Indian Course Recipes | Indian Vegetarian Course Recipes |

Indian cuisine is beautifully diverse, and its vast array of course-based recipes makes every meal balanced and enjoyable. The first course often includes soups and salads, which are light yet flavour-packed. Popular vegetarian soups include Tomato Shorba, Moong Dal Soup, and Palak Soup, while refreshing salads include Kachumber Salad, Sprouts Salad, and Cabbage Carrot Slaw. These dishes awaken the palate and prepare the body for the rest of the meal.

Next come starters, snacks, and side dishes, which add excitement and variety to any Indian spread. Vegetarian starters include classics like Hara Bhara Kabab, Paneer Tikka, Dahi Kebabs, and quick snacks like Masala Corn, Aloo Chaat, and Bread Rolls. Side accompaniments such as Raita, Papad, Green Chutney, and Pickles enhance flavour and texture, turning a simple meal into a feast. Every region brings its own twist, making these categories vibrant and versatile.

The main course dishes is rich and comforting, consisting of dals, sabzis, rice varieties, and rotis. Some beloved dals include Dal Tadka, Moong Dal Fry, and Panchmel Dal. Popular sabzi include Aloo Methi, Paneer Butter Masala, Baingan Bharta, and Bhindi Sabzi. To pair with these, Indian meals offer options like Jeera Rice, Veg Pulao, Lemon Rice, and breads such as Chapati, Paratha, Naan, and Thepla. The meal often ends with Indian desserts like Kheer, Gulab Jamun, Gajar Halwa, or Shrikhand, giving the perfect sweet finish to an Indian dining experience.

Indian Salad Course Recipes

Salads are a truly versatile lot! Depending on what you toss into the bowl, your salad can be a quick and easy one, a light low-cal one, a nutri-dense one, a salad that makes a meal, or more! The Beet and Garlic Salad, for example, is quick, easy and healthy, just right for a hurried day!

kachumber salad recipe | Gujarati kachumber salad | healthy kachumber salad | 

Vitamins A and lycopene from tomatoes, quercetin from onions and vitamin C from lemon juice are important antioxidants provided by this spicy kachumber. The antioxidants are extremely necessary substances needed to remove the potentially harmful substances called “free radicals” from our body. They prevent or stop cell damage in the body. They also help in enhancing your body’s immunity and ability to fight infections. 

Another easy choice is the Matki Salad With the goodness of moath beans and many a tasty ingredients, the Matki Salad is quite filling too.

matki salad recipe | healthy sprouts salad | easy sprouts salad | how to make healthy moth bean salad recipe |

Nutritious matki beans join hands with a couple of crunchy and colourful veggies to make a scrumptious matki salad. Simple spices add to the flavour of this healthy sprouts salad, while tangy lemon juice works its magic. 

whole masoor salad recipe | healthy whole red lentil Indian salad | protein rich masoor salad |

whole masoor salad is a nutritious Indian salad made from whole masoor dal (red lentils), which are rich in protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. This salad is not only healthy but also very versatile, allowing for various ingredients based on personal preference.

onion salad recipe | raw onion salad | healthy onion salad with lemon juice and green chillies | heart friendly onion salad prevent clots in the arteries | 

onion salad is a simple, tasty and quick side dish made all over India and goes well as an accompaniment with sabzis and dals. Learn how to make raw onion salad.
Although it is very easy to make and uses few common ingredients, onion salad ( Onions with Lemon Juice and Green Chillies ) is an essential part of our daily meals.

Course Recipes, Soups

Introducing a liquid component to kind of warm up your digestive system, the soup can be selected depending on the weather, the crowd, the rest of the meal, and so on. You can have a thick soup, a creamy soup, a quick soup, clear soup, chunky soups, a diet soup, and so on.

cream of tomato soup recipe | Indian style cream of tomato soup | creamy tomato soup | 

Cream of tomato soup is a tomato based thick soup which is probably the first choice as an appetizer to be had before the meal, when we go outdoors. This is a popular winter recipe in India. I love having cream of tomato soup on rainy days and it is my comfort food in soups.
 

