From the Ahimsa cookbook
During Paryushan/ Das Lakshan Parva, fresh Vegetables, fresh fruits and fresh herbs are avoided because they are one sensed being.
Disclaimer: Ideally nuts, seeds, rava, maida (all-purpose flour), seeds like sesame, poppy seeds, etc, tofu, store bought yogurts or other items are not consumed by strict Jains during Chaumasa (the 4 months of monsoon season) and during Paryushan/Das Lakshan Parva.
Please use your discretion to make your transition to veganism comfortable.
Dairy Alternatives
While switching to a plant-based diet, the first alternative we often look for is a substitute for dairy or cow’s milk. Many of us are used to drinking milk daily, either on its own, as a milkshake, in tea or coffee, in desserts, or in various other dishes. The thought of “life without milk” can be overwhelming. However, today we know that we are loaded with options when it comes to plant-based milks. Let’s try homemade almond milk.
Dairy Alternatives
A typical Burmese tofu is made using water, gram flour (ground yellow split peas & chickpeas), salt, and turmeric. Though this recipe has a few extra spices, the outcome is a versatile soy-free/dairy-free alternative that can be used in many dishes. It is quite simple to make, doesn’t require any fancy equipment, and is also budget-friendly!
Dairy Alternatives
An easy vegan cheese recipe which is simply delicious. This is the basic cheese recipe. This recipe can be modified as per requirement of the dish by adding various spices.
Dairy Alternatives
Out of various vegan curds, this is the easiest to make and perfect for making kadhi (curry)
Dairy Alternatives
No Bananas! Naturally sweet and chocolatey milkshake made without any added sugar.
Dairy Alternatives
After trying almost every alternative out there, this is one of the best versions of tea/chai you could try, especially when you are still in the transition phase. This is a perfect beverage to wake up to with no need for dairy.
Dairy Alternatives
If I am looking for a quick yogurt, I usually make peanut curd. It needs less soaking time and is easy to make.
Dairy Alternatives
Antioxidant powerhouse turmeric gives this latte its beautiful, vibrant color. Turmeric imparts a subtle, earthy flavor to this drink, which is perfect when paired with sweet, creamy coconut milk.
Dairy Alternatives
Do not add any water while making vegan ghee.
Dairy Alternatives
Dairy Alternatives
This shake is a delicious meal by itself which is extremely thick, creamy, and super yummy.
Dairy Alternatives
Extremely easy and a sure shot to make well set curd.
Dairy Alternatives
Plant - based milks are easy to make at home.
Dairy Alternatives
Horchata is an easy-to-make, authentic Mexican drink. It’s a perfect complement to all your favorite Mexican meals and one of the most refreshing drinks for hot summer days.
Dairy Alternatives
Simple yet creamy cashew sauce that you can make in minutes. It is incredibly versatile and can be paired with pretty much anything!
Dairy Alternatives
Kickstart your morning with VJ Indian masala chai, which will give you a similar or even better experience than your traditional Indian masala chai. Even more importantly, this tea is better for you, animals, and the planet.
Snacks
Snacks
Delicious and very easy to make snack.
Snacks
Make-ahead granola for breakfast or include it in your lunch with any plant-based milk as a replacement of fruit salad!
Snacks
Extremely easy and Protein packed dish
Snacks
These Dhoklas are very healthy and tasty. The ingredients are easily accessible and don't require much prepping.
Snacks
Sumptuous snacks with goodness of barley , coconut and tickles your taste buds with sweetness, spice & crunchiness.
Snacks
The below recipe is an instant dosa recipe. No fermentation is required. Make sure the batter is of lump-free consistency.
Snacks
Here is the recipe of how to make the vada. Once ready, you can top it up with vegan curd, tamarind chutney and bhalla masala. You can also add some boiled chickpea!
Snacks
This dish is delicious, easy to make, and light on the tummy.
Snacks
Snacks
Snacks
Snacks
Chilla/Pudla is a budget-friendly, easy to cook, protein-rich, and gluten-free recipe that requires just a few ingredients.
Snacks
Snacks
A pre-prayushan prep recipe, delicious & loved by all.
Snacks
Snacks
Extremely quick and healthy protein snack that can be had either hot or cold. Suitable for vegans + wheat-free, gluten-free, soya-free, nut-free, no added sugar.
Snacks
Sesame seed brittle aka tal sakri, tal papdi, tal ni chikki, til chikki - a snack that is warm, toasty, and delicious!
Snacks
Veganized version of a popular savory Gujarati snack in an easy-to-make style!
