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
mechelle says
Hi Vishali ,
I really loved your recipes and i would like to publish some of them in my research and books for local magazine and market
Waiting for your permission to do so or please let me know 🙂
Thank you for such tasty experience
Margaret says
Hi Vaishali,
I just want to say thankyou for your website.
My daughter recently became vegan and I decided to join her.
I have always been a lover of Indian food and wondered how I could replace all the dairy products and still have an authentic tasting dish.
Well I don’t have to worry anymore!
You have the best recipes and we will be trying a lot of them ?Thankyou so much! Margaret and Stephanie ?
Vaishali says
Thanks for your kind words Margaret. Hope your daughter and you will find your vegan journey rewarding in every way. And I hope you'll enjoy the recipes here!
Prakash Ranadive says
Hi Vaishali,
I just saw your Methi, Mattar Malai recipe. I will give it a try in the next few days.
As to stray dogs in Mumbai, I recently heard that some civic groups are active in both adoption of strays as well as neutering the grown-up strays. Is this true? I think this is a good approach. Thanks.
Prakash
Vaishali says
Hi Prakash, yes, there are a number of rescue groups that have sprung up around India, although I am afraid the need still far outweighs the help available. These groups appear to be doing some amazing work nonetheless. One of those I watch with awe is Animal Aid:
Cathy McKenzie says
Thanks Vaishali for your great blog.
We have recently retired and decided to mend our Australian ways by ditching red meat. Hopefully we will ditch other things as well, but at least we have made a start.
I was searching the net to find recipes my husband would find tasty and filling enough.......enter Holy Cow.
Wow! So many wonderful dishes and easy to make. We only started this week but I have made 3 of your recipes. So tasty.
A side benefit we didn't even consider was the amount of money we will save by not eating meat. Better health and better bank balance, what a win-win situation.
We love the Garlic Naan Bread but I do have one question. If I make a quantity can I freeze the dough? I thought I could make the separate breads with baking paper between each one, then put them in a container in the freezer, or is it better to cook them first then freeze?
Vaishali says
Hi Cathy, thanks for your kind words, and all the best for your journey toward exploring plant-based foods!
You can certainly freeze the naan dough -- freeze it after the first rise, by kneading out the air and then placing it in an airtight bag or container. Thaw, portion into balls, and proceed with your recipe.
You can also freeze the prepared breads using the method you described!
Sandra says
I would love to see you do some of yours recipes. Do you have a YouTube video?
Pava says
The print button on your web page is not functional
Vaishali says
I just tried it again and it works for me. Something to do with your browser settings perhaps -- it may be blocking the window from opening.
Debs says
Hey Vaishali,
I am so glad to have come across your website.
In this very depressing world, your compassion and talent for trying to make the world a better place through vegan cooking stands out like a beacon of hope.
Keep cooking and sharing,
Best,
-Debs
Vaishali says
Thanks for those lovely and kind words, Debs.
Skip Daniel says
Hi! Thanks for the site!
Amanda UK says
Dear Vaishali. I am throwing a Morrocan themed vegandinner party and really looking forward to making your Vegan Jackfruit "Lamb" Tagine. I am based in the UK and we buy tinned jackfruit in 400g cans (14.11oz), which contain 250g (8.82oz) jackfruit, when drained.
I am uncertain about the jackfruit requirement for the recipe... do you mean 16oz of jackruit, after it has been drained? (i.e. I would need 2 cans?) , or 16oz whilst still in the water, then drained?
I would be very grateful to hear back from you asap, and can't wait to taste this dish. It will be my first taste of jackfruit, too.
Thank you very much,
Amanda
Vaishali says
Hi Amanda, I mean the 16-oz tin, so it would be including the brine. Best!
Amanda Urwin-Mann says
Thank you very much. My party is this Friday and I think most of us are bringing vegan Morrocan dishes inspired by your website. 🙂 We'll drink a toast to you! Ax
Poorni Chitrapur says
HI Vaishali,
I have been thinking a lot about giving up dairy and meat. I chanced upon your website and feel that you make it look SO easy for those of us on the wall contemplating.
Let me put my questions on the table and when you have a few minutes, if you can help me with the answers, that would be great. Pardon me but my questions are very basic as I am not a vegan yet ( still on the wall 🙂
1. So If I or my kids don;t drink milk anymore, then what are some of the vitamins or other essentials I would miss from not consuming milk and how do I replace them ALL?
PS I am not one of those who would crave for something if I leave it by choice, an educated choice that is. So What I look essentially is for the nutrition supplement and not necessarily something that tastes like it and go find a replacement to fool my tongue.
So for example, If I need to give up meat, and I can have broccoli instead, if that will supplement ALL of the nutrients beef had, then I would then not crave for any imitation meat. Instead, I try to make broccoli taste better and have that.
2. Same questions with giving up chicken and eggs?
3. Does going vegan mean I have to increase my intake of any vitamin tablets to make sure I wont have bone loss or other scarcity?
Please throw some light overall and on particularly my questions above.
Hope to hear back from you 🙂
Very nice site, I bookmarked and will try all the recipes one by one.
PS: do you have a page with any comparison chart showing all of the dairy and meat against equivalent supplements in the vegan world that would provide the same nutrients? I don't care for supplements that are there to replace texture and taste. Nutrients is my biggest concern.
1960s girl says
Hello,
I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful and simple Naan bread recipe (the one with baking powder) I found on your Website. I made it yesterday to go with a dahl soup as part of a vegetarian meal. I decided to start having at least 2 vegeterian meals per week. And one way to make my dahl soup more appealing to my husband was to make naan bread!