Moong Soup | whole green moong dal soup | healthy diabetic moong soup |

This old-fashioned moong soup recipe is sure to bring back memories of momma’s loving care. Guaranteed to rejuvenate you on a tiring day, this soothing whole green moong dal soup is pressure cooked and mildly flavoured with a tempering of cumin seeds and curry leaves.
Chock-full of protein, iron and fibre, this healthy diabetic moong soup is made diabetic-friendly by using just a teaspoon of oil. Mung is rich in Folate,Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid helps your body to produce and maintain new cells, especially red blood cells.
 

vegetable manchow soup recipe | restaurant style manchow soup | roadside manchow soup |

vegetable manchow soup is an all-time favourite Indo-Chinese soup, which is sure to fire up your digestive juices and boost your spirits with its appetizing aroma and tongue-tickling flavour!

The strong accents of ginger and garlic make restaurant style manchow soup an ideal soup to serve on a damp monsoon day. While the soy sauce gives it an awesome Umami flavour, the topping of fried noodles gives vegetable manchow soup an exciting crunch and makes it a bit filling too.

low calorie spinach soup recipe | low cal healthy palak soup | quick Indian spinach soup with low fat milk

Low calorie Palak (Spinach) Indian Soups. Palak is cheap and always present in Indian kitchens. You will thoroughly enjoy this nutrient-dense, easy-to-prepare low calorie spinach soup recipe. Cooking it with low-fat milk gives it a lovely emerald green colour, which together with the aroma of sautéed onions and garlic, makes this soup irresistible! 49 calories for low cal spinach soup is especially recommended for all the weight-conscious readers.

makai shorba recipe | Indian bhutte ka shorba | creamy sweet corn soup |

The Indian bhutte ka shorba is a very creamy sweet corn soup with desi notes. Onions and carrots add volume to the soup, and also improve the texture and flavour, while a horde of spices ranging from cloves and cinnamon to coriander and cumin seeds give the shorba a very appetizing flavour and irresistible aroma.
 

lemon and coriander soup recipe | healthy lemon coriander soup | lemon coriander vitamin c rich soup |

The best way to live a fit and happy life despite this daily inconvenience, is to boost your natural immunity, and including vitamin C rich foods in your diet is one way of achieving this through healthy lemon coriander soup.

masoor dal and spinach soup recipe | Indian curry soup | healthy masoor dal, tomato and spinach soup | iron rich soup | 

Shorbas or Indian soups are characterised by their tongue-tickling flavours and rich mouth-feel too. This iron rich soup, for instance, is a dal based delight that has a luscious texture owing to the dal and spinach being blended with onions, tomatoes, etc. Both masoor dal and spinach being rich in iron, this soup helps to increase haemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen to all parts of our body.

A dash of spice powders, especially curry powder, along with a tinge of lemon, gives this Indian curry soup a really invigorating aroma and flavour, which are sure to kindle your appetite and refresh your senses!

Lemon juice being a good source of vitamin C improves the absorption of iron in this healthy masoor dal, tomato and spinach soup. Tomatoes, on the other hand, are loaded with vitamin A and vitamin C, which are potent antioxidants that rid our body of harmful free radicals. They help reduce inflammation in the body too.

Indian side dish course recipes 

A meal without accompaniments simply will not shine however good your other dishes may be! The accompaniments jazz up a meal with their varied tastes and textures. Ranging from butter, chutneys and raitas to papads and pickles, the accompaniments are usually served in small quantities but relished by all!
 

beetroot raita recipe | chukandar raita | beetroot pachadi |

beetroot raita is a colorful, vibrant raita or yogurt dip made with healthy beets, crunchy onions, bell pepper, carrots, tangy curd (yogurt) and seasonings. The lovely dark pink colored raita has a mildly sweet and tangy taste pairing nicely with most Indian meals.

