I love having friends over for lunch or dinner and cooking for them. But for the longest time if said friend turned out to be Vegan then suddenly, I’d regret inviting them.

Not because I didn't enjoy their company but because having to cook for them but not lean on favourites like meat, paneer or even ghee scared the bajeezus out of me.

After many failed experiments I’ve landed upon a fool and fail-proof Vegan menu that showcases Indian flavours but is also delicious.

I’ve come to learn that there’s plenty of tasty options that tick all the vegan boxes. Ofcourse there’s also the option of swapping ingredients like using mustard, peanut, coconut or sesame oil instead of ghee. All four have a high burning point and a unique flavour too.

Start with some freshly fried Vada Pao

Vada Pao is an Indian street food classic that’s surpringly easy to make at home. Boil and mash some potatoes. Mix in a Tadka (spice tempering) of oil, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asofoetida and curry leaves. Season, roll into largish balls, coat in a thick chickpea flour batter and deep fry. Serve hot with soft dinner rolls.

Make a spicy, tangy Shaak

Not to be confused with a Shark or Saag Paneer, Shaak is the Gujarati word for any dry vegetable dish.

Choose your favorite vegetable. Some options include Masala Bhindi, Cabbage Potato, Sambhar Beans or Aloo Palak (the poor but simpler to cook cousin of Palak Paneer).

You’ll need a dahl

When cooking Indian, the rule is to have a dry green vegetable preparation with either curry rice or dahl rice.

Since you’ve covered the spice in the vegetable, a simple dahl works well. You could make a Tadka dahl swapping the ghee for one of the pillars mentioned above or you could also go for Chana Dahl which is higher in protein and more creamier in texture.

Don’t forget the Pulao

Is any Indian meals complete without rice? I don’t think so. Keep things simple and make it a Vegetable Pulao. Heat your favorite oil. Quick Tadka of cumin seeds, star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick. Stir fry some mushrooms, peas, corn and perhaps broad beans. Mix in cold rice.

They won’t have room for dessert but…

If you need something, buy Jalebi or look up how to make a Cartot Halwa (cook it in Almond Milk).

Or, just cut up a piece of jaggery and call it a day.