Hurry The Food Up Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes For Busy People
Everyone loves a good curry, and with these Indian recipes for weight loss, a curry craving doesn’t have to compromise your weight loss goals!
When planning dinner with weight loss as a goal, Indian food might not spring to mind. That’s because you’re probably thinking of rich, creamy, salty (and often meaty!) take-out.
However, we have found healthy Indian vegetarian recipes that can be easily incorporated into a weight loss plan.
If you’re not fussed about weight loss and just want to tuck into some tasty Indian food, check out these Vegetarian Indian Recipes as well!
Tikka-ing all the boxes : what makes an Indian weight loss recipe?
Is Indian food healthy? Well, these Indian weight loss recipes have specific nutritional profiles, to make sure that they are!
These are the requirements they meet:
- Around 600 calories or under
- At least 15g protein
- Less than 25g fat
This makes them suitable for weight loss for many reasons.
Keeping calories at around 600 is a no-brainer. In order to lose weight you have to be in a healthy calorie deficit. A 600 calorie meal should fill and fuel you, while contributing to a lower overall daily calorie intake.
Protein is great for making you feel full, so keeping the protein levels high in these Indian recipes for weight loss means that they will help to make you feel satisfied for longer. This means you are less likely to snack between meals!
Fat is not in itself bad, but fatty foods are very calorie dense, so if weight loss is your thing, you’re going to want to keep the fat at bay. We have chosen relatively low fat Indian recipes, no more than 25g fat per portion.
Classic curries made weight loss friendly!
These versions of Indian recipes for weight loss cover some of the best classic indian dishes.
There’s a scrummy vegetable tikka masala and a delicious keto saag paneer.
There are also some more unusual healthy indian vegetarian recipes, like our very own mango curry.
We’re sure you’ll find indian diet recipes that you love to help you on your weight loss journey!
If you want to learn more about losing weight as a vegetarian, check out our vegetarian weight loss courses. We specialise in guiding vegetarians through the weight loss process, so if you’re looking to make a bigger change, then you’re in the right place!
But for now, enjoy tucking into these delicious Indian recipes!
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: SplashOfTaste
Bonus: classic, colourful, hot
428 calories per serving
If you’re looking for authentic Indian recipes for weight loss, it doesn’t get much better than this delicious vegetable bhuna curry! This is great if you’re vegan, vegetarian or even if you’re just looking at cutting down on meat consumption. It’s a brilliant dinner idea for meatless Monday or Veganuary.
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: LittleSugarSnaps
Bonus: easy, high protein, comforting
339 calories per serving
This vegetarian rogan josh is packed with wholesome ingredients – it’s one of the healthiest indian dinner recipes for weight loss and a great comfort food for chilly days. This aubergine curry is vegetarian/ vegan and a great way to satisfy a curry craving.
Bonus: easy, high protein, comforting
506 calories per serving
Not actually an Indian dish, but a delicious curry from its neighbour to the north, Pakistan. This is so tasty we had to include it anyway!
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: FitMealIdeas
Bonus: simple, high protein, comforting
218 calories per serving
Veggie chunks curry, a delicious & flavorful lunch/dinner. It is vegan, gluten-free, & protein-packed recipe to make with an instant pot or on a stovetop. A great indian diet recipe.
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: AimeeMars
Bonus: creamy, full of veg, delicious
677 calories per serving
Vegetable Tikka Masala, because chicken doesn’t have to have all the fun! This is a healthy and vegan take on a traditional Indian dish. Add this Indian weight loss recipe to your meal plab right now!
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: FitMealIdeas
Bonus: healthy, simple, tasty
148 calories per serving
TVP crumbles breakfast is a flavorful, spicy, and protein-packed healthy breakfast scramble. Veggie scramble is a great addition to soups, pizza, pasta, and sauces.
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: FatRainbow
Bonus: easy, high protein, comforting
223 calories per serving
Paneer Tikka is a popular Indian appetizer that can compete tall with Chicken Tikka. Here am presenting you the healthiest no oil version that is perfect for weight loss or if you are counting calories for general fitness.
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: CulinaryLion
Bonus: low-carb, high protein, tasty
335 calories per serving
Saag Paneer is a traditional Indian dish consisting of fried Paneer cheese and creamy spinach. This Keto Saag Paneer is easy to prepare and packed with flavor.
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: VeganHeaven
Bonus: easy, high protein, comforting
607 calories per serving
This red lentil dal makes the perfect weeknight dinner for the whole family. It’s healthy, filling, fragrant, and it comes together in only 25 minutes!
Bonus: tangy, unusual, creamy
580 calories per serving
This virtually vegan mango curry is refreshing, tropical, super-quick and soooooo easy! Don’t miss out on this one. Try it for yourself:
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 9 oz firm tofu (9 oz = 250 g)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp coriander seeds, ground
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp curry paste (use a mild-medium one like tikka masala)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup low fat cream fraiche (full fat cream works too, as does vegan creme fraiche)
- 1 can low fat coconut milk (15 oz = 435g) (use regular if you prefer)
- 1 mango (frozen (defrosted before using) also works, about 150g / 5oz)
Optional
- 1 tsp mango chutney
- 5 sprigs cilantro
Instructions
- Cook rice or accompaniments according to package instructions.
- Get the tofu chopped and frying in some olive oil on medium heat. Dice the onion and add after 5 minutes.
- Add the curry paste, turmeric and coriander powder. Give it a good stir.
- Fry for a couple of minutes then add the tomato paste and give it another good stir, making sure it’s all mixed in.
- Next, add the coconut milk and let it simmer for another five minutes.
- While that’s happening cut the flesh out of the mango and give it a quick blitz in a food processor or by using a hand blender. If you don’t have either then give it a good mash with a fork. We want a nice puree.
- Add the pureed mango to the curry and stir it in.
- Stir in the creme fraiche (or thick cream or vegan creme fraiche) and let it simmer for another five minutes until it thickens. This step makes the curry flavour softer and less harsh.
- Finally mix in the optional mango chutney and cilantro.
- That’s it, the curry is ready! Serve with rice and/or naan bread.
Nutrition
We hope you have enjoyed these Indian recipes for weight loss and found something to inspire you. Let us know which of these Indian weight loss recipes was your favourite in the comments below.
