Main course meals are had during lunch and dinners.Recipes Though we can have a light dinner, but one should always have a proper breakfast and a good lunch. I am sharing a collection of some vegetarian recipes that can be made for either lunch or dinner.
The idea is not just to share the recipe, but you will also get ideas based on the collection and can try or make some other recipe not posted here.
I have included both North Indian and South Indian dinner recipes. In North India usually different types of sabzi or gravy recipes are made for dinner and served with roti or phulka. However rajma chawal and kadhi chawal are two popular rice recipes that are made for dinner.
For some recipes like rajma masala or chole masala, you do need to do some prep work beforehand like soaking the kidney beans or chickpeas.
For making dishes like kadhi or curd rice, you need to set the curd overnight before preparing.
Indian Dinner Recipes & Ideas
There are many varieties of biryani made in India. A true Veg Biryani is always prepared with slow cooking on dum. This cooking on dum gives the biriyani its uniqueness and originality, and that is how the biryani has the beautiful medley of aromas, flavors and tastes caused by the blending of the ingredients used in making it.
Rajma Masala is one of the regulars at any Punjabi house for lunch or dinner. Mostly, it’s made on weekends and the combination of a kidney beans curry with steamed rice (chawal) is quite famous. This Rajma recipe is a mildly spiced, creamy, and flavorful Punjabi curry made with kidney beans, onions, tomatoes, and aromatic spices. It is my mother’s recipe of a truly restaurant style Punjabi Rajma Masala.
There are many ways chickpeas curries are made in regional Indian cuisine. This Chole Masala is made with freshly powdered spices, onions, tomatoes and herbs, making the chickpea masala taste like the ones you get on the streets of Delhi. This dish can be relished with a variety of Indian breads like poori, bhatura, roti, paratha, naan, kulcha or even rice.
Paneer Butter Masala is a traditional North Indian dish featuring a rich, creamy gravy made from tomatoes, butter, and flavorful spices. Soft paneer cubes are simmered in this luscious sauce, making it a favorite choice for pairing with naan or rice. This is an easy, quick and delicious recipe of one of the most popular cottage cheese curries served in most Indian restaurants and is also made for special occasions.
There are many recipes made with chana dal all over India. In Bengal, the combination of cholar dal with luchi is very popular. In South India, chana dal is used in making many delicious recipes like dal vada or chana dal payasam. Here is a Punjabi-style Chana Dal recipe that is tempered and flavored with Indian spices.
Easiest one-pot dinners for lazy cooks
When it comes to weeknights, there are two things we sometimes just don’t have the energy for: cooking dinner and cleaning up after dinner. It’s hard to avoid these two tasks if you want a home-cooked meal, so to lessen that midweek chaos, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite one-pot dinners that are super easy, cut down on washing up… and are delicious too, of course!
One-pan creamy chicken and bacon
For an easy mid-week dinner try this delicious all-in-one creamy chicken and bacon.
One-pot Italian chicken
I grew up on creamy dishes, with them being served probably twice a week. Whether it be stroganoff or a chicken casserole, they nestled in nicely with the spaghetti bolognaise and a roast. It seems that many of you, like me, continue
One-pot lasagne soup
Craving lasagne but can’t be bothered faffing about with all the pots and pans? We took the delicious flavour of lasagne and turned it into a fuss-free one-pot soup. This clever recipe has all the flavour and comfort of a classic lasagne –
Chana Masala Recipes
Chana Masala is a popular North Indian curry made with cooked chickpeas simmered in a tangy onion tomato gravy with ginger, garlic and aromatic Indian spices. This Punjabi-style recipe makes a moderately spiced curry with tender chickpeas that absorb all the flavors of the masala as they simmer. It is naturally vegan and gluten-free and pairs well with roti, bhatura, poori or steamed rice. Follow my step-by-step photos to make this classic chana curry at home.
About Chana Masala Recipes
North Indian Punjabi cuisine is known for its hearty and flavorful curries, and Chana Masala is one of its most popular dishes. It is made with white chickpeas (kabuli chana) cooked in a tangy onion tomato gravy flavored with ginger, garlic and aromatic spices.
There is no single way to make Chana Masala. Some versions are dry, while others have a thick or medium gravy. This recipe makes a Punjabi-style curry with a moderately spiced gravy that is neither too thick nor too thin.
The word chana means chickpeas, while masala refers to the spiced gravy in which they are cooked.
For this Chana Masala recipe, dried chickpeas are soaked overnight and then pressure cooked with whole spices like cinnamon, black cardamom, cloves and bay leaf until tender. For a deeper color, you can add dried amla while cooking the chickpeas. A tea bag or tea leaves tied in muslin can also be used instead.
The gravy is prepared by sautéing onions with ginger, garlic and spices, followed by tomatoes until the masala becomes thick and glossy with oil separating around the edges. The cooked chickpeas and some of their cooking stock are then simmered in the masala so they absorb all the flavors.
