Hello! I'm Vaishali, the author and recipe creator at Holy Cow Vegan, where I share tasty Indian and global vegan recipes. My recipes are designed to be alluring enough for the discerning cook but easy enough for a beginner. There are more than 1,000 recipes on this blog and I hope everyone--vegan, vegetarian or omnivore--will find something here that they will love.
Many of these recipes have featured in publications around the world but more importantly, they have been tried, tasted and loved by thousands of home cooks looking to add more plant-based food to their diets.
Here are a few more fast facts about Holy Cow Vegan and me:
- I live in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
- I was born in Bombay (or Mumbai), India's busiest megalopolis and a salad bowl of Indian culture. Growing up in Bombay meant I had access to the many diverse cuisines that make up "Indian cuisine."
- My family is my husband Desi (also the photographer for the blog), my son Jay, and my four divine fur babies, all rescues -- Lily and Leo (dogs) and Billy and Kala (cats).
- Holy Cow Vegan was born on November 28, 2007. At the time it was the first vegan recipe blog on the web. I've been posting global and Indian vegan recipes here for more than 17 years now.
- My favorite foods are savory. And they usually have potatoes in them. French fries and samosas are especially unsafe around me.
- The foods I cook are healthy, easy and delicious and always free of animal products. Most of the recipes on this blog are kid- and adult-friendly.
- In my former life I worked as a political journalist navigating political shenanigans in Congress and the Maryland statehouse, and I've worked as a reporter in three countries--India, the United Kingdom and the United States.
- My idea of bliss is spending time with my family or relaxing with a good book or the New York Times crossword. When I cook I listen to old Hindi songs (especially by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar). I also love bingeing on YouTube videos about simple living and minimalism -- while I am not there yet, I hope to be some day.
- My pet peeve is when people forget the first "r" in turmeric. It's not tumeric, guys, and the first four letters are pronounced just like "term" 😉 And oh, while we're at it, I have one more --it's not a chai tea, it's not a chai latte: a chai is simply a chai. Chai means "tea" in Hindi, and in India, a chai is always made with milk. Calling it a chai tea or a chai latte is like calling an apple pie "an apple pie pastry made with apples". See? Redundant. And I don't care if Starbucks thinks "chai tea" or "chai latte" are right--they aren't.
My Story
I started to write this food blog in 2007 shortly after becoming a vegan and about four years after going vegetarian. I've loved the alchemy of cooking for as long as I can remember, and I enjoyed eating meat as much as I enjoyed using it in the meals I made for myself and my family.
That changed when Desi and I adopted our great old dog Lucy (scroll down for her picture). Loving her -- and my second adoptee, Opie, who followed soon after -- as much as I did set me thinking about the complex intelligence of animals. The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to participate in the cruelty of meat production where billions of sentient animals just as sweet and wonderful as my dogs and cats are killed every year. In 2005 I became a vegetarian and two years later I had transitioned to a fully vegan life.
Because of how much I loved food, I challenged myself to create recipes that would taste as good as anything I'd ever cooked or eaten in my past life. Because I loved to write, I thought it would be a great idea to start a food blog to share these recipes with others who were looking for ways to either cut out or cut down on meat.
Today, Holy Cow Vegan reaches millions of readers with original, fresh and healthy recipes that I cook up in my kitchen.
What you'll find on Holy Cow Vegan
- Easy, quick, healthy and hassle-free plant-based recipes, many Indian. This is food we eat in our home every day, 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 and vegan (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, from traditional and 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.
My fur family
Desi and I have rescued nearly a dozen dogs and cats since 2002. Each of our fur kids has filled our life with beautiful memories that we hold close to our hearts. Here is our current group of four troublemakers:
Leo was rescued from a dog meat farm in Korea by Humane Society International. He flew halfway around the world to find a home with us. Lily was a street dog rescued from Puerto Rico by the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation. Billy, our adorable tuxedo cat, was found roaming the streets of Virginia and he came to us courtesy PETA. Kala Jamoon, our resident black cat, simply wandered off the streets to settle into our hearts and home.
Frequently asked questions
I add new recipes at least twice every week. You can sign up here to get notified about new recipes by email (it's free!). 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 and can easily be made by someone new to Indian cooking, 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, including Amazon.