I will soon try the samosa recipe you posted this week as we love samosas but avoid those that are fried.
And I also wanted to let you know that all of the cake/loaf recipes I have tried so far are SOOO delicious that people ask for the recipes. I tell them to browse your Website!
Saipriya Jasthi says
Hey Vaishali,
I am recently pondering on turning Vegan. I have been a lover of meat but recently I have been questioning it and I was searching for people like you who passionately not just practise but also out up amazing recipes to follow. I must commend you on your effort and love that you have shared with us. Thank you so much.
Joan says
I love you oil free banana bread recipe but I can no longer find it on your site. I wanted to give the link to the recipe to someone on one of my FB boards who was asking for one. Can you add it back or send me a link?
Vaishali says
Do you mean the banana walnut bundt cake? You can bake it up in two loaf pans as a banana bread.
Mary Jane McCord says
Vaishali: Do you ever teach cooking classes? I’m a good cook. I studied cooking for 2 years many, many years ago in Paris, before I changed my way of eating. I love to take cooking classes. I also live in Silver Spring.
Love your site & recipes.
Cheers, Mary Jane
Pablo says
Estimada Vaishali quiero saber si puedes enviarme las recetas en ESPAÑOL, pues no manejo muy bien el idioma inglás. Muy agraadecido
Pablo
Monica says
Hi Vaishali! I'm Monica from Italy.. I don't know how I reach your blog, but I registered to your mailing list some weeks ago and I would like to thank you for sharing your recipes! I love all of them! They are very clear, easy to make, yummy and delicious! Grazie from Italy ☺
Erin Woodward says
Hi Vaishali!
I didn't read through all of the comments because there were so many but I wondered if you have a cookbook out. I have recently discovered your blog and made a few recipes and loved them. I am on the email list and keep saving your recipes in my Pinterest, but would be great to have them all in one book Thank you for the wonderful recipes and for caring about animals!
Erin
Vaishali says
Hi Erin, thanks for your kind words, and so happy you've made the recipes. I don't have a cookbook-- I simply haven't had the time to invest in one -- but thanks for the suggestion, and hopefully someday. 🙂
Ananda Rupini says
Hi Vaishali! Love your website and thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to spreading knowledge and tasty food!
We are Bengali living in North Carolina, and we tried vegan, but ended up missing milk, yogurt and ghee, so we sourced some ahimsa milk 2 hours away. Otherwise we are vegan because of the heavy karma for mistreating animals.
Rupini
Montserrat says
Hi Vaishali!
i came across your blog looking for a recipe. Love your story and you sound like a great good-hearted human being ???
I'll definitely keep an eye for you recipes and stories and I'm alredy following you in fb.
Best wishes!
Montserrat
Lakshmi Nair says
Dear Vaishali,
Can you give a recepie on vegan yogurt. I am. Converting in to a vegan from tomorrow. I Wil kiss yogurt though. Thanks for all the great recepies.
Vaishali says
Hi Lakshmi, search for my cultured vegan recipe and an Instant pot version by typing "yogurt" in the search box!
Manu Madhvani says
Hi Vaishali:
Wonderful website! with loads of lovely mouthwatering recipes... Thank you. 🙂
Suggestions if I may... you may wish to keep the comments in reverse order...so the latest will be at the top...and LEAVE A REPLY to be at the top too perhaps?
Best wishes to you.
Sinorita says
Hii Vaishali,
Ever since my supervisor has suggested to follow your blog, it has been an amazing experience. the recipes are simply amazing. I am working on Indian food and the culture. I hope to connect with you some day. 🙂
Thanks
Kevin McLaren says
Enjoyed the recipe. Made some modifications, added kale and mustard greens, and roasted the potatoes. Can't find scotch bonnets here in WA, but I used a powdered version which I picked up last time I was in the Caribbean.
Ravi says
Hi Vaishali -
I love your website and get a lot of tips from your website. I am South Indian vegetarian trying to go vegan and your vegan yogurt rice recipe (a staple of south indians) was my introduction to your website and I am hooked.
I was just curious to know if it were possible to contact the blog service provider to remove the meat based food ads that seem to be interspersed with the articles. Any other advertising would have been okay but to have meat based ads on a vegan website runs against the basis of the website 🙂
Thanks
Ravi
js says
Hi, Vaishali, Happy New Year! I'd love it if you wrote a post on what you feed your dogs. From the comments here, I gather they're not vegan or vegetarian. My dog eats regular kibble, but I'm always looking to try new brands or even cook vegetarian food for him. His vet didn't seem to take to the idea of homemade food, and the research online is so confusing. I'd love to know what other vegans feed their dogs. Thanks!
nat says
Hi! Great job you're doing here, I've been following you for some years now. Would be great if you published a book!
Lorie Waltenbury says
I meant to say the Mushroom Vegan Pie - was looking at something else at the same time!!
Lorie Waltenbury says
Hi, I absolutely love that recipe for Beef Pot Pie(and your site completely) but unfortunately I cannot use cashews (blended to a paste). Is there something else I can use in place of that?
Maggie says
I just found your blog and the recipes look wonderful! I'm gluten-free vegan and it's hard to find good recipes. I printed a bunch of them. thank you!
Geni says
What a wonderful vegan site! I'm looking forward to trying many of your recipes. Do you have a cookbook of your work?
Vaishali says
Hi Geni, welcome to Holy Cow!, and no, unfortunately I've never been able to make the time for a cookbook. Maybe some day. 🙂