Here is a collection of 50+ delicious and easy to make No Onion No Garlic Indian recipes to make while fasting / vrat on festivals, or for any other diet or lifestyle reasons. These are all vegetarian Indian recipes.
A no onion no garlic diet is followed by many for religious reasons on an everyday basis or on certain festival days. It is also called a sattvic diet.
This collection is by no means something that follows all vrat / diet requisites. In my family, my Amma follows a fasting diet on special occasions like Navarathri and Amavasya (new moon day) and she just avoids onion and garlic and eats only fresh food made on the day of.
But I know many who avoid grains, legumes and certain vegetables. For a lot of people, just avoiding alcohol and meat and following a vegetarian diet is a fasting diet in itself. There are so many various specifications that different people follow on fasting days. This list does not cover all of that. It is just a collection of recipes with no onion and no garlic that can be enjoyed by all, whether fasting or not.
This collection of no onion no garlic recipes have main course recipes, rice recipe, dal recipes, vegetable side dish recipes, dessert recipes (they are by default no onion and no garlic anyway but it is good to have it in the collection if you are interested to make it on a festive day).
How to flavor food without onion and garlic?
Onion, garlic and ginger are the base aromatics in Indian cuisine to which the spices are added and the veggies or meat or paneer is then mixed in to make the curry or dish. Its hard to imagine Indian food cooked without onion or garlic.
There are several regional cuisines where everyday food is cooked without onion and garlic and the main flavors of the vegetables are highlighted. Also the religion of Jainism believes in cooking without onion and garlic, so those who follow it always cook their meals without onion and garlic.
But in recipes that usually uses onion and garlic, there are a variety of other ingredients that can be added to give a burst of flavors to the dish.
Asafetida is one such ingredient. Asafetida or hing or perungayam gives food the same kind of complexity and depth in flavors, as onions and garlic do, so it is a great ingredient to use in no onion no garlic recipe to add more flavor.
Similarly, ginger gives an earthy flavor and some heat to any dishes it is added to and is a good ingredient to add to dishes to pack in a ton of flavor.
Green chillies, red chillies and other spices help add layers of flavor in no onion no garlic recipes.
Aloo Rasedar
Cooked potatoes are crumbled and simmered in a spiced tomato sauce, to make this No Onion – No Garlic Potato Curry recipe of Aloo Rasedar. An easy, under 30 minute recipe for a quick weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe
White Pumpkin Dal
Quick and easy recipe for white pumpkin (vellai poosanikai) kootu with green peas. A delicious and wholesome side for rice or chapatis.
Get the recipe
South Indian Coconut Rice
A savory, lightly spiced and delicious Coconut Rice made the South Indian way. This Thengai Sadam is easy to make and is perfect for a weeknight meal.
Get the recipe
Rava Kesari
Easy step-by-step recipe to make the popular Southern Indian dessert, Rava Kesari. It is made with a few simple ingredients like semolina, sugar, ghee and cardamom.
Get the recipe
Sprouted Chickpea Sundal
A delicious savory Southern Indian snack with sprouted chickpeas and grated coconut sauteed in a tempered spice seasoning to make this Sprouted Chickpeas Sundal.
Get the recipe
Cilantro Coconut Chutney
Fresh and flavorful cilantro coconut chutney is the perfect accompaniment to Southern Indian breakfast dishes like dosas and idlis. This condiment takes only about 10 mins to put together.
Get the recipe
South Indian Lemon Rice
Tangy, flavorful and easy to make Southern Indian Lemon Rice is a crowd favorite. It is vegan and gluten free and can be made nut free as well.
Get the recipe
Kerala Style Bhindi / Okra Saute
Simple and easy Kerala Style Roasted Okra or Vendakka Mezhukkupuratti is a delicious vegan side that is crispy, flavorful and not slimy at all.
Get the recipe
Makhana Kheer
Makhana Kheer is a creamy Indian pudding dessert made with puffed edible seeds of water lily and milk and made fragrant with saffron and cardamom.
Get the recipe
Chembu Moru Curry – Taro Root Yogurt Curry
Chembu curry is taro root cooked with spices and simmered in a yogurt and coconut sauce and is a wonderful tangy and cooling accompaniment to rice, especially on hot summer days.