fried coconut chutney | roasted coconut chutney | nariyal chutney |

It is quite an easy chutney, but has a totally different flavour from the soft fresh coconut chutney. Fried Coconut Chutney (Roasted Coconut Chutney) goes well with any South Indian tiffin, such as idlis or dosa.

green chilli thecha recipe | Maharashtrian hirvi mirchi thecha | Maharashtrian spicy chutney | 

A classic Maharashtrian accompaniment, the Green Chilli Thecha goes best with Chawal Bhakri, Whole Wheat Bhakri and Jowar Bhakri and can be made in small batches and stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. This chatpata Maharashtrian hirvi mirchi thecha is sure to add a lot of excitement to your meal!

A delectably spicy combo of green chillies, garlic, peanuts and coriander, the Green Chilli Thecha can be ground in a mixer but will taste even better if you patiently crush it in a mortal-pestle!

carrot pickle recipe | instant gajar ka achar | Gujarati, North Indian carrot pickle |

instant gajar ka achar is super quick and easy to make. Even an amateur cook cannot go wrong with this recipe. All you need to do is combine carrot, kalonji, split fenugreek seed and mustard seed, asafoetida, chili powder, turmeric powder and salt. Further, heat some mustard oil and pour over the carrot mixture. Mix well and your carrot pickle is ready to be relished! Make sure you use Indian or red carrot to prepare this pickle!

masala papad recipe | masala papad 2 ways | roasted masala papad | 

Masala Papad is deep-fried or roasted papad topped with onions, tomatoes, coriander and other ingredients. With a tantalising crunch and tongue-tickling flavour, it is one of the most popular accompaniments in India. Have a go at other papad based accompaniments too.

Indian snack course recipes |

Scrumptious to the core, snacks and starters are served before the main course, so that people get to taste a variety of flavours and textures and also engage in colourful conversation. Usually, these are sized small and handy so that diners can have small servings of several snacks. From tikkis and chaats to jar snacks and pakoras, this course is loaded with mouth-watering choices.

Punjabi samosa recipe  | authentic Punjabi samosa | Punjabi veg samosa | aloo samosa |

The traditional Punjabi Samosa is large and its filling is mainly made up of potatoes and peas. You can even add chopped cashew nuts and raisins to make them a rich and tasty snack.
For that extra zing to Punjabi veg samosa you can also add some anardaana or black salt to the filling mixture. Also, while frying Punjabi samosa adjust the flame as needed for different batches as the oil should be medium hot and do not overcrowd the pan

baked chakli recipe | low fat chakli | baked rice flour chakli | homemade rice flour chakli |

Baked chakli is quick and easy to make. We have made chakli healthier by baking it rather than frying it. This simple and delicious low fat chakli is a real treat for weight watchers. Chakli, the popular indian snack, is usually deep-fried and contains loads of calories. Here's how to make baked rice flour chakli with 1 tsp of oil to near perfection by baking them in an oven. Munch them at anytime of the day when hunger strikes.
Namkeen or dry jar snacks are a popular food item made during festive occasions like Diwali. Also, they make up for a great tea time snack or tiffin snacks. Chakli or Murukku is a famous savoury snack which you can either prepare by deep-frying or baking.

moong dal dhokla | Gujarati moong dal dhokla | steamed yellow moong dal dhokla | no fermentation moong dal dhokla | 

A wholesome batter of soaked and ground moong dal is complemented by ingredients like besan, curds and fruit salt to get the ideal texture and flavour. Topped off by an aromatic tempering, the Moong Dal Dhokla becomes a tongue-tickling snack, when matched with peppy green chutney.

paneer pakora | Punjabi style paneer pakora | paneer pakoda | how to make paneer pakora | 

