Vegetarian Nepalese and Indian food: what to order

Nepalese and Indian cooking are among the best in the world for vegetarians. Lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, spinach and paneer are everyday ingredients, not afterthoughts, and many of the most loved dishes contain no meat at all.

A vegetarian tradition

In Nepal the everyday meal is dal bhat: lentils, rice and a vegetable curry. Many families eat vegetarian on certain days of the week or during festivals, and vegetable dishes are cooked with as much care as meat. The same is true across much of India.

Protein comes from lentils, beans, chickpeas and paneer, so a vegetarian curry night can be every bit as filling as a meat one. Dal in particular is a staple: yellow lentils cooked until soft and finished with garlic and cumin fried in hot oil, a technique called tarka.

Vegetarian starters and mains

• Onion Bhaji: sliced onions in spiced batter, fried until crisp.
• Vegetable Pakora: fresh vegetables in a lightly spiced batter.
• Chilli Paneer: cottage cheese tossed in chilli sauce with peppers and onion.
• Samosa: our samosas come with spiced potato or spiced minced lamb, so ask for potato.
• Paneer Shashlick: cottage cheese roasted with peppers, onions and tomatoes in the tandoor.
• Vegetable Biryani: basmati rice cooked with vegetables, with a mixed-vegetable curry sauce.
• Vegetable Chow Mein: Nepalese-style egg noodles, a fusion of Tibet and Nepal.

Vegetable sides worth ordering as mains

Our side dishes are generous, and two or three of them make a satisfying vegetarian meal: tarka dal (yellow lentils with garlic and cumin), kalo dal (black lentils with butter and cream), chana masala, saag paneer, saag aloo, aloo gobi, Bombay aloo, Gurkhali aloo, bhindi bhaji, aubergine bhaji, mushroom bhaji, saag bhaji and mixed vegetable bhaji.

Build a vegetarian curry night

For two people, try onion bhaji and vegetable pakora to start, then paneer shashlick, chana masala and tarka dal with pilau rice and a garlic naan. Add Gurkhali aloo if you like a little heat. For four, add vegetable biryani, saag paneer and mushroom bhaji, and order a mix of plain and garlic naan. Papadums with a full chutney tray are a good way to start while you wait.

A note on vegan diets and allergies

Many dishes use cream, butter, yoghurt or ghee, and all of our naan and breads contain gluten, so please tell us about any dietary requirement or allergy before you order. See every dish on our menu, and read our curry heat guide to choose the right strength.