461 Indian Pregnancy Recipes

The joy and excitement of bringing a new life into this world is not only pleasurable but also demands a lot of responsibility. You should be ready to accept it as a challenge by maintaining a healthy diet so as to nurture the new life growing within you. All that you eat before and during the pregnancy is largely responsible for not only your health, but your baby’s too! Here’s a well-researched section on vegetarian foods and recipes for a mum-to-be.

A woman who is well nourished before conception (pre-conception) begins her pregnancy with reserves of essential nutrients like protein, iron, calcium, fibre and folic acid along with other vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B Complex and vitamin C to meet the needs of a growing fetus. And she needs to continue to have a constant intake of these nutrients throughout the nine months of gestation too.

First Trimester Must-Haves

First Trimester Indian Pregnancy Recipes – Beat Nausea & Build Energy Feeling tired and queasy? These easy, light recipes help you stay nourished without upsetting your stomach.

• Ginger Tea → Soothes morning sickness instantly

  

   

• Buckwheat Dhokla → Light, high-fibre, folic acid-rich breakfast
• Vegetable Barley Soup → Hydrating + gentle on the tummy

• Oats Methi Muthia → Iron + protein in a steamed snack

→ See all First Trimester Recipes →

Top Iron-Rich Foods for Pregnancy

Iron-Rich Indian Vegetarian Recipes – Prevent Anaemia Naturally Iron is critical in pregnancy — these tasty options help boost your levels without supplements.

• Spinach Tahini Wrap → 30%+ of daily iron in one meal

  

• Palak Paneer (Restaurant Style) → Classic favourite + high iron & protein
• Anjeer & Mixed Nut Barfi → Sweet iron-rich treat

• Rajma Curry → Powerhouse of iron + protein

  

→ Explore All Iron-Rich Pregnancy Recipes →

Calcium-Packed Picks

Calcium-Rich Foods for Pregnancy – Strong Bones for Mom & Baby Calcium demand doubles during pregnancy — get it deliciously from these Indian staples.

• Herbed Paneer Paratha → 38% daily calcium in 2 parathas

• Strawberry Chickoo Shake → Creamy, natural calcium boost
• Nachni Sesame Khakhra → Ragi + sesame = calcium jackpot\

• Paneer & Tomato in Green Gravy → Tasty + calcium-rich gravy

→ See All Calcium-Rich Pregnancy Recipes →

One-Day Sample Pregnancy Meal Plan

One Simple Day of Healthy Indian Pregnancy Meals Balanced, vegetarian, and easy to prepare — perfect for busy moms-to-be.

• Early Morning: Ginger Lemon Water
• Breakfast: Oats Methi Muthia + Curd
• Mid-Morning: Sprouted Moong Salad

• Lunch: Multigrain Roti + Palak Paneer + Dal
• Evening Snack: Chaas (Buttermilk) + handful of nuts
• Dinner: Vegetable Barley Soup + Jowar Roti + Sabzi

→ More trimester-wise meal plans & full recipes →

Maharashtrian pitla | besan pitla | Maharashtrian pitla with chawal bhakri | Maharashtrian pitla provides 42% of the daily recommended intake of folic acid. 

pitla recipe | Maharashtrian pitla | besan pitla | Maharashtrian pitla with chawal bhakri | green galic pitla recipe 

Restaurant style palak paneer 

A rich and creamy North Indian dish made with fresh spinach puree and soft paneer cubes. It has a smooth texture, vibrant green color, and mildly spiced flavor just like hotel-style curry.

The different sections in this category are for the various stages of your pregnancy keeping in mind your special nutritional requirements for each trimester starting from first trimester to second trimester and finally the third trimester right till the time of lactation. As you travel through each of the 3 trimesters, some women experience certain discomforts like morning sickness, edema, acidity etc. Read ahead in the sections here to find ways and recipes to ease these situations too.

First trimester Indian pregnancy recipes

It is recommended to consume about 6-7 servings of cereals per day for first trimester Indian pregnancy recipes. Cereals provide you the necessary energy which is required in increased amounts during pregnancy. They also provide fibre which will keep constipation at bay.

1.  Buckwheat Dhoklas for breakfast | kuttu dhokla | high fibre buckwheat dhokla

2. Jowar Bajra Spring Onion Roti for Main Course

3.  Oats Methi Muthia, Bajra Carrot and Onion Uttapa

4. Vegetable Barley Soup | Indian style barley soup | healthy barley soup are a few more examples you can venture in your own kitchen to fulfil your nutritional needs.

