4 Delicious Vegan Choices The Next Time You're At An Indian Restaurant For Lunch
If you're heading to an Indian restaurant for lunch, and you're a vegan, then you're in luck. Indian cuisine has a lot of food options for you to consider. There are many Indian restaurants that are strictly vegetarian. However, you still have to be picky with the menu because there are dishes that are made with ghee (clarified butter). So, even if the dish does not contain cheese, it might be made with ghee or cream. To make it easy for your lunch excursion, there is a list of 4 popular vegan foods you will find at many Indian restaurants that are not made with ghee or cream.
Chana Masala
This is a very popular chickpea based dish. The chickpeas are served in a rich spicy tomato sauce. The sauce is made by mincing onions, ginger, and garlic and sautéing them in oil with turmeric, coriander, and a spice mixture called garahm masala. Crushed tomatoes are then added to the saucepan and the sauce is thickened until the tomatoes have developed a sweet flavor. The chickpeas are added toward the end so that they can absorb the flavor.
Chana masala is great when served with basmati rice. You can also get an Indian bread, such as chapati, to have alongside the dish.
Samosa
These are savory pastries that are served as an appetizer. A crisp, flaky dough is filled with a variety of different fillings, then deep fried. They are then served with mint sauce, tamarind sauce, and sometimes a mango chutney. You can get potato filled samosas, roasted onion, or lentil filled samosas. Many restaurants will offer a combo platter of vegetable samosas so that you can try all of the different fillings.
Dosa With Chutneys
If you are eating in an Indian restaurant the specializes in Southern Indian cuisine, then you will get the chance to try a dosa. These are similar to crepes. They are made with a fermented rice batter that is cooked on a griddle like a pancake. They are then filled with a bean paste or potato mixture. A dosa is served on a platter with a variety of chutneys. You will find mint chutney, tamarind chutney, a fruit-based chutney, commonly a mango or coconut, and an Indian-style pickle relish.
Sambar
Sambar is another specialty from Southern India. It's a spicy lentil stew. The stew is made by cooking potatoes, carrots and tomatoes in a broth along with cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and tamarind. The lentils are added once the vegetables are already partially cooked. The stew is often served with a side of rice.
For more information, contact Cafe13 or a similar location.
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