Get the recipe
Curd Rice / Yogurt Rice
Curd rice, also called yogurt rice or thayir sadam, is a Southern Indian recipe that is slightly sweet, sour and savory, all in itself. Curd rice is white rice mixed with yogurt and a tempered seasoning of spices and herbs.
Get the recipe
Instant Pot Rasam Rice
Instant Pot rasam rice is comfort in a bowl made in minutes, all in one-pot. Spicy tangy notes of rasam infused with rice is delicious with a side of potato fry.
Get the recipe
Carrot and Green Beans Thoran
Easy and delicious saute of carrots and green beans with coconut.
Get the recipe
Spinach and Chickpeas Sauté with Coconut
A quick and easy, vegetarian side of Spinach sauteed with canned Chickpeas with some smashed fresh coconut and spices. It is a great side with rice or rotis but can also be eaten as a snack or salad, in itself.
Get the recipe
Beets and Carrot Thoran
Simple and easy vegetable side of red beets and rainbow carrots saute with coconut and green chillies.
Get the recipe
Spinach Pesarattu
These almost instant gluten free crepes, Spinach Pesarattu, are power packed with green mung bean and spinach and can be enjoyed with a side of your favorite coconut chutney for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even a snack!
Get the recipe
Saffron Kheer
Kheer or Indian Rice Pudding, made easy in the Instant Pot. Make this Instant Pot Saffron Kheer easily for a crowd, this Diwali, with this no fail recipe.
Get the recipe
Palak Masala Pooris
Fluffy, deep fried, hot pooris are anyone’s dream of indulgence, especially when it comes to cold winter days. Add to that some green goodness like spinach and you will feel a little less guilty!
Get the recipe
Palak Kadhi
Steamed basmati rice and some hot and creamy Spinach Kadhi is all you need to take you to your favorite warm and fuzzy place. It is one the ultimate food combinations.
Get the recipe
Lauki Kheer
Deliciously decadent kheer laced with cardamom and saffron and the goodness of lauki / bottle gourd, that you can feel a little less guilty of indulging in more than one serving.
Get the recipe
Malpua with Rabri
Heavenly little fried pancakes topped with sweet thickened milk poured on top of it, this Indian dessert of Malpua with Rabri is an experience in itself!
Get the recipe
Mango Semiya Kheer
Sweetness of mangoes accentuates the flavors in this simple yet very delicious Semiya Payasam. Try this Mango Semiya Payasam as something different from your regular semiya payasam.
Get the recipe
Black Eyed Peas Sundal
Another easy sundal recipe with black eyed peas as the lentil source. Quick and easy and as always, delicious and protein rich snack!
Get the recipe
Besan Halwa
This fudgy pudding like dessert made with chickpea flour, sugar, ghee and flavored with saffron and cardamom is rich goodness in every spoonful. Done in under 30 minutes, this Besan Halwa is perfect to celebrate any special occasion.
Get the recipe
Chana Dal Sundal
A quick yet delicious snack recipe that is vegan and gluten free, this Kadala Parippu Sundal is simple cooked yellow lentils with coconut and spices. It is a popular Southern Indian snack made during the fall festival of Navarathri.
Get the recipe
Kesar Badam Doodh
Warm creamy whole milk infused with the goodness of almonds along with fragrant saffron and cardamom in this Kesar Badam Doodh is a fitting welcome drink for your guests at your next festival get together.
Get the recipe
Sweet and Sour Pineapple Curry
Sweet and Sour Pineapple Pachadi is a favorite side for any sadya meal that is served for Onam, Vishu or for any other special occasions.
Get the recipe
Chickpea Sundal
A quick, easy and filling snack with garbanzo beans, coconut and a touch of spice for a flavor pop, this Kondakadalai Sundal is a popular festival snack in Southern India.
Get the recipe
Khoya Rice Kheer
Upgrade your regular rice kheer to this richer and creamier Khoya Rice Kheer. This recipe has rave reviews from friends and followers alike.
Get the recipe
Turmeric Raw Mango Rice
Fragrant basmati rice made tangy and delicious with grated raw mangoes added to it, is a quick lunch that can be made any day!
