Jain food is exclusively vegetarian but this does not stop them from providing a large amount of recipes that will surely add some excessive flavour to your taste buds. Jain food can be mixed with a variety of cuisines and it is normally seen that a few side dishes of Jain heritage are part of a lot of homes as well. Jain food is easy to make at home, even the more difficult recipes are easy to carry off when you have the right instructions and the right ingredients. As mentioned above all Jain food is vegetarian therefore you will not find any non-vegetarian recipe and if you do then it is not authentic Jain food. Given below are a few great Jain food recipes for you to make Jain food at home.
11 Wonderful Jain Dishes for Lunch and Dinner:
1. Bajri Na Dhebra:
bajri na dhebra, a puri like a dish that carries with it a flavour of spice and texture of crunch that gives a food lover an exotic eating experience. The deep-fried dish is a special occasional dish to treat guests or a super dish for a chilly cold winter evening or a rainy evening alongside some chai! With a dash of sesame seeds added to them, the bajri na dhebra taste just delicious!
Ingredients:
- Bajra flour – 1 cup.
- Atta (Whole wheat flour) ½ cup.
- Methi (Fenugreek leaves).
- Curd – 1 cup.
- Green Chillies (chopped).
- White Sesame Seeds.
- Red Chilli Powder.
- Turmeric.
- Salt to taste.
- Oil for frying.
How to Make:
- Add Bajra, atta, fenugreek leaves, sesame seeds, turmeric and red chilli powder and knead into a dough.
- Divide the dough and shape them into balls.
- Flatten the balls and roll into medium-sized rotis.
- Fry it on a pan with a teaspoon of oil on both sides.
- Serve hot with curd and ghee.
2. Jain Mixed Vegetable Handvo:
Jain recipes are 100% vegetarian and are just yummy to tummy! One such exceptional dish is the Jain Mixed Handvo. As the name suggests, it is a recipe with a good bunch of veggies including sweet corn and some bottle guord. Yes! A rich mixture of these exclusive bunch of veggies makes this dish taste so good. With yogurt and some sesame seeds also added in, the recipe is just a healthy choice! Try it the next time you wish to make some exclusive dish alongside rotis.
Ingredients:
- Green Peas ½ cup.
- Yogurt.
- Green Capsicum chopped.
- Sweet Corn.
- Handvo Flour.
- Green Chillies.
- Bottle Gourd.
- Turmeric.
- Red Chilli Powder.
- Sugar 1 teaspoon.
- Oil to cook.
- Salt to taste.
- Fruit Salt.
- Mustard Seeds.
- Sesame Seeds.
Preparation:
- Mix Handvo flour with yogurt to form a thick batter.
- Add green peas, bottle gourd (grated), capsicum, corn, sugar (1 teaspoon), salt, turmeric, red chilli powder and a little bit of oil and mix well.
- On a pan, heat some oil.
- Add some fruit salt to the better and mix again.
- Add ½ spoon of mustard seeds and and 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, when the seeds begin to splutter, pour one ladle of the batter to make it at least 1 inch thick.
- Add some oil and cook each side for about 5-10 minutes.
- Cut into wedges and serve.
3. Dhokla:
Dhokla is a tempting yellow in colour Gujarati dish that just satisfies hunger pangs at breakfast time. The dish is spongy in texture and tastes truly amazing with flavours of pepper, green chilly and salt. Made exclusive with gram flour, the Besan as it is popularly called, the Dhokla is so very famous across the world. Irrespective of taste opinions and interests, most people tend to like Dhokla for its exclusive texture and taste! Try it today!
Ingredients:
- Besan (Gram Flour) 1 cup.
- 1 Tbsp citric acid.
- 1 tbsp sugar.
- Salt to taste.
- Turmeric.
- Water as required.
- For Tempering:
- Oil.
- Mustard Seeds.
- Red Chilli dried.
- Curry Leaves.
Preparation:
- Mix gram flour, citric acid, salt, sugar and turmeric to make a medium consistency batter.
