For nearly two decades now, Holy Cow Vegan has been the go-to destination online for discerning cooks looking for Indian and vegan recipes that are authentic yet modern, full of flavor and easy to make.
I'm Vaishali and I started this blog in 2007 to help demystify the intricacies of Indian cooking and adapt its many, many delicious recipes to a vegan diet. As a former omnivore who grew up in Mumbai eating diverse Indian cuisines, I love to transform the meat- and dairy-based dishes I once enjoyed into plant-based versions that taste authentic and are healthier.
There are more than 1,200 recipes on the blog that I've created, perfected, and shared over the years. I hope you will find something here that you and your family will love. Just bring your curiosity and creativity to the party! If you're new to Indian food, I'd start with an easy recipe like this 30-minute, one-pot vegetable curry. But if your soul begs for crunchy, savory food like mine does, you might want to jump straight to the samosas or vegetable pakoras) 😉 .
Thanks for stopping by!
What you'll find on Holy Cow Vegan
- Easy, quick, healthy and hassle-free plant-based recipes, many Indian. This is food you can cook whether you are a novice or an expert, and food you will love whether you are an omnivore or a vegan or somewhere in between. All recipes use clean, wholesome, natural ingredients, most of which are already in your pantry.
- Recipes for special diets. More than half the recipes on this blog are gluten-free (including lots of gluten-free vegan desserts!). You will also find many recipes suited to a low-carb and keto vegan diet.
- Kid-friendly recipes. As a mom, I focus on creating recipes that are kid-friendly as well as adult-friendly!
- Global recipes. We love to travel, so I often post recipes from around the world, including Mexican, Italian, Irish, African and Mediterranean. You can also browse tons of vegan Indian recipes, ranging from restaurant favorites like chana masala and vegan butter chicken to more modern dishes with my own spin, like this tasty vegetable curry and chickpea curry.
- Vegan baked goods. I love to bake, so you'll find lots of recipes for homemade vegan cakes, vegan cookies, vegan pies and vegan breads. I've been baking with sourdough and nurturing a sourdough starter long before it became trendy to do so.
Frequently asked questions
I add new recipes once or twice every week. You can sign up for my newsletter so you don't miss a single recipe, or you can follow Holy Cow Vegan on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.
The blog's name calls out the dichotomy in the Indian diet and religious belief system. Cows are worshipped as holy but hundreds of thousands of cows are also tortured in factory farms to supply India's love for milk and milk products. I try to show, through this blog, that Indian food can be just as delicious without the dairy.
Yes! Indian food might appear difficult but there are many recipes that are quite easy, like this basic but delicious dal or this easy vegetable curry. You will need a few spices that can easily be found at Indian grocery stores or through online retailers. In the recipe card for each recipe, you will find Amazon affiliate links to most ingredients I use. If you are new to Indian cooking or looking to scale up your skills, read my ultimate guide to vegan Indian cooking where I share lots of tips, techniques and recipes for veganizing Indian food.
You can leave a comment on the recipe (it's the quickest way to get a response and I read and appreciate every comment). Or you can email me at MyVeganWorld@gmail.com. If you'd like to share a photo of the recipe please post it on Instagram and tag me #HolyCowVegan.
Useful links
- Recipe Index
- All Recipes (by date)
- Vegan Baked Goods and Breads
- Vegan Baking Substitutes
- Sourdough Baking
Some of my top recipes
Publications
The blog and my recipes have been featured in dozens of print and online publications, including the following:
- Vegan Food and Living
- The Washington Post
- Domicile DC
- All Animals (magazine of the Humane Society of the United States)
- Parade
- VegNews
- One Green Planet
- Self
- Yahoo!
- CNet
- Everyday Health
- The Oregonian
- Boston magazine
Rosalie Donatelli says
Hi
I’m vegan, gluten free. LOVE Indian food and sadly, I’m allergic to tomatoes.
I’ve found several great recipes on your sight that fit my fussy criteria. Thank you!! 🙂
Some things I crave like Chana masala are always made with tomatoes.
You have one recipe i would love to try with just tomato paste ( not tomatoes).
Can you think of a substitute for the tomato paste that might help simulate the flavors?
