In this article, we’ll introduce you to a collection of 20 well-known and traditional vegan recipes from Pakistan. Lentils, beans, veggie curries, snacks, chutneys, and more are included in this collection.
One common misconception regarding Pakistani food is that it primarily consists of meat. Although the specialty meat dishes of Pakistani cuisine are well-known, there are also many vegan meals.
Here is a selection of 20 vegan recipes from Pakistan for you to try.
Although meat and dairy are prominent in Pakistani cuisine, there are also several vegan dishes. Here are some meals that are naturally vegan.
20 Incredible Vegan Recipes From Pakistan
Despite being traditionally a meat-heavy country, Pakistan has a wide variety of delicious foods that also happen to be vegan. These meals are common in Pakistan and are served in both fine dining establishments and street markets.
You won’t feel like you’re losing out on anything by eating these plant-based meals when it relates to Pakistani cuisine.
These 25 vegan Pakistani meals are from that country. The collection covers vegan Pakistani dishes, but there are also many more dishes that can be converted to veganism by changing a few ingredients.
We have separated them into four groups for simple organisation, as follows:
Quick & Easy
There are many flavorful sabzi (vegetable) plus daal (lentil) options in these quick and straightforward Pakistani vegan recipes. The majority can be prepared in even less than 30 minutes, making them ideal for weeknight meals.
Show-Stoppers
The show-stopper Pakistani vegan cuisine – here are vegetarian dishes that will dazzle! They take more time to prepare but are well worth it; they are ideal for dawaats, festive feasts, or perhaps a special family supper.
Chai Snacks
The category “Pakistani vegan chai snacks” says it all. These are recipes that are ideal for teatime munchies. Enjoy them by yourself or offer them to guests at a hi-tea dawaat or as part of Eid trolleys.
Pakistani vegan sides are the essential chutneys, pickles, dips, and sides that make a meal full and extra-special but aren’t quite a meal on their own.
This vegan dish from Pakistan is made with lobia, often known as black eyed peas, in a tomato-onion sauce. Leftovers are great with rice or quinoa for an office lunch.
The recipe includes instructions for both a pressure cooker/Instant Pot version and a stovetop version.
An easy vegan curry prepared with potato and peas is presented here. To make it even faster, add frozen peas. It can be enjoyed on its own using a spoon or accompanied with rice or roti.
This classic black gramme lentil dish from Pakistan is one of our top daal recipes. Could be eaten alongside rice or roti, but rice and pickled onions and kachumber salad on the side is our preferred method.
Options for the recipe include both stovetop and pressure cooking.
One of the fastest potato curry recipes ever, it only only 5 ingredients and can be made in under 30 minutes. When you need supper on the table right away and are stumped as to what to cook, you should make this.
We also have a dish that uses potatoes. Despite the fact that potatoes are a common ingredient in many recipes, each one has a completely unique flavour!
For instance, the aloo ki tarkari is spicy and tangy, much like the halwa puri stall’s version, which is served for weekend breakfasts. It is quite easy to prepare and tastes great with puri, paratha, or kachori.
Okra, or “bhindi” as people call it in Urdu, is the main ingredient in yet another vegan meal! Okra, thinly sliced onions, spices, and lemon juice are used in this simple meal.
Excellent with chapati. Use frozen okra instead if you can’t get fresh, which is simple to find in any Desi grocery.
This one-pot rice meal, which is akin to a pilaf, is really easy to prepare and is ideal for weekly meals that have to be done in under 30 minutes and whenever extra guests drop by. Simply serve alongside vegan yoghurt.
This vegetarian dish is a regional specialty from the Pakistani province of Sindh and is cooked with lotus root, known as bhae and bhay in Urdu, in an onion-based stew with potato and tamarind pulp.
Mashed potatoes, herbs, and spices are used to make aloo kebabs, also known as potato cutlets. They can be eaten for dinner or lunch mashed to make a sandwich, or just served plain with tomato sauce and green chutney.
Although this recipe calls for egg and breadcrumbs, you may use vegan alternatives to make it vegan.
10. Aloo Gobi Matar – A Vegetable Stew Made With Potatoes, Cauliflower, And Peas
You’ll want to get right into this vegan gravy made of potatoes, cauliflower, and peas. It’s flavorful to the brim and perfect for meatless Mondays.
Show Stoppers
11. Aloo Hari ki Sabzi – A Vegetable Curry Made With Potatoes And Spring Onions
This particular dish is created with sliced potatoes, spring onions, and spices and combines Asian and Desi flavours.
A healthier alternative to the classic crispy bhindi (okra). It is possible to serve this dry-style, crispy okra with naan, paratha, lentils, and rice. Vegan and free of gluten.
Vegetable jalfrezi is a well-known restaurant dish served in both regional and worldwide Desi restaurants. It is made with a combination of Desi spices using Asian stir-frying methods.
This colourful dish from a restaurant has a long list of wonderful ingredients, including onion, carrots, potatoes, capsicum, corn, and more. Rice should be served on the side.
One amongst our favourite foods from Pakistan is pakoras! They are the fritter in Pakistan, but instead of using a batter, they use a variety of veggies as the filling.
Crispy and crunchy, perfect for pairing with chai, particularly when it’s raining outside.
16. Chana Dal Samosa – Tasty, Crunchy Samosa With Vegetables And Chutney
Featuring chana daal and split bengal gramme, this classic qeema samosa recipe is veganized(see also: 7 Amazing Vegan Dim Sum Recipes). To enjoy them whenever you want, make doubly sure to freezer a batch.
Ideal for teatime with raita or green chutney on the side.
Our favourite Iftar snack and a must-have throughout Ramadan! Initially, the baray/lentil fritters are deep-fried. Yogurt was then added, along with salt, spices, and a sweet and sour tamarind chutney on top.
There are numerous variations of the common Pakistani food stalls snack known as chaat.
This is a quick and easy variation with onions, coriander, and green chilies serving as the supporting cast and chickpeas (aka chana) as the main ingredient.
Pakistanis love to eat this crisp, fresh vegetable salad. It is made with onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers and can be eaten alone or with curries or daal chawal.
Our masaledaar cuisine requires something mild to balance the heat, and kachumber salad fills that demand.
Final Thoughts
The dishes served in traditional Pakistani cuisine are among the most vibrant you will ever see.
This is because most dishes are enhanced with a selection of herbs and garnishes, ranging in colour from bright red to bright green, in addition to the medley of vegetables that are utilised to offer a variety of flavours to each dish.
As a result, adapting Pakistani dishes for vegans is simple; all you need to do is remember to replace the butter with oil and vegan margarine and the meats with tofu or perhaps a vegetable.
Anyone with the necessary ingredients can try to recreate these delectable meals since the cooking and preparation timeframes for the dishes range from 10 to 45 minutes.
There is a Pakistani vegan recipe for every occasion, from regular weeknight suppers to show-stopping feasts for gatherings. Here’s our list of the 20 best Pakistani vegan recipes.
There is a Pakistani vegan recipe for every occasion, from regular weeknight suppers to show-stopping feasts for gatherings. Here’s our list of the 20 best Pakistani vegan recipes.
Hi, my name is Hazel Reed, and I’m the creator of Vegan Purist. I have been a vegan purist for nearly 5 years now, but have been a vegan for over 10 years.
Now, my mission is to make sure veganism is accessible to as many people as possible. I created veganpurist.com to help you find recipes and information that can ensure you too can live an ethical, vegan lifestyle!