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
Check out some of my top recipes
She passed away in 2012, but lives in my heart forever. Thank you, Lucy. I love you.
Holy Cow! has featured in:
Ram
Hi Vaishali.
I've just seen your site and really like the way you experiment with different cultural cuisines. It makes the dishes more interesting and flavorsome. Keep up the good work..
Ram
Vaishali Honawar
Thanks, Ram!
mary
Hi Vaishali.
How are you? I don't know if you remember me or not. I was the one always telling you to move to Toronto and open a restaurant. I haven't received anything in my mail box from you in quite a while, and
I can't figure out why. When I tried to sign up again it kept coming up as an error. But, anyway, I love your recipes and blog. It is truly the best. I miss getting your stuff in my email.
I hope everything is well with you and your family. How is your little boy doing?
Take care and Namaste, baby!
Vaishali Honawar
Namaste, Mary, and of course I remember our conversations in the messages. Thanks for letting me know about the email. I tried subscribing you with the email id you had given, but it threw up an error message for me too. There doesn't seem to be a problem with the subscription widget itself. Is there another email I can subscribe you with? You can write to me at myveganworld[at]gmail.com.
Take care!
Anna
Hi! What is your instagram? 🙂
Vaishali Honawar
Hi Anna, it's
Cheers.
Emilie M.
Wow, just discovered your website... Your recipes looks awesome and inspiring!!!! Can't wait to try some of them!!!!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Vaishali Honawar
Thanks, Emilie, and welcome to Holy Cow! 🙂
Neerali
Hi Vaishalu, I have been receiving and enjoying your posts for some time. And always puzzled about double posts for the same recipe. In my haste to get my inbox cleared I forget to check why this happened. Today again I received your potato recipe from another subscription. The same one that consistently sends the same recipes like yours. Please see Vegan Richa online. Her recipes and photos are identical.
an intelligent life from.
Have you ever heard of oat milk? I use it every day in tea or on cereal, or just fill a glass ind drink as is.
I recommend it highly, it's good.
Annie
Hi, I love these Mexican Bolillo rolls and was wondering if I could use AP or bread flour for these?
Thanking you in advance,
Annie (ps, I love your blog.)
Vaishali Honawar
Hi Annie, thanks for the kind words, and yes, bread flour would work great.
Jayashree Bala
Hi Vaishali, just by chance happened to land up in your blog, and here i am, drooling over all your mouth-watering recipes.Your recipes are too good, easy to follow and love the pics.Congrats Vaishali and now I am going to be a regular to this wonderful blog, for sure. bye and good luck.
Vaishali Honawar
Hi Jayashree, welcome to Holy Cow! and thanks for your kind words. I do hope you will try some of the recipes, and always feel free to ask if you have questions about the recipes.
Hasita
Hi Vaishali, after a long break from cooking using my baby as an excuse, I come back and see an amazing new website design that you've gone for. It is much easier to find recipes now, and the pictures are exquisite. I have already tried the masala khichdi, the roasted bell pepper pasta and most of your desserts. I'm making the stuffed bell peppers tonight. I think of all the blogs I visit, I cook most recipes from yours. Thanks for making the kitchen such a wonderful place to be in. 🙂
Vaishali
Dear Hasita, Congratulations on the baby! That's awesome news. And thanks for your kind message. 🙂 So thrilled you liked the new blog design, and also so happy to know that it's easier to navigate now. I was aiming for exactly that, and your feedback is very good to have.
Candice
I love your blog! I generally google to find specific things - in this case I will follow your blog to
stay inspired and motivated beyond my own creativity.
Be Peace!
Candice
Vaishali
Hi Candice, that's so lovely to hear-- thanks for your kind words! Peace to you. Vaishali 🙂
Laura
Hello Vaishali~ I'd like to make the Spicy Urad Dal but am unclear how much water to use to cook the dal. Thanks!