Paneer pakora is a simple and easy snack. It is moist and soft on inside and crisp outside, unlike other pakora’s. paneer pakoda is made with simple and basic ingredients that are easily available in every household. We have first coated paneer in a dry powder masala which has carom seeds, chilli powder, garam masala , coriander-cumin seeds (dhania-jeera) powder, dried mango powder, (amchur)turmeric powder (haldi) and chaat masala as paneer has a bland taste. We did the process to make the dish even more flavorful and tastier

 methi makai dhebra recipe | Gujarati dhebra - tea time snack | methi makai bajra dhebra | makai na vada |

These appetizing makai na vada also has chopped fenugreek leaves and sesame seeds added into the dough which gives the dhebra a mind-blowing flavour.

makhana chaat recipe |  healthy makhana chaat |  diabetic, heart friendly chaat | lotus seed Indian snack |

Makhana chaat, a light and flavorful snack, reimagines traditional Indian street food with a focus on health and well-being. This recipe, designed to serve four, offers a guilt-free indulgence, particularly suitable for individuals managing diabetes and heart health. The star ingredient, roasted lotus seeds (makhana), provides a satisfying crunch and a wealth of nutrients, including fiber, protein, and essential minerals. These attributes contribute to blood sugar control and cardiovascular wellness, making makhana a smart choice for those seeking a wholesome snack

Indian starters course recipes | 

Indian Breakfast Recipes | Indian Breakfast course recipes |

The most important meal of the day, and one that must never be missed, is breakfast. Although breakfast is not usually a three-course meal, it is comprised of main dishes and suitable accompaniments. You can go for idli or dosa with chutney and sambhar, or parathas with curds and pickle. Vada Pav, Poha, Dhoklas… there are innumerable breakfast dishes to pick from, from different cuisines of India and the world.

Green Pea Poha is an easy and quick recipe that you can even make on busy mornings. It is enjoyed by young and old alike. On the other hand, the Cheese Paneer Paratha makes a trendy Punjabi style breakfast that is filling and easy to make too. The Palak Rava Idli is another quick breakfast recipe that you can prepare within minutes in the morning if you do a few preparations the previous night.

matar poha recipe | green pea poha | healthy matar poha | 

upma | rava upma | sooji upma | quick upma recipe | breakfast upma | 

Upma is one of the most common South Indian breakfast recipes, which is now popular all over India. rava upma is a quick preparation using common ingredients available in the Indian kitchen, and so it can be made without much ado.
breakfast upma is made by roasting rava which is then a tempering of spices along with some onions and cooked on a slow flame for 3 to 4 minutes.
You can also make quick upma recipe healthier by adding a lot of boiled vegetables like carrots, beans, potatoes, tomatoes and peas along with the semolina when cooking. This will add more fibre to sooji upma making it a lot healthier. 

idli recipe | idli batter recipe | South Indian style idli | soft idli | 

Idli is a very popular South Indian breakfast which is also a favourite Mumbai Street Food. We show you how to make idli with detailed step by step recipe on how to make the perfect idli batter.
Fluffy as cotton balls, white as the moon’ - every South Indian remembers those fond descriptions of Idli

multiflour thalipeeth recipe | healthy multigrain thalipeeth | quick mutliflour dhapate | 

multiflour thalipeeth is a healthy and delicious Indian breakfast dish made with 6 kinds of flours, fresh vegetables and flavourful spices making it delicious and more importantly nutritious

Indian lunch recipes | Indian lunch course recipes |

On most working days, lunch is a quick meal carried in a tiffin box. It comprises of one or more dishes like roti, subzi, rice and parathas. Nowadays, Buddha Bowls or Salad Lunches are also becoming popular. On special occasions though, lunch is an elaborate affair comprising several courses ranging from soups and snacks to main course dishes and desserts. Some of the main course dishes that you can serve at lunch time are.

khichdi recipe | dal khichdi | toor dal khichdi | how to make dal khichdi |

When you don’t have time to prepare a Kadhi, you can just serve toor dal khichdi with curds and papad like Fried papad, Roasted papad, Fried Khichiya Papad, Roasted Khichiya Papad, Instant Whole Wheat Masala Papad or Papad ki Churi and there you have a sumptuous dinner on the table!