Thanks
Patty Collins says
Thank you so much for your intrepid efforts and outlook! My sister and I are both fans and so appreciate the healthier meals you've helped us create for out loved ones...thanks again, Vaishali!
Vaishali Honawar says
That's so sweet to hear! Thanks for your kind words, Patty!
JOHN says
I am so sorry to learn about your son's moving on. My heart goes out to you both
Your son has returned to the Golden Light and has fulfilled/is fulfilling his Divinely instated rôle, though that may be almost impossible for us to understand and to bear
My father moved on when I was nine, I was in turmoil and didn't cry for 20 years - & now decades later, I understand and accept and in fact, embrace - sometimes even with joy
Thank you both for your Good Guidance written & visual
My goal is even beyond vegan LOL❗
BERESHIS/GENESIS 1:29
with all my love
🌿JOHN🌿🕊❤
Vaishali Honawar says
Thanks, John.
Lynn says
You made my day with this guide. It worked perfectly and saved me time. I’m grateful for how detailed yet simple your post was. More content like this is needed online. Keep up the good work!
Rick says
Hello Vaishali, so happy to have found your website. I too enjoy a diverse palate of foods depending on my mood, internet, TV, or Food & Wine magazine that I’m thumbing through. Can’t wait to try your recipes.
Your newest subscriber, Richard
Vaishali says
Welcome to the blog, Richard. So happy to have you here!
kelly perkowicz says
i have a question with sourdough [SD]. how can i increase the amount of my starter. i followed your starter recipe and its now on day 8 and ive made bread and its in the fridge. but i was thinking while its raining today and i cant work i couldve tried another type of SD recipe but i dont know if id have enough. can the quantity be increased into the same starter.
thanks kelly
Vaishali says
Yes, just feed the starter with more dough and water in the proportions given.
Simone says
Do you have a hard copy cookbook, with pictures? I like to see if what I cooked looks like the picture!!
Amy says
Same! I'd purchase a cookbook with all her recipes! 🙂
Ron says
Yours is my absolute favorite recipe site on the internet. I cook from your recipes at least once a week, sometimes more often. Thank you.
Vaishali says
That's the best thing to hear! Thanks so much Ron. I am happy you've enjoyed the recipes.
Marilyn Lowe says
What a wonderful story! Thank you for creating your website. Is there a way I can get regular emails from you?
Thank you!
Marilyn
Vaishali says
Thanks, Marilyn! ❤️ You can sign up for my emails here https://holycowvegan.net/subscribe/
Raye says
Just discovered your website. I was a vegetarian for 30 years and became a vegan in the last 10. All for animals. I just made your cream of mushroom soup - very nice. I will now follow your site and try more delicious recipes. Thank you.
Vaishali says
Yay! So great to hear you made the mushroom soup - one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for the kind words. ❤️
POOVIZHISELVI says
Hi dearie,
I'm Bobbie ( nick name), ZEN Buddhist from Tamilnadu, India,
Your story of vegan life n mine r same , I love my fur kids ❤️ Love u sweetie sis 😘 💖
Johnny Kesselschmidt says
I love your recipes!
Vaishali says
Thank you Johnny! ❤️
Andrew says
Hi Vaishali! I was looking for a pie recipe to use for some fresh strawberries--and to my delight the second Google result was "Holy Cow Vegan." So glad to bump into you this way. I made the pie, and it is delicious. Daphne is GF and DF, so your site is going to be a go-to, from now on. I've been experimenting with Aloo Gobi and am glad to see your recipe of the dish.
Vaishali says
Hi Andrew! So nice to see you here.
Angela Silberstein says
OMG you are amazing giving homes to all these cats and dogs. Thank you for saving them and giving the love and home they so deserve. You are a lady of my own heart. We have three rescue cats and have always had rescues our selves. Your recipes are amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Vaishali says
So lovely to meet another animal lover, Angela.❤️
Bhags says
HiVaishali,
I came across your blog while searching for an eggplant coconut stew.
Loved the recipe ad made my own very quick version inspired by your recipe (basically skipped the baking of the eggplant sliced n just sautéed them in my le creuest Dutch oven.
The spice blend was fabulous n both me n my husband devoured it with some appams last evening. So a big thanks with a hug.