Condiments & Masalas
A perfect condiment to have with Idlis, Dhoklas, Utthapam, and Dosas.
Condiments & Masalas
A super simple seasoning mix filled with Italian flavors. The perfect blend to add to pastas, soups, sauces, and dips.
Condiments & Masalas
Vegan Ramen noodles are a staple snack for my teenager, and here's a Jain version that is made with spices we already have in our traditional Indian kitchen. Also, other than ramen noodles, you can use this masala on other types of noodles, and I’m even planning on using this to make a quick rice stir fry.
Condiments & Masalas
Malgapodi is a spicy and delicious coarse South Indian spice mix. Traditionally, it is served with idlis and dosas.
Condiments & Masalas
Here is a recipe for hummus that can be consumed during Chaturmas and Paryushan by Vegan Jains.
Condiments & Masalas
Avoiding ingredients like ginger, garlic, green chili, etc., makes it difficult to add flavors to dals, and this spice mix is a life saver. All you need to do is boil the lentils and add 1 or 2 spoons of this mix!
Condiments & Masalas
This is the ingredient measurement for 1 cup of Toor Dal Sambar (split pigeon peas)
Condiments & Masalas
This quick sesame chutney can be served with idli, dosa, chilla, put on roti rolls and it even tastes awesome with rice!
Condiments & Masalas
This is a nutrition hack my mom taught me. Loaded with a variety of different seeds, it helps to boost the mineral and nutrient content of your favorite nut butter. Plus, it gives it a pleasant crunch!
Condiments & Masalas
This is a popular, age old Indian recipe. Sharing it here to ensure we only use ingredients that are allowed during paryushan.
Meals
An easy dosa-like breakfast option with added protein.
Meals
Meals
Meals
Meals
Spiced and flavorful parathas made with wheat & Gram/chickpea flour.
Meals
Hazelnuts are the star of the show in this chocolatey recipe. The sweetness comes from the wholesomeness of dates, and the rich flavor from unprocessed cocoa powder. A perfect spread to enjoy on crackers, on pancakes, or as a dip.
Meals
“WOW” was my teenage son’s reaction when I asked him to taste these black beans and rice so I could pack them for his school lunch. And all I could think was mission accomplished. He was going to have a really long day due to school, sports, and extracurriculars and I wanted to make sure he had healthy fuel to sustain him.
Meals
Black Eyed Peas are the most common types of beans and staple in many countries. This recipe can be made without using Tofu, however adding makes the entire dish delicious, hearty, and flavorful.
Meals
Made with very few ingredients and gets ready in under 30 minutes
Meals
Meals
This quick and easy spaghetti in olive oil comes together in just 15 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients. The combination of chickpeas, italian seasoning, and dried cranberries results in a tangy and satisfying paryushan friendly pasta dish.
Meals
Daal Baati is a traditional dish native to Rajasthan. This recipe is easy to make, without the use of any oil. The cracks in the baati help it cook even better.
Meals
This is a traditional Sindhi recipe modified to make it vegan and paryushan-friendly
Meals
Meals
This is like sev or sevai (long strings) and is traditionally had as breakfast in Kerala.
Meals
Meals
If you are looking for a simple, mouthwatering meal during Paryushan, this Instant Rice Dosa & Chutney is for you. It tastes wonderful and the recipe is so simple, anyone can make it!
Meals
Meals
Meals
Meals
No arsenal of expensive ingredients, because this one relies on more basic ones, such as cashews or almonds for richness, chickpea tofu for thickness, and dried herbs & spices for added flavor. This easy, creamy, and vegan Paryushan-friendly recipe is so satisfying that you won’t even miss the cheese.
Meals
Methi Papad Subji is easy to make and very flavorful. Try making it during holy days of Paryushan.
Meals
Meals
Meals
Meals
Meals
Misal is a scrumptious cocktail of savories and beans. It’s very tasty as well as healthy. The best part of misal is that it suits breakfast, dinner or any other time.
Meals
This delicious recipe is rich in protein
Meals
Meals
Traditional Moong Bean Curry is a super easy and nutritionally balanced recipe. You can have it either as breakfast, lunch, or even dinner. Combine the classic recipe with khakara or plain rice of your choice for a complete meal.
Meals
Chilla/Pudla is a budget-friendly, easy to cook, protein-rich, and gluten-free recipe that requires just a few ingredients.
Meals
This is in continuation to my recipe of a spice mix/masala which is very versatile and my all-time favorite. I add it to curries, lentils, or veg kebabs.