Aloo Paratha | how to make aloo paratha | stuffed aloo paratha | whole wheat aloo parathas |

Luscious whole wheat aloo parathas are stuffed with a succulent mixture of mashed potatoes flavoured perkily with green chillies, onions and all. A dash of amchur powder adds to the tanginess of the stuffing, making the Aloo Parathaa really tasty and satiating dish

chilli cheese toast recipe | veg chilli cheese toast in sandwich toaster | Mumbai roadside chilli cheese toast |

Our chilli cheese toast recipe is a veg chilli cheese toast made on a sandwich toaster. On Mumbai’s streets, chilli cheese toast is an elaborate treat, of chutney-coated bread topped with a succulent mixture of cheese, capsicum and green chillies. We prefer making the veg chilli cheese toast in sandwich toaster as the result is a more crisp toast than that made on a tawa.
 

varan bhaat recipe | Maharashtrian varan bhaat | toovar dal varan | Varan Bhaat is a famous Maharashtrian dish of steaming hot rice topped with ghee and lentil curry. The toovar dal is prepared in a simple and homely manner that will appeal to everybody.

Varan Bhaat is a famous Maharashtrian dish of steaming hot rice topped with ghee and lentil curry. The toovar dal is prepared in a simple and homely manner that will appeal to everybody.

Indian dinner recipes | Indian dinner course recipes | 

On some days you have loads of time to prepare a relaxed dinner, while on others you end up coming home late from office and wish to fix a quick dinner instantly! Depending on the amount of time you have and the occasion, you can have a one-dish meal or a more elaborate one.

misal pav | maharashtrian misal pav | homemade misal pav |

One of the most famous of Maharashtrian recipes, Misal is a scrumptious cocktail of savouries and sprouts!
Wholesome and tasty sprouts are cooked with tangy tomatoes and pungent onions, not to forget the spice powders and the special coconut-onion based misal masala!

green peas ambti recipe | matar amti | matar dal amti | Maharashtrian green peas ambti | 

The authentic Maharashtrian masala of onion, coconut and host of other spices has been maintained in matar dal amti to enjoy traditional flavours. It uses a rich and spicy masala paste which will leave a taste on your taste buds that you will remember for days to come.

aloo tamatar sabzi recipe | bhandare wale aloo ki sabzi | no onion aloo sabzi | poori wale aloo ki sabzi | Uttar Pradesh sabzi |

bhandare wale aloo ki sabzi is a super easy Indian potato curry made with potatoes and tomatoes. What makes aloo tamatar sabzi special is its versatility. It’s a quick and easy dish that requires minimal ingredients, yet the balance of tangy tomatoes with mildly spiced potatoes creates a delicious, homely flavor. 
The gravy can be made thick or thin depending on your preference, making it adaptable for different accompaniments. This comforting no onion aloo sabzi is often enjoyed with puris, chapatis, or steamed steamed rice, making it a popular meal. 

baingan bharta | baingan ka bharta | roasted eggplant stir fry | aubergine bharta | 

Roasted, peeled and mashed, the brinjals transform into an aromatic ingredient perfect to create this traditional Punjabi subzi.
Cooked along with tangy tomatoes and pungent ingredients like onions, ginger and green chillies, Baingan Bharta is an accompaniment that goes equally well with rotis and rice, making you have much more of the main course!

Ghee Rice Recipe | How To Make Ghee Rice | Ghee Bhat |  Ney Choru | 

Ghee Rice, known by various names across India such as Ghee Bhat and Ney Choru, is a fragrant and flavorful rice dish cherished for its simplicity and rich taste. This aromatic preparation, often considered a staple in South Indian cuisine, showcases the nuanced taste of ghee (clarified butter) combined with a subtle blend of whole spices. Unlike more elaborate rice dishes like biryani, Ghee Rice offers a delicate and comforting experience, making it a versatile accompaniment to a wide array of curries and gravies.

