If you had to choose three main vegetarian ingredients to eat for a long period of time, what would they be? Think of Dal, chickpeas or paneer. At this point, one would wonder why these three.
Diversification in preparation, nutritious, and always in season. There are a variety of dishes that you can create from these ingredients; they can be eaten as a whole or as a side dish with some steamed rice or flatbreads. They can be fried, boiled, roasted or grilled, allowing you to enjoy different textures and flavours of the same ingredient. The best way to explore these three ingredients is to make your vegetarian Indian meal ideas restaurant bucket list and start exploring. You will get to experience how these three ingredients can be prepared in an unexpected way that won’t let your taste buds get bored.
If you have been planning to explore a range of vegetarian-based Indian food, then this blog outlines these three main ingredients, a number of dishes you can try and what you need to ask before ordering.
Indian meal ideas restaurant guide
Let’s get started
Dal: Something hearty and wholesome
Dal comes from different pulses: lentils and peas. It is a loved staple that is cooked in diverse ways. They are mostly cooked as hearty dishes that can be enjoyed with different flatbreads or steamed rice. It’s mostly prepared to be enjoyed as dinner or lunch because of its rich nutrient content.
Dal-based meals that you can try out at a restaurant.
Dal Tadka: These are yellow lentils cooked with ghee with a seasoning of cumin, garlic and red chillies.
Dal Makhani: A dish of black lentils and kidney beans that is simmered in butter, tomatoes, and cream.
Yellow dal with Tawa Roti: simply cooked yellow lentils with some seasoning.
Dal fry: This is a combination of pigeon peas and yellow lentils that is cooked together with onion, ginger, tomatoes and garlic.
What you can ask when ordering a dal-based meal from the menu
Since dal can be cooked in various ways, you can always inquire how precisely it is prepared if it’s the first time or describe how you would like it to be prepared.
- Are there any allergenic ingredients?
- What is the spice level of this dish?
- What type of dal was cooked?
- How is the tadka cooked?
Paneer: Exciting flavours that tantalize your taste buds
There are so many ways one can think of enjoying paneer- a non-melting cheese. You can have it for breakfast, during lunch or dinner as a side dish; it can be fried, roasted, grilled, scrambled or simmered, and the taste is different with every cooking method.
Paneer-based dishes that you can enjoy at an Indian restaurant
There are a number of distinct dishes you can try out;
Tandoori paneer tikka: this can be enjoyed as your starter. It is grilled and seasoned with a charred finish.
Paneer butter masala: A creamy delight that has cubes of paneer cooked with a tomato-, onion-, and cashew-based gravy.
Kadai paneer: The paneer is cooked with bell peppers and a tangy, cream-based gravy.
Palak paneer: It is a creamy-based dish where the paneer is simmered with spinach.
What you can ask when ordering a paneer-based dish.
- Is the paneer freshly made or outsourced?
- Is the dish mildly spicy or tangy?
- Is it possible to cook the dish without the cashew nuts?
- Is the dish prepared with a lot of oil, or is it on the lighter side?
Chickpeas: A must-have staple
They can also be described as chana; they are one of the top staples in India, served with either rice or flatbreads. The exciting part of chickpeas is how they can be served in different ways. They can be cooked as a gravy-based dish or added into a salad.
Chickpea-based dishes you can enjoy at a restaurant
Chana masala: This is a chickpea-based curry cooked with tomatoes, onions, and some seasoning.
Falafel: Ground chickpeas that are deep-fried and enjoyed as a starter.
Greek chickpea salad: Boiled chickpeas added to tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, olives and lemon-herb dressing, as a salad.
Hummus: Blended chickpeas prepared with lemon juice and garlic served with warm pita bread.
Questions to ask when ordering chickpea-based dishes
- What is the oil being used to cook the chickpeas?
- Are there any added allergen ingredients in this dish?
- Are the chickpeas fresh or dried?
- What is the dressing added to the Greek chickpea salad?
Some tips to use when creating a vegetarian-based menu for an event
Creating a vegetarian-based dish for an event should be carefully planned so you can have well-balanced dishes that are welcoming to people with different dietary needs.
Nutritional balance: The dishes should incorporate a well-balanced diet that is accommodating for all age groups.
Hidden allergens and additives: The menu has a clear explanation of the ingredients and indicates any allergens so that guests can easily take note of them.
Dietary sub-categories: Vegetarian does not mean vegan; therefore, ensure you incorporate both vegetarian and vegan dishes and clarify to make it easy for guests.
Summary
These are just a few of the dishes that you can try from Indian restaurants. These dishes are cooked, which is why it is always required to have vegetarian Indian meal ideas and restaurant questions before ordering so that you can get what you precisely desire to enjoy, and if you have some restrictions, you can always clarify your allergens.
To make it more exciting, you can request the chef’s specialty and enjoy the thrill of trying something out of the ordinary from a vegetarian Indian meal ideas restaurant in Warners Bay-The Grand Pavilion, where Mr Sandeep and his best chefs can serve you authentic Indian vegetarian food and so much more, from starters, main meals and desserts.
References
The dishes are sourced and can be enjoyed by different age groups and contain rich, nutrient-dense ingredients. Sourced from On Cater and the Food Authority so that you can enjoy delicious and healthy food at restaurants and at events.
FAQ’s
Can I determine the spice level of the dishes?
Yes, you can. The meals are prepared based on your preferred spice level as well as seasoning.
How do you ensure that the veg-based meals are separate from the non-veg meals?
We have strict adherence when cooking vegetarian meals; the meals are prepared separately from non-veg dishes.
What are the best vegetarian starters?
You can try the paneer tandooris, honey chilli potatoes, soya chaap, cheese corn balls, as well as veg manchurian balls.
What ingredient do you use to replace dairy?
To replace the dairy ingredients, we use plant-based milk and plant-based margarine.
What are the common proteins in vegetarian-based meals?
There are lentils, beans, soya chaap, nuts and seeds, as well as paneer.
