooli ka Saag (Radish with Greens)
Tamatar Palak ki Sabji (Tomato and Spinach Stir-fry)
Cabbage Sabji (Cabbage stir-fried with Urad Dal and Chana Dal)
Cabbage Sabji (Cabbage stir-fried with Potatoes and Peanuts)
Bharwan Bhindi (Okra stuffed with onion and tomato mixture)
Shimla Mirch aur Makai ki Sabji (Capsicum and Corn Curry)

                                      Paneer Recipes                                     
Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer Pasanda (brown gravy)
Paneer Tikka Masala
Kadhai Paneer
Matar Paneer
Palak Paneer
Shahi Paneer
Paneer Bhurji
Achaari Paneer
Paneer Kolhapuri

                                     Dal, Beans, and Lentils                                     
Dal Fry (Dal Tadka)
Dal Makhni (Maa ki Dal)
Gujrati Dal
Dal Kali Mirch (Black Pepper Dal)
Chhole
Rajma
Sindhi Kadhi
Rassam

                                       Dishes with Rice                                       
Vegetable Biryani
Vegetable Pulao
Navratan Pulao
Tawa Khichdi
Dahi Chawal
Rajasthani Biryani
Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
Mughlai Biryani
Bajre ka Khichda
Gehun ka Khichda
Khiraan
Jeera Rice
Peas Pulao
Pudina Rice
Tomato Rice


                                Indo-Chinese Cuisine                                 
Vegetable Clear Soup
Hot and Sour Soup
Sweet Corn Soup
Spring Rolls
Gold Fingers
Chinese Pav Bhaji
Chinese Bhel
Vegetable Manchurian
Gobi 65
Paneer 65
Hakka Noodles
Sweet and Sour Vegetable



                                                Desi Sweets / Desserts                                               
Mawa Barfi: Pista / Chocolate / Dry Fruit / Mango flavors
Kalakand or Milk Cake
Chawal ki Kheer (Rice Kheer)
Lauki ki Kheer (Bottle Gourd Kheer)
Peda
Anjeer Barfi
Besan ki Chakki (Barfi)
Gujiya or Chandrakala
Kaju Katli
Kaju Pista Rolls
Sabudana Kheer
Jalebi or Imarti
Malpua
Gulab Jamun
Kala Jamun
Cham Cham
Sandesh
Rajbhog
Angoor Rabdi (Angoor Malai)
Balushahi
Mawa Kachori
Ghevar
Gajar Halwa (Carrot Halwa)
Lauki Halwa
Shahi Tukda
Double ka Meetha
Pineapple Halwa
Aate ka Halwa
Suji ka Halwa
Moong Dal Halwa
Suji (Rawa) Laddu
Churma Laddu
Til ke Laddu
Nariyal ka Laddu/Barfi
Boondi
Petha
Kulfi: Pista / Chocolate / Mango / Apple
Fruit Custard
Shrikhand or Amrakhand or other flavors
Qubani ka Meetha



There's more... 

                                 Vegetarian Appetizers                              
Bruschetta
Fritters
Spring Rolls
Calzone
Stuffed Mushroom


                                     Eggless Desserts                                    
Baklava
Ice Cream
Apple Crumble aka Apple Crisp
Cookies
Fruit Tart
Cake Pops
Pie
Trifle Pudding
Tiramisu


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

Please feel free to write in your suggestions, some delicious dishes you know that are not in the list above, some amazing vegetarian food you tried in a restaurant - ANYTHING to make this list more useful for ALL OF US!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Come connect with me! on:  Facebook  |  Email  |  RSS  |  Twitter

2 comments:

  1. Its takes like forever to think about wht to cook fr a lunchoen or a dinner get toghtr...thnx a ton you made everybdy life so easy...selcetion of menu fr a party conpletes half the work....kudos...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awsmmmm....selection of menu is half work done...ths is one crazy list..and m sure i vl be less repetitive with menus now...thnx a ton fr making it easy for so many estranged lives like me...kudos

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for dropping by this blog, I appreciate your time!

Quick note - if your comment includes a link below or is a spam message, it will be deleted.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.