Indian street food is a vibrant blend of flavors, textures, and aromas that cater to every palate. For vegans, India offers an incredible array of plant-based street food that is naturally vegan or easily customizable. From spicy chaats to hearty lentil dishes, vegan Indian street foods are a culinary adventure waiting to be explored.
Here’s a curated list of 33 vegan Indian street foods that showcase the diversity and deliciousness of this cuisine.
What Makes Indian Street Food a Vegan Haven?
Indian cuisine relies heavily on vegetables, legumes, and spices, making it inherently vegan-friendly. While some dishes may include dairy, ghee, or honey, these ingredients are often optional or easily substituted, making street food accessible for vegans.
33 Vegan Indian Street Foods You Can’t Miss
1. Golgappa (Pani Puri)
Crispy, hollow puris filled with spicy tamarind water, chickpeas, and potatoes—this dish is a burst of flavors. Ensure the vendor uses tamarind water without curd for a vegan version.
2. Bhel Puri
A mix of puffed rice, tangy tamarind chutney, and fresh veggies like onions and tomatoes. It’s light, crunchy, and perfect for snacking.
3. Aloo Tikki
Golden-fried potato patties spiced with herbs and served with chutneys. Skip the curd topping to keep it vegan.
4. Ragda Pattice
A combination of aloo tikkis served with a spicy, tangy white pea curry (ragda), garnished with onions and tamarind chutney.
5. Sev Puri
Crispy puris topped with boiled potatoes, tamarind chutney, chopped veggies, and crunchy sev (gram flour noodles).
6. Samosa
Deep-fried pastry stuffed with a spiced potato and pea filling. Pair it with vegan mint or tamarind chutney.
7. Kachori
Flaky, deep-fried snacks stuffed with spiced lentils, moong dal, or peas. A popular breakfast or snack option.
8. Chana Chaat
A tangy salad made with boiled chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and spices.
9. Masala Dosa
A South Indian delicacy, this crispy rice and lentil crepe is stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes. Pair it with coconut chutney for a vegan delight.
10. Idli with Sambhar
Steamed rice cakes served with a tangy lentil stew. Ensure the chutneys are coconut-based and dairy-free.
11. Pakoras (Bhajis)
Fritters made with gram flour and a variety of veggies like onions, spinach, or potatoes, deep-fried to perfection.
12. Vada Pav
Mumbai’s iconic street food, featuring a spicy potato fritter sandwiched in a bun with chutneys. Ask for it without butter.
13. Pav Bhaji
A spicy vegetable curry served with toasted bread. For a vegan option, ask for no butter on the bread.
14. Pao Misal
A Maharashtra favorite, it’s a spicy lentil curry (misal) served with bread rolls. Ensure no butter is used for the bread.
15. Poha
Flattened rice cooked with turmeric, mustard seeds, and veggies like onions and potatoes, often garnished with peanuts and coriander.
16. Banana Chips
Thinly sliced and deep-fried banana slices sprinkled with salt and spices.
17. Upma
A savory semolina dish cooked with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chopped vegetables.
18. Paniyaram
Crispy, ball-shaped snacks made from fermented rice and lentil batter, often served with spicy chutneys.
19. Jhal Muri
A Bengali puffed rice snack mixed with mustard oil, peanuts, chopped onions, and green chilies.
20. Dabeli
A Gujarati street food featuring a spiced potato filling stuffed into a bun and topped with pomegranate seeds and peanuts. Ask for no butter on the bun.
21. Aloo Chaat
Spicy, tangy potato chunks tossed with chutneys and spices.
22. Bhutta (Grilled Corn)
Charred corn on the cob, rubbed with lime juice, chili powder, and salt.
23. Chole Kulche
A hearty chickpea curry served with soft flatbreads. Skip butter on the bread to keep it vegan.
24. Moong Dal Chilla
Savory lentil pancakes made with ground moong dal, often stuffed with veggies.
25. Vegetable Momos
Steamed dumplings filled with spiced veggies, served with fiery red chutney.
26. Gobi Manchurian
Crispy cauliflower florets tossed in a spicy Indo-Chinese sauce.
27. Spring Rolls
Thin, crispy rolls stuffed with spiced veggies, perfect for a quick snack.
28. Thepla
Gujarati flatbread made with whole wheat flour and fenugreek leaves, often served with pickle.
29. Sattu Drink
A refreshing and nutritious beverage made with roasted gram flour, water, and spices.
30. Tamarind Rice
A South Indian delicacy made with cooked rice, tamarind paste, and a mix of spices.
31. Coconut Water with Malai
Fresh coconut water paired with tender coconut flesh, a naturally vegan and refreshing treat.
32. Pesarattu
A green gram dosa from Andhra Pradesh, often served with coconut chutney.
33. Chikki
A sweet treat made from jaggery and nuts or seeds, like peanuts or sesame.
Tips for Enjoying Vegan Indian Street Food
- Communicate Clearly: Always confirm with vendors if a dish contains dairy, butter, or ghee.
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Opt for stalls that prepare food fresh and hygienically.
- Carry Plant-Based Substitutes: If you’re unsure, carry plant-based butter or non-dairy curd for certain dishes.
Conclusion
Exploring Indian street food as a vegan is an exhilarating journey through diverse flavors and textures. These 33 vegan street foods not only celebrate the richness of Indian cuisine but also prove that plant-based eating can be indulgent, satisfying, and full of surprises.
Embark on this flavorful adventure and discover why Indian street food is a haven for vegans worldwide!