french beans and carrot thoran recipe | carrots beans thoran | Kerala style carrot thoran dry sabzi |

french beans and carrot thoran recipe is a Kerala style carrot thoran dry sabzi. ‘Thoran’ is a traditional vegetable preparation that is popular in Kerala. carrots beans thoran is a dry sabzi that can also be prepared with many different veggies.
In this french beans and carrot thoran recipe, we have used a colourful combination of French beans and carrot. First, the veggies are sautéed with onions and an aromatic tempering of seeds and red chillies, and then it is perked up with a tasty mixture of coconut and other ingredients, which not only improves the taste but also gives a nice mouth-feel to the Kerala style carrot thoran dry sabzi.

dal makhani | how to make dal makhani | dhaba-style dal makhani | punjabi dal makhani |.

Dal Makhani or maa di dal, as it is popularly known in the Punjab, with its smooth velvety texture and lovely flavour is a delicacy that is very much a dish of the Punjab.

Dal Makhani is traditionally cooked on a low flame overnight and allowed to thicken. Using a pressure cooker helps cook the dal in a jiffy. Serve hot with naans

Indian dessert recipes | desset course recipes |

Punjabi besan sheera recipe |  Rajasthani besan ka sheera with milk | Uttar Pradesh  gram flour sheera |

Besan ka sheera with milk is a creamy, luscious Indian mithai with the shahi touch of almonds, pistachios and cardamom powder. Since gram flour is generally known for its thickening properties, besan sheera is very easy and quick to make.

quick gajar ka halwa recipe | gajar ka halwa recipe | gajar ka halwa in pressure cooker | carrot halwa | 

Indian sweets can be enjoyed anytime of the year, but there are a few age-old recipes that comes to life every year during festival times, like Til Laddu is a popular sweet during Makar Sankranti, lord Ganesha is worshipped during Ganesh Chaturthi lovingly with his favourite delicacies like Modak and Churma Ladoo and then there is Jalebi that is enjoyed along with fafda on Dassera day, Maharashtrians make Puran Poli for Gudi Padwa and Kaju Katli and Mawa Karanji are much sought after during Diwali.

kopra pak recipe | Gujarati topra pak | nariyal ki barfi | coconut barfi | 

kopra pak with fresh coconut is a famous Gujarati sweet which is really pleasing to the taste buds. Learn how to make kopra pak with fresh coconut .
 

Maharashtrian puran poli recipe | puran poli | Maharashtrian sweet dish |

Maharashtrian puran poli is eaten on festive occasions like Gudi Padwa and Holi where it is cooked by almost every Maharashtrian house. No festive menu in Maharashtra is complete without Maharashtrian puran poli! We show you how to make the puran poli mixture, dough for the puran poli and then how to make the Maharashtrian puran poli.

Courses, Single to 3 Courses to 5 Courses

There are different types of meals  ranging from single-course and three-course to even five-course meals! A normal day calls for a simpler meal than a special occasion. Even on a normal day, when you have a guest, your meal becomes more elaborate. So, it is entirely up to you how many courses you wish to serve at a meal, keeping in mind 6 things.

1. For breakfast, people do not normally serve soups, starters, and so on. It is just the main dishes with suitable accompaniments. But, lunch and dinner can range from single course to five courses!

2. First decide how many courses you wish to serve.

3. Once you decide that, pick the dishes for each course depending on the availability of time and help in the kitchen.

4. Your choice will also vary depending on the time of the day – whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner.

5. Dinner calls for lighter dishes compared to lunch so that they can be digested better.

6.  Sometimes, people also have high-teas or supper parties, when you can serve several courses in a relaxed fashion, spread across a couple of hours. Usually many more starters and snacks are served at such parties compared to the main course.

A sumptuous, multi-course meal not only gives diners an opportunity to enjoy good tasty food, but also lots of spicy conversations, so plan the ambience and time also accordingly!

Enjoy our course recipes, Indian course recipes, veg course recipes. and other course recipe articles below.