Get the recipe
Saffron Mango Lassi
Sweet, ripe and juice mangoes get combined with saffron, cardamom and pistachios along with some Stonyfield Organic yogurt to make this delicious summer cooler of a Mango lassi.
Get the recipe
Instant Rava Idli
Healthy and instant Rava Idlis can be made under half an hour, when you run out of other breakfast options for the week. Serve them alongside your favorite side of sambar or chutney and help you and family, start their day right.
Get the recipe
Spelt Methi Pooris
Deep fried goodness of flatbread made with spelt and whole wheat flour and a generous sprinkle of dried fenugreek leaves, these Spelt Methi Pooris are an indulgence that makes you feel less guilty and something you definitely deserve on those cold winter days!
Get the recipe
Beetroot Halwa
You won’t fell guilty with this indulgence of Beetroot Halwa / Indian Style Beet Pudding with Condensed Milk, as it is filled with all the goodness of beets, yet so very decadent.
Get the recipe
Ven Pongal
If your day starts with this delicious, comforting and spicy Ven Pongal with some piping hot sambar and a cup of frothy filter coffee, its just gotta be a great day!
Get the recipe
Sooji Halwa
A sooji halwa recipe with a twist. The khoya added to this sooji halwa gives it so much more creaminess and flavor.
Get the recipe
Pinto Beans Sundal
An easy no prep snack of pinto beans sautéed with coconut and lightly spiced with dried red chillies and asafetida.
Get the recipe
Minty Peach Lassi
Creamy yet refreshing Minty Peach Lassi with a touch of honey for sweetness, it is the perfect summer drink, especially when peaches are everywhere this season!
Get the recipe
Vazhakkai Bajji – Raw Banana Pakodas
Crispy fried raw bananas in a salty and slightly spicy chickpea flour batter, these Vazhakka Bajjis are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of hot chai in the evening!
Get the recipe
Avial – Mixed Vegetable Curry
Avial – a mixed vegetable curry in a spiced coconut and yogurt sauce, is a very quintessential Kerala dish that is made for Sadya (a feast)! It also features very regularly in everyday meals in Kerala.
Get the recipe
Carrot Semiya Payasam
Grated carrots added to the usual vermicelli payasam (vermicelli pudding with milk) perfumed with cardamom and saffron makes it an ideal dessert for spring.
Get the recipe
Vendakka Kichadi – Fried Okra Raita
Delicately spiced coconut and yogurt sauce topped with crispy fried okra – a perfect side!
Get the recipe
Zucchini Kootu / Dal
Protein rich and flavor packed koottu / kootu recipe with Zucchini. Vegan and Guten Free.
Get the recipe
Coconut Khoya Laddoo
Deliciously decadent and melt-in-your mouth kind of fudge is this Coconut Khoya Laddoo. Easy to make and gets done in 30 mins.
Get the recipe
Cardamom Rose Milk
Deliciously chilled milk with rose and cardamom flavors is the perfect festive drink.
Get the recipe
Poha Laddoo
Decadent and delicious laddoos made with Aval / Poha and Coconut.
Get the recipe
Pumpkin Halwa
Pumpkin Halwa or Kaddu Ka Halwa is an easy seasonal Indian dessert made with just 4 ingredients. This delicious dessert is ready in about 20 mins.
Get the recipe
Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun is the classic Indian dessert that everyone loves. You can make the softest, melt-in-your mouth gulab jamuns right at home with this recipe.
Get the recipe
Chivda
Chivda or Chiwda made with poha / beaten rice flakes is a very popular savory teatime snack in India. It is super easy to make and makes for a very delicious snack!
Get the recipe
Masala Roasted Cashews
Crunchy and spicy masala roasted cashews are an easy tea time snack. This quick to make snack recipe requires just a handful of ingredients.
Get the recipe
Besan Badam Laddoo
Simple, yet, complex in flavors, this nutty Besan Badam Laddoo is everyone’s favorite from the Diwali snack line up. Made with roasting Bengal gram flour and almond flour with ghee and perfumed with cardamom, these rolled balls of sinful goodness is something that you cannot just stop at one.
Get the recipe
