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:
Lorie Waltenbury
I meant to say the Mushroom Vegan Pie - was looking at something else at the same time!!
Lorie Waltenbury
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
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
What a wonderful vegan site! I'm looking forward to trying many of your recipes. Do you have a cookbook of your work?
Vaishali
Hi Geni, welcome to Holy Cow!, and no, unfortunately I've never been able to make the time for a cookbook. Maybe some day. 🙂
Lynne Atwell
Dear Vaishali,
Thank you for sharing these great recipes on your blog.
I have been trying off and on over several years to stop eating animal products for both my health and ethical concerns but so many vegan recipes are just plain boring. I just found your website recently and I am now a subscriber. I think your recipes, which look really delicious, will help me be vegan and stay vegan this time.
All the best
Lynne
Anuj Agarwal
Hi Vaishali,
My name is Anuj Agarwal. I'm Founder of Feedspot.
I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Holy Cow! has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Indian Food Blogs on the web.
I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Indian Food Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!
Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.
best,
Anuj
Mardio
Thank you for being such an inspiration! I just cooked pasta with roasted pepper and my family loved it! Please publish a cook book.. would love to collect your recipe on my bookshelves. Keep up the good work!
Vaishali
Awesome, glad you tried it!
Jean
Vaishali, thank you for your great recipes and stories.
This week my CSA box contained three little sweet potatoes and I was going to ask if you could not use measurements like "2 large sweet potatoes," but I realized that was a ridiculous question. If only this was the most difficult conversion I've ever had to do. So never mind about the measurements. I'm glad I didn't really ask!
Again, thank you for the excellent website.
Vaishali
Jean, you can substitute three little sweet potatoes for two large ones. Since this is not a baked goods recipe, you can go with your instinct and adjust the measurements for the other ingredients upward or downward, to your taste.
Tm Wahl
Hi Vaishali
I live in the U.K. and came across your website as I'm looking to do a curry evening with my lovely neighbours next week. However, as I'm not vegan or gluten intolerant and quite keen to change my ways to become more gluten and vegetarian, I'm desperate for some advice on what you may suggest as simple recipes.
I've found some of your lovely curry recipes and a raita but any ideas on sides or desserts ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated - I think there's an Indian store near to where I live that I could visit for some ingredients.
Thank you
Tracy x
Vaishali
Hi Tracy, you can find quite a few Indian dessert recipes on my "Indian vegan sweets" page. I have posted tons of Indian sides over the years.
Sunny
Pleeeeease publish a cook book! I would love a hard copy of your recipes: )
Mary Brown
Hi Vaishali. Just found your site and am in the process of making cabbage rice as I had a cabbage in the pantry that needed a "home". We are a WFPB (Whole Foods Plant Based) household (my and my husband) and have discovered the tantalizing flavours of Indian Cuisine. Looking forward to making many more recipes from your blog. WOW 800 recipes!!!
Thanks from Canada and in the words of Rich Roll
Peace Plants
✌️?
Mary
Pree
Hi Vaishali, Thank you for vegan recipes, I just found you on facebook now can easily find your recipes. I Just cooked this eggplant curry it is delicious . Love your recipes and thank you for being kind to animals.
Vaishali
Hi Kris and Chris, your comment really made my day-- or my whole week! Those are such lovely words to hear and I am so happy I contributed in a small way to making your holidays more enjoyable.
Kristine Loubris
Hi Vaishali,
My husband and I have always enjoyed Indian food. We had never done much Indian cooking, but enjoyed already prepared dishes. When we went vegan, we have had to be very careful to avoid Indian foods that may have dairy in them, which was a challenge.
For the holidays this year, my husband compiled a booklet of different recipes he found on your blog. He then went to the Indian market to select all of the ingredients and spices for each recipe. He surprised me with a large basket containing everything we needed to get started.
Since then, we have been on a culinary adventure! We’ve made 7 of your recipes, so far. Not one has been a disappointment; they are all incredibly delicious!
Thank you for putting together such a wonderful resource. You didn’t know it, but you have been a huge part of our learning and discovery of Indian cuisine! We can’t thank you enough.
Kris and Chris
Deb Cazavilan
Vaishali-I am so happy to have found your blog. I've been on here for a few hours already. I almost never take the time to actually reach out and comment, but tonight I have to!
I absolutely LOVE your recipes. I love that they contain so many wonderful aromatic spices and herbs and interesting ingredients. I'm dying to go out and find myself a CURRY plant to nurture in my sunny Iowa window.
Your story of Opie touched my heart. I lost my very precious Goldendoodle at only 7 years of age. From diagnosis to the end was only 6 weeks. And sadly, ther'se may have been a way we could have bought more time, but our vet was not of that mind. I don't know how Opie's story played out. I can only hope that whatever may or may not have occurred, you find solace in the loving and vigilant care you generously gave him.
I love your pet names....Opie, Desi, Lucy, .... my beloved Goldendoodle was Arlo (after Alice's Restaurant) and my current standard poodle's name is Kramer (Yep, Cosmo Kramer) for the way he so indiscretely careens into the room.
I wish you well and I will be a Big FAN!! Love your blog, love your recipes and so thankful to have found you.
Blessings! (check out my Facebook Page if you like....I have a little Cooking School called Wooden Spoons Workshops)
Vaishali
Hi Deb, I am so sorry about your dog-- the pain doesn't ever really go away, does it? I still miss Opie and I've been dreading his first anniversary-- which is tomorrow--because of how terrible I'm going to feel all over again. Desi is my husband, by the way, although he's also kind of a pet. 🙂
So glad you've liked the recipes-- I hope you will try them, and I'll be sure to check out your FB page.
SANDRA PEARSE
Vaishali, I am so, so pleased that I have come across your website I was looking for a quinoa and chickpea burger recipe, Google brought me to your website, and I am so glad that it did!
I have had a very quick peek at a few recipes, and I am in heaven!
I can't wait to start trying some of them out. I especially want to try the sourdough starter, as I am looking into starting this, along with fermenting as well.
I know I am going to enjoy reading your blog and future recipes.
Carry on the good work, I'm looking forward to learning more.
Take care
Sandra x x
Vaishali
Thanks for your kind words, Sandra. Hope you'll do the sourdough starter. It's a gift that keeps on giving. 🙂