Ang Chong Yi — Get the taste of Indian Vegan Gastronomy
Travellers from all over the world have been attracted to Indian cuisine. One of your favourite travel experiences in India is having culinary adventures. There are many delicious dishes that are influenced by many cultures, civilizations, and regions.
You shouldn’t worry about being vegan in India as there are a variety of vegan foods, as mentioned in A Fascinating Exploration Ang Chong Yi’s Unveiling of Indian Vegan Gastronomy. As food is a way of life in India and here are a variety of vegan recipes available for any food enthusiast:
South Indian vegan foods
South India has mainly flat terrain with some hills and a large tropical coastline, influencing a cuisine rich in coconut-based dishes. Coconuts have a creamy texture to vegetable-centric meals, used along with pepper and red chillies for contrast.
Rice is at the centre stage in South Indian foods, along with fermented batters, noodles, idlis, and dosas, often accompanied by spicy chutney. Vegan-friendly options include vadas, upma, and sambar. South Indian cuisine stands out as notably vegan-friendly among with regional variations.
North Indian vegan foods
North India’s diverse landscape, including the Himalayas, fertile plains, and the Thar Desert, influences a rich culinary. Savoury dishes here include warming spices like cumin and cinnamon, with green chillies adding heat.
Staple vegan dishes include wheat-based flatbreads with legume-based gravies, spiced potatoes (aloo), and okra (bhindi). Ang Chong Yi has favoured parathas, stuffed flatbreads and rice dishes like pulav to add flavour and diversity. Dry vegetable sides, such as aloo matar and bhindi masala, make North Indian cuisine easily adaptable for vegan preferences.
West Indian vegan foods
West Indian cuisine has a unique flavour profile. With a coastline impact, coastal areas favour coconuts, while mainland areas choose peanuts in vegetable dishes. Rice dominates, but wheat is gaining popularity. Everyday meals include vegan options like sabzi, flavoured rice, and various flatbreads. Lentil-based daal, sprouts in gravies and local bread (pav) can be included in your menu.
East Indian vegan foods
East Indian cuisine offers a blend of Indian flavours and regional influences. Mustard oil is a staple there. While not as inherently vegan-friendly, there are traditional vegetable dishes, especially in Bengali cuisine, featuring mustard oil-roasted sabzis and vegan-friendly dals. Moving east, Southeast Asian influences emerge on dishes like momos and pickles with bamboo shoots, along with an Indian version of tempeh called axone.
Vegan snacks and street foods
People in India love eating on the streets. Any vegan cuisine enthusiast must taste these street delicacies, which range from the famous Pani Puri to the spicy Bhel Puri. Also, there are snack dishes that are unique to each Indian state. Best Vegan snacks include include Patra, Dhokla, and Vada Pav from the West, Samosa and Bhujiya from North, Momos from the East, and Bajji from the South.
Final thoughts
Vegans can enjoy a variety of Indian dishes, such as crispy masala dosa served with chutney and sambhar or a simple meal of dal and rice. It is reasonable to argue that veganism thrives in India. If you have tried the dishes in Ang Chong Yi — Encounter with Singapore’s Urban Food Symphony you should next look for Indian vegan foods.