Though we do love our meats (sorry no offense) both me n husband hv been raised vegetarian so it's always welcome n most desired.
Read abt u n so happy to know that u too are from Bombay (birth certificate says Bombay n so it shall always be Bombay for us) though now they call it Amchi Mumbai n can relate to your looooove for samosas, yummmm just writing is gets me all slurpy.
What you wrote about the Chai is hilarious n so true, wish people stop adding extra nouns after the simple much beloved Chai. (though I love my coffee a tad bit, no a lot more than Chai)
Tumeric hahaha, another new so called new super food for the western word, wish they first learn to call it by it's true name turmeric. Feel such a connection when you pointed these out.
Keep on writing n sharing yr stories and will definitely try a lot more of your recipes since both me n him looooooove cooking and are always entertaining.
We are too lazy to write up recipes or post pics. So hats off to you n Desi n also a big thank you!
Vaishali says
Hi, you can reach me at myveganworld@gmail.com
Marilyn Rudoff says
Hello Vaishali—
I love your Vegan Almond Flour Cookies. I substituted tahini (sesame paste) for the olive oil— and it was even better!
Vaishali says
So happy to hear, Marilyn!
Laney says
I just found you and all you amazing recipes about two months ago. I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am to have found this blog.
Soo...when will you put all this lovely hard work of yours into a book?
Also, thank you for the love and passion you put into your blog and recipes.
Vaishali says
Hi Laney, thanks for the kind words. A book...maybe someday when I am in a better frame of mind. 🙂 After the loss of my son in 2023 I'm trying to get back on track with blogging and posting recipes more often. But many readers have asked about a cookbook and I do hope to write one someday. ❤️
keegan says
I made your rotis and it tasted so good
Vaishali says
Yay!!
Lynn Harrill says
I just found your website this morning while looking for a vegan brussels sprout stew. OMG, I am completely a fan now. Your recipes are so accessible. I will be having fun finding some of the more exotic spices I hadn't used (or some, hadn't even heard of before). What joy. I am also low carb, vegan, keto. So you are my new treasure mother lode of possibilities for flavor, even when keeping in with my desired food regimen. Btw, potatoes are not safe around me, which is interesting on low-carb. And savory is my preferred "cuisine." Be well. If you're in the L.A. area doing a show, I hope you will let me know.
Vaishali says
Hi Lynn, welcome to Holy Cow! Hope you will love all the recipes you try.
Roopa says
Hi Vaishali,
Your veggie Biryani recipe is my go to recipe for any surprise guests or simple dinner with friends. My family loves it too. It has turned out perfectly each and every time. Thanks!
Vaishali says
That's so great to hear, Roopa!
Yodan says
Shout out to Vaishali, to say thank you for all the work, information and wonderful recipes on your beautiful blog.
Having 'gone vegan' about five years ago, the universe of food, cooking and, especially spices opened for me in the most wonderful ways, especially learning cuisines from all over the planet.
I will be making the almond cookies to kick off the hollydaze season on this First Day of The Last Month (2023).
Wishing you good health, peace and much success.
Vaishali says
Hi Yodan, that is so lovely to hear. Thanks for your kind words, and I am so happy you've found the blog useful in your vegan journey. Hope you love the almond cookies--one of my favorites!
Noreen Norton says
Wow! Your recipes look amazing. I can't wait to try many of them. Do you have an email list? I would love to know when you post a new recipe...or just to be reminded of your site when it falls off of my radar.
Vaishali says
Hi Noreen, you can sign up for free email updates when I post new recipes by hitting the subscribe button above. Thanks for your kind words.
Mar-yannu Hathory says
Greetings, Vaishali. I have just stumbled on your marvelous website. Your recipes look wonderful and I will be using many of them. I became an official vegetarian in 1969, although as a child was always fussy about animal products. About six years ago, realized that I must truly transition to vegan. Took me long enough! Grately appreciate your site. And I have both your pet peeves, in addition to your vs. you’re. Now to get some chai before bed, where my rescued fur babies allow me almost a third of the bed.
Vaishali says
❤️Thanks for the kind words, Mar-yannu. So happy you are here.