Second trimester Indian pregnancy recipes

It is recommended to consume about 1-2 servings of pulses per day. They are vegetarian source of protein and hence should be used in combination with cereals to enhance the protein quality. Dals like mung, masoor, toovar, pulses in the form of sprouts or as whole are good to go in salads, pulao’s and sabzi’s.

See article on  second trimester Indian recipes.

three bean salad recipe | rajma, kabuli chana and rangoon na vaal salad | healthy Indian kidney beans, chick peas and broad field beans salad.

One serving of three bean salad delivers 115% folic acid, 30% vitamin B1, 27% protein, fiber 61%, Phosphorus 43%, magnesium 36%, calcium 22%, iron 20%, Vitamin C 43%  of your Recommended Dietary Allowance ( RDA).

Third trimester Indian foods, recipes

The key nutrients to be focused in the third trimester continue to be the same – energy, protein, iron, calcium, folic acid and fiber. Protein rich snack for third trimester.

lehsuni matki palak tikki recipe | healthy matki tikki for weight loss | Indian matki cutlet | matki che vade

Sit back, turn through the various sections here, clarify your doubts and ease all your nutritional worries. After all, being pregnant is one of the greatest joys of all. However remember every pregnancy is different and your gynecologist is your best companion through these precious nine months.

From breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes to snacks, salads and desserts recipes we have it all. Moreover, we have various sections of recipes that are rich in specific nutrients required in increased amounts during pregnancy like Protein, Iron, Calcium, Folic Acid etc.

Iron Rich Foods for pregnancy

Spinach Tahini Wrap spinach tahini wrap recipe | healthy spinach wrap Indian style | spinach wrap with tahini spread | healthy spinach roll | healthy recipe for pregnancy is rich in Phosphorus, Fiber, Vitamin B1 , Magnesium, Folic Acid, Calcium, Vitamin B3, Iron, Protein.

We have iron rich sweets recipe like:

1. Anjeer and Mixed Nut Barfi that is super quick to make and is also amazingly healthy.

2. Breakfast recipes like Spinach Dosa and Stuffed Bajra Roti can be relished in the mornings and give your day a healthy start.

Iron rich spinach dosa | palak dosa | keerai dosai | spinach dosa for pregnancy and kids 2 spinach dosas provide 14% of your daily iron needs.

3. Make subzi’s such as Palak, Methi and Corn Subzi for lunch and top up your iron stores and is also a rich source of other nutrients like Vitamin A, Folic Acid, Calcium all essential during pregnancy.

4. Comfort foods like Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies are great when one get those cravings in between meals and are healthier than store bought cookies because these are made with oats and whole wheat flour.

Calcium Rich Foods for pregnancy

herbed paneer paratha recipe | shepu pudina paneer paratha | healthy coriander shepu pudina paneer paratha |  2 herbed paneer parathas provides 38% calcium, 20% protein of your daily RDA.  

herbed paneer paratha recipe | shepu pudina paneer paratha | healthy coriander shepu pudina paneer paratha

1. Give a perfect start to your day with this Strawberry Chickoo Shake when you’re too tired to cook and need instant energy. It is a recipe that has natural sweetness from strawberries and is a perfect milkshake to keep heartburn at bay.

2. Here is a recipe of a creamy soup called Celery Soup to perk you up even on a gloomy day. With no corn-flour or cream added it still is creamy due to the wholesome milk which gives it a rich flavour.

3. Paneer and Tomato in Green Gravy is a sumptuous gravy and looks really tempting. A perfect combination of paneer, tomatoes and curds in green masala which makes it rich in Calcium, Beta Carotene and Phosphorus.

4. Methi Palak Dhoklas

5.  Maharashtrian Patal Bhaji

6.  Nachni Sesame Khakhra

pregnancy rotis and paratha recipes

pregnancy rotis and paratha recipes are flat Indian breads which are cooked in every households as a daily fare

1. Jowar roti | jowar bhakri | healthy jowar roti | sorghum roti is super rich in fibre, is gluten free, good for diabetics, high in magnesium and iron also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. 

2. Oats roti recipe | oats paratha | oats roti for weight loss | healthy oats roti is an easy simple recipe to make. To whole wheat flour we add oats, onions, green chillies and coriander to make the dough for oats chapatti. Then the oats chapatti is cooked on a non stick tava.

Weight loss after pregnancy

Another section that we have in our pregnancy recipes is weight loss after pregnancy.

