10 Insanely Tasty Vegetarian Foods From North India

The only thought that comes screaming into my mind as I sit down to write the introduction of our highly honored guest blogger for today is -- FOOD. Why? Because, Mark Wiens and Food are synonymous; for me, for so many others like me, for all those actually, who love making food an essential part of their travel and living. Mark is one of those genuine bloggers out there who need no introduction but are some serious force to be reckoned with for all that they do. Mark loves to travel and He loves to eat: Combine the two flavors (in proportions only known to him), and there you have it – His immensely appetizing blog called Migrationology!

You have to hop on there to know what a zealous food connoisseur he really is: From India to Nepal to Tanzania to Bangkok to Phillipines, Dubai and so many more: He takes pride in an impressive list of countries covered under his belt, he has 'eaten' them all! Yes, quite literally! Street food, restaurant food, junk food, staple food: You name it and in all probability, he will have it served on his blog. Browse through all of these and tell me if the sights there don’t leave your taste buds tickling and craving for more! What’s more striking for me though is that through this passion of his, he is taking his culinary adventures to a whole new level of learning and nourishment: by breaking the existing cultural barriers and enriching the world with invaluable lessons for life.

In this very special and a kind guest appearance for 'My Yatra Diary...', Mark is ready to take us all through an array of 10 of his favorite vegetarian dishes from North India: Are you ready to drool?

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As a food obsessed traveler, wandering in India was like being in an amusement park of deliciousness.

Even though I’m not normally vegetarian, India has such extraordinarily tasty vegetarian food, that when I was eating veg, I didn’t miss meat at all.

It could take more than a lifetime to sample the vast array of vegetarian dishes in India, but here are 10 of the tastiest vegetarian dishes and snacks that I ate when I was traveling through North India.

1. Dahi bhalla - Before traveling through India, I normally thought of yogurt as a sweet treat that went well with fruit or breakfast cereal. Wow did my perception change when I had my first bite of dahi bhalla, a savory chaat (snack) where yogurt is is not only salty, but sour and spicy too.

A bhalla (vada) is a  deep fried non-sweet donut made from dal flour and spices. After being deep fried, it’s soaked to become saturated like a sponge full of spiced liquid, and then topped with thick curd, chaat masala, coriander, tamarind chutney, and chili powder. The result is a sweet and salty, sour and spicy, thick and creamy, snack you’ll never forget.

2. Chole bhature - When I was hungry and needed a hearty snack or light meal, nothing satisfied like a round or two of chole bhature.

This outstanding North Indian speciality consists of two parts: chole, a spicy chickpea curry, and bhature, a puffy deep fried bread. Often served from golden pots tipped on the side, chole is spooned into a bowl, garnished with pickled onions and chillies, and scooped up with bits of the bhature.

3. Parantha - One of Delhi’s most famous streets foods is a paratha from the Paranthe Wali Gali (lane of deep fried bread).

These discs of dough are filled with a variety of ingredients, deep fried, and served with a few dipping chutneys and curries. The parathas were good, but I especially loved the side dipping sauces like the pumpkin curry.

4. Palak paneer - Paneer, a thick cheese, is a staple and delicious form of protein for vegetarian food in India.

Paneer is prepared in a variety of different methods, but stewed into a thick spinach purée known as palak paneer is one of my favorites. With rice or any form of Indian bread, palak paneer hits the spot.

5. Dal makhani - There are numerous variations of dal available in India, but one of my favorites is dal makhani.

Mostly made from black lentils with some red kidney beans mixed in, the bean stew is flavored with spices and butter to create a rich and creamy vegetarian dish that’s packed with protein.

6. Kulle chaat - There are few things I eat where I have absolutely no idea what to expect when I take my first bite, but kulle chaat was one of them.

Kulle chaat, also known as fruit chaat, is where a few different fruits are hollowed out and filled with a combination of chickpeas, lemon juice, sulfur salt, masala chaat, and topped with pomegranate seeds. The explosion of flavors packed into each bite will make you leap with tasteful joy.

7. Baati chokha - While Indian food is often complex and packed with all sorts of ingredients, some dishes, like baati chokha, are just simple and comforting.

Baati, also known as a round roti, is a ball of dough that’s grilled over charcoal, and served with chokha, a mashed potato and eggplant curry sauce.

8. Gol gappa (pani puri) -

Gol gappa is one of the most beloved street foods in all of India, and it’s not only extremely tasty, but it’s fun to eat. Sphere shaped hollow crisps are filled with spicy potatoes and drowned in water that’s flavored with tamarind and coriander. One gol gappa is popped in the mouth for a one of a kind snack sensation.

9. Onions pakoras - I don’t get the craving often, but when salty junk food sounds good, onion pakoras are just about superior to any other crunchy salty snack.

Batter wrapped onions are deep fried to a golden brown and dusted with salt (probably MSG too) and pepper. They are so salty you’ll be chugging water afterwards… but so worth it.

10. Mango kulfi - Similar to ice cream, kulfi is a frozen treat that’s made with thick cream and sugar, sometimes flavored with fruit or nuts, and usually seasoned with cardamom.

One version of mango kulfi I enjoyed in Delhi began with a fresh mango. The seed was removed from the top, and the liquid kulfi mixture was filled into the empty space. After being sealed, it was frozen solid, and after ordering it was sliced into pieces, mango on the outside and creamy kulfi on the inside.

This is just a small sampling of the abundance

of vegetarian dishes and snacks available in India.

What is your favorite Indian vegetarian food?