Meals
Kadhi can be made in so many different ways and different states follow different ways to make this... There is Gujarati kadhi, Rajasthani kadhi, Punjabi kadhi and maybe more that I don’t know of. Today, I’m sharing kadhi that is JAIN, VEGAN, and PARYUSHAN friendly. And guess what? It’s super DELICIOUS! Tastes almost like the usual dairy curd. It is similar to Gujarati Kadhi but I have made some changes to enhance the flavor as we cannot use fresh curry leaves (kadi patta) in Paryushan - a very important ingredient in kadhi. Also, plant-based curds have their own flavor and I add extra spices to mask that.
Meals
A perfect lunch or dinner item. Most people love it, but they think it’s hard to make. However, this is the easiest way to make it.
Meals
My son goes nuts over these peanut noodles!
Meals
Meals
A popular Maharashtrian sweet roti recipe made with flour and sweetened chana dal stuffing. It is generally made during special occasions or during festival time such as Holi, but can be made and preserved at any time. Traditionally, it is eaten or served warm with a generous amount of ghee (vegan).
Meals
Even though there are no vegetables in this recipe, it still tastes delicious.
Meals
An interesting recipe of Patties to include millets!
Meals
Meals
Instead of making simple kadhi, try this rice dumpling kadhi! It tastes really good and quite easy to make.
Meals
Rice pancakes are one of the favorite and versatile foods during Paryushan. It’s quick and super easy to make. You can eat this as an evening snack with tea or have it as dinner.
Meals
Meals
Meals
Meals
We love Idli for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It's a healthy substitute for a bread and flour-laden breakfast!
Meals
Can be had as lunch or dinner with sambar and coconut chutney.
Meals
A perfect lunch or dinner item. Most people love it but they think it’s hard to make, but this is the easiest way to make it.
Meals
Delicious and hearty African main meal with an optional Indian twist.
Meals
Vatha Kuzhambu (pronounced koo-ulm-bu) is a tangy, salty, and spicy gravy that pairs well with any rice dish.
Meals
This one-pot meal is a great alternative to the Tuvar dal dhokli (pigeon peas dal dhokli). When cooked with yellow split moong dal, it turns out equally nutritious, light, and tastes delicious. The recipe is divided into two parts: dhokli/pasta (made from scratch) and the gravy: seasoning the dal. Just a note, if you do not like added sweetness, then this one's for you! No added sugar!
Desserts
Desserts
Desserts
This is a very easy, healthy, and classic chia pudding recipe. These small, flat, and shiny seeds are tiny in shape, yet packed with fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and various micronutrients.
Desserts
This recipe is one of the easiest desserts you could make in little or no time.
Desserts
A good snack for children. Very quick to make.
Desserts
Halva/Sheero made with Tree Nuts is easy to make, very delicious, budget-friendly and this sweet dish fills you with energy and vitality.
Desserts
It is believed that sweet foods add sweetness to our lives. Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the festivities with a healthy mithai? The delightfully delicious diyas are my creation - it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, and also free from artificial additives and colorings.
Desserts
Ladoo made using coconut sugar and vegan butter. It feels soft like fudge.
Desserts
Desserts
Traditional moong dal payasam sweet dish is made with moong dal, jaggery, coconut milk, nuts, and ghee. This recipe doesn’t require the use of ghee and yet tastes delicious.
Desserts
A mouthwatering sweet dish that gets ready in about 20 minutes with just basic ingredients.
Desserts
A tasty wholesome alternative to protein supplements, this laddoo is a hit with kids and adults alike. This has been used by my patients who are looking to build their body or just want to increase their protein consumption.
Desserts
Ragi pudding is a Goan recipe. This is a delicious, yummy, and healthy recipe. Using very few ingredients a healthy dessert can be made.
Desserts
Vegans miss dairy-based mithai like this, and it is so easy to substitute with any plant-based milk.
Desserts
Shir berinj is a pudding consisting of shir (milk) and berinj (rice). It's a common dessert in countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. The sticky pudding is flavored with rose water and cardamom, which gives it a unique and delicious flavor.
Desserts
Poha (flattened rice/avalakki) is a daily staple in many homes. While it’s commonly used in savoury dishes, it can also be used to make sweet dishes. Here’s a typical Konkani sweet made with poha and coconut milk that is flavoured with cardamom. The sweetness comes from the dates, so this is the perfect indulgence for a clean eating routine!
Desserts
The most delicious finger millet (ragi) cookies, loaded with calcium & fiber. These are suitable for people suffering from diabetes, thyroid, PCOS & other lifestyle disorders.
Desserts
Yes! Vegan halwa can be delicious too!