It is necessary to shed those extra kilos that a woman gains during pregnancy. However, one should not start a weight loss program immediately after pregnancy. Since the baby is breastfeeding, you cannot compromise on your food intake by cutting down on your diet, nor can you immediately start off on rigorous exercise. The weight loss regimen must begin in a slow and phased manner. Once you start you can enjoy weight loss recipes like

1. Palak Methi Muthia

2.  Nourishing Moong Soup,

3. Dal Pandoli

4. Nourishing Barley Soup uses a combination of masoor dal along with barley i.e. a pulse with a cereal makes this soup a complete source of protein, which is otherwise lacking in a vegetarian diet. Barley is a great source of protein, iron and fibre and tastes good too, if cooked with flavourful ingredients.

FAQs

1. What should I eat in the first trimester of pregnancy? 

In the first trimester, focus on light, easy-to-digest foods to manage nausea and build nutrition. Try ginger lemon tea, buckwheat dhokla, vegetable barley soup, and oats methi muthia — all rich in folic acid, iron, and fibre. Avoid heavy, oily, or spicy meals.

2. Which Indian vegetarian foods are best for iron during pregnancy? 

Top iron-rich vegetarian options include spinach (palak) dishes like palak paneer, spinach tahini wrap, rajma curry, anjeer barfi, and stuffed bajra roti. Pair them with vitamin C sources (lemon, tomatoes) to improve absorption.

3. How can I increase calcium naturally in my pregnancy diet? 

Include paneer (cottage cheese), ragi (nachni), sesame seeds (til), low-fat curd, and almonds daily. Try herbed paneer paratha, strawberry chickoo shake, nachni sesame khakhra, or paneer in green gravy — these give you 30–40% of daily calcium needs.

4. Is it safe to eat spicy food during pregnancy in India? 

Mild spices are usually fine and help with digestion, but avoid very spicy or oily food if you have acidity or heartburn. Opt for jeera (cumin), hing (asafoetida), and ginger-based recipes — they are gentler on the stomach.

5. What are good breakfast ideas for pregnant women in India? 

Quick and healthy options: multigrain roti with paneer bhurji, oats methi muthia, sprouted moong salad, ragi porridge, or besan cheela with veggies. These provide protein, fibre, iron, and sustained energy.

6. Can I eat sweets during pregnancy? Which ones are healthy? 

Yes, in moderation! Choose nutrient-rich sweets like anjeer barfi, dates & nut laddoo, or ragi halwa instead of refined sugar sweets. They give natural iron, calcium, and energy without empty calories.

7. How to avoid constipation in pregnancy with Indian food? 

Eat high-fibre foods like whole grains (jowar, bajra, oats), fruits (papaya, guava), veggies (spinach, lauki), and plenty of fluids. Rajma, chana, and moong dal + buttermilk (chaas) help a lot. Walk daily if possible.

8. Are these recipes safe for all trimesters? 

Yes — most are balanced and vegetarian. However, in the third trimester, focus more on energy-dense foods (nuts, ghee in moderation) and avoid very heavy meals close to bedtime. Always check with your doctor for personal advice.

9. Do I need supplements if I follow these Indian pregnancy recipes? 

These recipes are nutrient-dense, but every pregnancy is different. Folic acid, iron, and calcium supplements are often recommended by doctors — use food as the base and supplements only as advised.

10. Where can I find more trimester-wise pregnancy meal plans? 

Check our full collection: First Trimester Recipes, Second Trimester, Third Trimester, and nutrient-specific sections like iron, calcium, and protein-rich recipes.

Feel free to ask more in the comments — we’re here to help you eat happy & healthy during this beautiful phase! 💕

Important Disclaimer

The recipes and nutrition advice shared on this page are based on general guidelines and traditional Indian home cooking knowledge to support a healthy pregnancy. They are not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

Every pregnancy is unique — factors like your health condition, allergies, trimester-specific needs, or any complications (e.g., gestational diabetes, high BP, thyroid issues) may require different dietary choices.

Always consult your gynecologist, obstetrician, or a qualified nutritionist before making significant changes to your diet or starting any new foods/supplements during pregnancy.

TarlaDalal.com and its team are not responsible for any adverse effects resulting from the use of these recipes or suggestions. Eat mindfully, listen to your body, and enjoy this beautiful journey with professional guidance. 💕

Enjoy our collection of  pregnancy recipes and related pregnancy articles below.

Preconception Recipes

Pregnancy Breakfast Recipes

Pregnancy Rotis, Parathas Recipes

Pregnancy Dals and Vegetables Recipes

Pregnancy Vitamin A Rich Recipes

First trimester Indian pregnancy recipes