Rajma Recipes | Rajma Masala
Rajma recipe is a classic Punjabi curry made with protein-rich kidney beans cooked in an onion-tomato gravy with ginger, garlic and spices. This is my mother’s restaurant-style Rajma Masala recipe, which I make often at home. The cooked beans are simmered in the masala and finished with a little cream for a thick, creamy and flavorful gravy.
Punjabi Rajma Recipes
This is the Rajma recipe I have grown up with and one that I make often. It follows the traditional Punjabi method, where the kidney beans are pressure cooked until soft and then simmered in an onion-tomato masala with ginger, garlic and spices.
I prefer using dried kidney beans as they cook to a softer, creamier texture and absorb the flavors of the masala well. Canned kidney beans can also be used when you are short on time.
A little cream is added towards the end, which gives the curry a richer, restaurant-style taste. You can skip it for a lighter everyday version.
At home, we usually enjoy Rajma Masala with roti or steamed basmati rice. Both pair well with the creamy rajma curry and make a filling, comforting vegetarian meal.
For a simpler home-style version, try my easy one-pot Rajma Chawal recipe, where the rajma is cooked entirely in a stovetop pressure cooker and served with steamed rice.
Vegetable Biryani Recipes
Restaurant Style Vegetable Biryani recipe is a fragrant rice dish made with basmati rice, mixed vegetables, fresh biryani masala, saffron, fried onions, and mint. The rice and vegetables are layered and slow-cooked so the flavors blend beautifully. It’s a rich, flavorful North Indian-style biryani often served with raita. Biryani is one dish I never get tired of making or eating. The recipe takes some time, but the result is a hearty, delicious biryani worth the effort.
Why This Vegetable Biryani Recipes Works
This restaurant-style Vegetable Biryani has been on my blog for more than a decade. Earlier, I would mostly make Hyderabadi Biryani or my mom’s version at home, but after trying this one, it quickly became a favorite.
Unlike most restaurants that mix pre-cooked rice with vegetable gravy, this recipe stays closer to the traditional method of layering rice and gravy and slow-cooking it. The flavors are authentic and similar to what you find in restaurants known for serving real, traditional biryani.
I first came across this recipe in Nita Mehta’s ‘Taste of Amritsar – Vegetarian’ and adapted it to suit our taste. What stood out to me was the freshly ground biryani masala and the fact that it didn’t use tomatoes, chilies, or turmeric; something I hadn’t imagined possible in a biryani.
The result is a flavorful, mildly spiced biryani with a hint of sweetness and a wonderful aroma from the caramelized onions and freshly ground masala.
I’ve made it many times now, with both dairy curd and cashew yogurt, and both versions turn out equally good. It
Paneer Butter Masala Recipes
Paneer Butter Masala is a popular North Indian curry made with soft paneer cubes in a smooth tomato-based gravy. The sauce is prepared with butter, cashews, cream and a few mild spices. It has a balanced flavor that is lightly sweet and not too spicy. This creamy paneer gravy tastes good with naan, roti, or jeera rice.
My Take on Paneer Butter Masala
I first learned the basics of makhani gravies during my cooking school training. Since then, I have made Paneer Butter Masala countless times at home, making small changes along the way until it became the version my family enjoys the most. It is now one of the paneer recipes I make most often whenever we want a comforting, restaurant-style meal.
The flavor: This curry has a delicious makhani gravy made with tomatoes, cashews, butter and cream. The tomatoes add a gentle tang, the cashews make the gravy smooth, and the butter and cream add richness. Unlike the gravies of Paneer Tikka Masala or Kadai Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala is milder and lets the flavors of the makhani gravy stand out. The paneer absorbs the sauce beautifully, making every bite flavorful.
No onions: One thing you’ll notice is that my recipe does not use onions. That’s because traditional makhani gravies are made without them, allowing the tomatoes, butter, cream and aromatic spices to shine. Adding onions changes the flavor profile and makes the curry taste more like a regular onion-tomato masala than a classic makhani gravy.
FAQ’s
1. What are main dishes?
Main dishes are the primary part of a meal, such as pasta, rice dishes, curries, casseroles, grilled foods, and hearty vegetarian meals.
2. What are some easy main dish recipes?
Pasta, stir-fries, rice bowls, curries, baked vegetables, sandwiches, and one-pot meals are simple main dish options.
3. What makes a good main dish?
A good main dish should be flavorful, satisfying, balanced, and suitable for the occasion and the people being served.
4. What are popular main dishes for family meals?
Popular choices include pasta, homemade pizza, curries, grilled chicken, rice dishes, casseroles, and vegetarian meals.
5. Can main dishes be healthy and delicious?
Yes, using vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, legumes, and moderate amounts of healthy fats can create nutritious and flavorful meals.