Regional Cuisine, Vegetarian Recipes

Vegetarian moussaka with rice, eggplant, and potatoes layered with a tomato-garlic rice mixture and a soy milk white sauce with nutmeg and allspice. A dairy-free take on the Greek classic.

Mung dal with black mustard seeds, turmeric, and ginger, finished with a hot ghee tadka of sputtering mustard seeds and green chile. A traditional Indian lentil dish with bright, bold tempering.

Pseftokeftedes are Santorini tomato fritters mixing chopped Roma tomatoes, scallions, garlic, mint, and oregano into a pancake-style batter, fried crisp in olive oil. Vegetarian Greek meze.

Lucknawi dal simmers pink lentils with turmeric and tamarind, then finishes with a sizzling tadka of cumin seeds, fried onion, garlic, ginger, and dried red chili. Sour, smoky, and brothy in the best Awadhi tradition.

A dairy-free Greek spinach pie with homemade olive oil pastry, fresh spinach, curly endive, dill, scallions, and lemon zest. Traditional Lenten spanakopita, completely vegan.

Tameya is Egyptian falafel made from dried broad beans instead of chickpeas, ground with fresh herbs, garlic, and spices, coated in sesame seeds and fried to a deep golden crunch.

Tabouleh is a traditional Lebanese parsley salad with fine bulgur, scallions, mint, ripe tomatoes, and a sharp lemon-olive oil dressing. Bright, herbaceous, and built around parsley, not grain.

Safaid channe is a Pakistani white chickpea curry with ginger, coriander, cardamom, and tomatoes. A fragrant vegetarian dish served with puffy bread.

Stuffed eggplant with a savory filling of pureed eggplant flesh, scallions, fennel, allspice, white wine, and tomato paste baked in the shells. A vegetarian Mediterranean dish served warm or cold.

Baked tofu slathered in a savory peanut sauce with soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Indonesian-inspired and served over rice with chutney. Make ahead friendly.

Ajvar: smoky Balkan roasted pepper and eggplant spread with garlic, lemon, and olive oil. The 'Serbian caviar' that goes on grilled meats, fresh bread, and cheese boards.

Quick Italian mushroom and tomato pasta sauce with garlic, parsley, and marjoram cooked in olive oil. A 20-minute vegetarian sauce with a full pound of mushrooms.

Piquant lemon rice is a South Indian vegetarian side: fluffy basmati folded with turmeric, fresh lemon juice, toasted cashews, black mustard seeds, and coconut. Bright, tangy, and nutty in every bite.

South African Cape Malay fruit and vegetable curry with apricots, apples, raisins, and warm spices over rice. A fragrant, naturally vegan one-pot dinner full of sweet-spicy depth.

Learn how to make stuffed grape leaves, AKA dolmas, a classic Mediterranean appetizer or snack; stuffed with lemon dill rice, these vegetarian grape leaves are tantalizingly delicious.

Korean dongchimi made with turnip, scallion, ginger, and garlic in a light salt brine. A refreshing, mild water kimchi that ferments at room temperature and keeps for a week in the fridge.