Collection of vegetarian Punjabi thali ideas along with recipes.
Jump to:
Punjabi food is the most famous form of Indian food outside of India. It is the most commonly available food in Indian restaurants all over the world. I make Punjabi food quite often and it is loved by my family.
Here are some vegetarian Punjabi thali ideas. These are some of the meals I make quite frequently. They may not be a typical Punjabi thali but features most recipes that are from Punjabi cuisine.
Vegetarian Punjabi Thali #1
Starting from the top, clockwise: this thali consists of dal fry, kofta, matar paneer, jeera rice, salad, mango kulfi, and roti (placed in the center).
- Dal fry – pigeon pea lentil or toor dal cooked with onion, tomatoes, and aromatic spices
- Kofta – vegetable balls simmered in a creamy gravy
- Matar paneer – yet another famous Punjabi dish. Cottage cheese and green peas cooked in a rich creamy onion-tomato gravy
- Jeera rice – basmati rice cooked with ghee and cumin seeds
- Roti and salad
- Mango kulfi – the perfect way to welcome summer
Vegetarian Punjabi Thali #2
Starting from the top, clockwise: this thali consists of dal makhani, boondi raita, kadai paneer, jeera rice, and almond halwa.
- Dal makhani– silky velvety dal makhani made with whole black lentil, red kidney beans, and butter
- Boondi raita – whisked yogurt mixed with boondi (tiny fried gram flour balls)
- Kadai paneer – cottage cheese cooked with onion, capsicum, and freshly ground spices
- Jeera rice – cooked basmati rice stir-fried with ghee and cumin seeds
- Badam halwa – or almond fudge, ground almonds slow-cooked with ghee, milk and sugar
Vegetarian Punjabi Thali #3
Starting from the top, clockwise: this thali consists of baingan bharta, kalakand, naan, kachumder salad, and palak paneer.
- Baingan Bharta – Eggplants roasted on an open flame and finished off with onion, tomato, and minimal spices
- Kalakand – cottage cheese milk fudge that tastes so good and at the same time has so many textures – soft, chewy, crumbly, nutty…
- Naan – Soft, fluffy leavened flatbread in its signature teardrop shape
- Kachumber salad – chopped cucumber, tomatoes, onion in lemon juice, salt, chilli powder dressing
- Palak paneer – Soft cottage cheese cooked in silky, mildly spicy spinach gravy
Vegetarian Punjabi Thali #4
Starting from the top, clockwise: this thali consists of matar paneer, dal fry, jeera rice, kalakand, and boondi raita.
- Matar Paneer – Cottage cheese and green peas cooked in a rich creamy onion-tomato gravy
- Dal fry – pigeon pea lentil or toor dal slow cooked with onion, tomatoes, and aromatic spices
- Jeera Rice – Basmati rice cooked with ghee, cumin seeds, and green peas
- Kalakand – cottage cheese milk fudge that tastes so good and at the same time has so many textures – soft, chewy, crumbly, and nutty
- Boondi Raita – whisked yogurt mixed with boondi (tiny fried gram flour balls)
Vegetarian Punjabi Thali #5
Starting from the top, clockwise: this thali consists of boondi raita, jeera rice, motichoor laddu, naan, dal makhani, and paneer tamatar bhurji.
- Boondi Raita – whisked yogurt mixed with boondi (tiny fried gram flour balls)
- Jeera Rice – Basmati rice cooked with ghee, cumin seeds, and green peas
- Motichoor Laddu – Delicious laddu made with tiny gram flour (boondi) which is soaked in sugar syrup and then shaped into round balls
- Naan – Soft, fluffy leavened flatbread made with plain flour
- Dal Makhani – silky velvety dal makhani made with whole black lentil, red kidney beans, and butter
- Paneer Tamatar Bhurji – Paneer that has two textures, one crumbled and the other diced; in a silky tangy tomato gravy that is so so wonderful
Vegetarian Punjabi Thali #6
Starting from the top, clockwise: this thali consists of baingan bharta, jeera rice, dal makhani, multi-layer paratha, carrot halwa, and boondi raita.
- Baingan Bharta – Eggplants roasted on an open flame and finished off with onion, tomato, and minimal spices
- Jeera Rice – Basmati rice cooked with ghee, cumin seeds, and green peas
- Dal Makhani – silky velvety dal makhani made with whole black lentil, red kidney beans, and butter
- Multi-layer paratha – Triangle paratha or multi-layer paratha is an easy flatbread and is made with just a few simple ingredients
- Gajar Halwa – carrot halwa or pudding, where grated carrots are slow-cooked in milk, and finished with sugar, ghee, and nuts
- Boondi Raita – whisked yogurt mixed with boondi (tiny fried gram flour balls)