Vaishali
Hi Laura, to cook the lentils, cover with about an inch of water, bring to a boil and then turn down the heat, cover, and let the lentils simmer about 30 to 45 mins or until they are tender. You might have to add more water if the lentils dry up. Good luck! I love that dal. 🙂
Laura
This dish turned out to be quite delicious. I'd never cooked with this type of lentil. I'd read that some don't appreciate their earthy flavor, but I'm a fan. The only oil I used was one tablespoon of Earth Balance for the garlic and spice instead of infusing in oil and adding Earth Balance at the end. It turned out very luscious just like that. Thanks for your awesome recipe. Our 2 Indian restaurants use ghee and yogurt in everything so I can no longer eat Indian out. If I want Indian I have to make it myself. I'll be visiting you again & again! Namaste.
Vaishali
Hi Laura, I am so glad you tried and liked it. I love lentils in all shapes, forms and flavors-- it's hard not to. Thanks for letting me know, and for visiting again. Namaste! 🙂
mary
Hi V.
I just made and ate those little sweet potato and kale patties. OMG! They are so good. Crispy on the outside and creamy and gingery on the inside. The chili powder I used was that really deadly hot stuff you get at the Indian spice store. It was magic. Toronto is India central. There must be a million Indian stores here. You name it and I will find it. Lucky, lucky me. Thanks for sharing. You're the best.
Vaishali
Hi Mary, how lovely that you made the patties. They are an eternal favorite at our home. That chili powder sounds deadly amazing! I love some heat in my food. 🙂
Thanks for letting me know. You're awesome! 🙂
mary
Hi Vaishali
this morning I was on Pintrest and I saw a beautiful pin for Sweet potato patties. I could not find the recipe. Is this a traditional food of India? I have sweet potatoes in my kitchen that I think would be perfect for such an occasion. Just hoping you do this on your beautiful food site. FYI, if you ever decide to move to Toronto and open a restaurant, I will quit my job and come work for you.
Namaste baby!
Vaishali
Hi Mary, sweet potato patties are not a traditional Indian food, but I did make a version of them, riffing off from a recipe made with potatoes. Search for "sweet potato patties" in the search bar.
Thanks for the offer to work with me--I might just leave my job here and move to Toronto! I think I'd love it very much there.:)
mary
I will make these little puppies on Wednesday. (Tues. is grocery day.) I will let you know how wonderful they probably are. ....Namaste little lady.
Vaishali
Hope you enjoy them, Mary! 🙂 Namaste, and have a great weekend.
Lauren Vaught
Hello-I found your site through Fat Free Vegan. I would also like to participate in your month of May blogging event. I make many of Susan's recipes and will do so this month. How do I go about submitting my recipe review and photos?
Thank you,
Lauren
Edible Musings
Vaishali
Hi Lauren, The event you're referring to was an old one-- a few years back, in fact. Sorry! 🙂 But thanks for visiting, and for your interest.
Sharon
Hi Vaishali - I had to send you a note of thank you for the eggless omelet recipe using chickpea flour!! I'm not vegan, however over the last few years I can't tolerate eggs (or gluten) so I've missed having a protein packed omelet as an alternative to my oatmeal breakfast. As a joke a googled "eggless omelet" thinking there was no such alternative and was very pleased to find your site. I just made it this morning and I loved it! Love the flavor of the chickpea flour - thanks so much for taking time to introduce others to wonderful healthy recipes - much appreciated!! Sharon
Vaishali
Hi Sharon, thank you for letting me know! So glad you liked the chickpea pancakes-- they really make a great substitute for eggs, don't they? I whip these up each time I want something healthy without putting too much work into it. One of my favorite recipes too.
nikita
Vaishali! you are amazing and an inspiration. I recently turned vegan and your site has opened up many cooking possibilities that I didn't even know existed and were so easy. Keep up the good work and your experimentations with flavors
Vaishali
Hi Nikita, you're the best-- thank you for those lovely words. I am really happy that the recipes have been helpful, and even happier you let me know. 🙂 Hugs.
star
Hi I live in north Carolina USA, originally from Cuba. I recently became vegan and I must say this page was a treasure to Find after all the research your recipes and info on substitutes and amazing ideas just blew My mind. I'm thrilled to Start cooking all this healthy vegan recipes and I truly thank you for helping others thru this page. thank u thank u thank u muah
Vaishali
Star, thanks for your lovely message. I am so glad you are finding the blog useful. Hope you try some of the recipes, and always feel free to ask questions. Hugs. 🙂