- Mix the fruit salt or baking soda with water and add it to the batter.
- Grease the tins with oil and pour the batter into the tins.
- Steam for 15-20 minutes until it is cooked.
- Now temper in a pan, add oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves and red chilli and let it splutter.
- Pour the tempering over the steamed dhokla.
- Cut into pieces and your dhokla is ready to be served.
- You can vary this dish by using green dal powder as well.
Read: Traditional Food Of Kerala
4. Dal Makhani:
Dal Makhani, the most popular main course dish of North India and the most preferred dish alongside rotis across the world is very easy to make. The dish is rich in protein and tastes really good with aromatic flavours of the roasted dal tickling your taste buds as you bite into the rotis dipped in this exotic dish. Why late? Pick the recipe and make it!
Ingredients:
- Urad Dal, Rajma or Kidney Beans soaked.
- Oil.
- Bay Leaves.
- Cumin.
- Sour Cream.
- Green Chillies.
- Salt to taste.
Preparation:
- Start by soaking Urad dal and Rajma or kidney beans in water the earlier night.
- Now drain the water the next morning and overcook them so that you can mash them into a powdery form.
- This would be a slight paste or powder.
- Now in a pan add oil and bay leaf and cumin.
- Plop in the dal mixture with sour cream, green chilli and salt and cook it till it’s done.
5. Banana Chutney:
Banana is the most favourite fruit for many and it is available round the year. You must have heard of banana chips, banana curry and mostly custards or sweets that have banana. Have you heard of banana chutney? Sounds new and interesting right? Making banana chutney is super simple and it tastes really yummy! Quickly note the recipe and try your hands on it now and surprise your family with this new exotic dish that’s great alongside rice or rotis.
Ingredients:
- Bananas.
- Bay Leaves.
- Chilli Powder.
- Cumin.
Banana chutney is used as a side dish. Here’s how to make this:
- Start by peeling of the bananas and mashing them together.
- Now in a pan slightly toss them along with bay leaves.
- Sprinkle of chili powder and then cumin and then serve hot.
6. Vegetable Pulao:
Vegetable pulao is one of the most flavour-filled vegetable treat that is made with rice. It is one of those very popular dishes in India where people just make this one-dish when guests arrive and offer with salan or raita. Pulao is one of the very easy to make Indian rice recipes that taste too good! Mouth-watering right? Glance through the ingredients and the cooking procedure to try it for yourself!
Ingredients:
- Rice.
- Saffron.
- Turmeric.
- Ghee.
- Onions.
- Fresh beans.
- Capsicum.
- Grated or diced carrot.
- Cardamom.
- Basil.
How to Make:
- In a pan boil rice with saffron and turmeric for it to get a slight color.
- Now in a separate pan add ghee and some onions, fresh beans, capsicum, grated or diced carrot and then sear it for some time.
- Add cardamom in the pan too along with basil.
- Then mix in this with the rice as a topping.
Read: Fast Food Recipes
7. Khatta Dhokla:
The most famous Khatta Dhokla is a breakfast recipe. The spongy texture of the dish makes it just melt inside the mouth as you bite into it. This is one of those quick dishes which are made with sour curd. With an essential flavor of pepper and green chillies that give spicy taste, the recipe is one of the favourite munch on’s for both north and south Indians, for every such special recipe is available all over the country. Have some sour curd lying in your kitchen? Wish to try your hands on this exclusive recipe? Note down the ingredients then.
Ingredients:
- Dry Rice.
- Lentil.
- Sour curd or cream.
- Green Chillies.
- Salt to taste Pepper.
How to Make:
- In a blender mix in dry rice and lentil until it is reduced to fine powder. A few clumps or lumps are fine to work with.
- Now mix the powder acquired in sour curd or cream along with green chillies and salt.
- Now grease a plate and evenly distribute the thick mixture.
- Add pepper and salt to flavour and then steam it.
- Once done you can cut the dhokla in diamond pieces and enjoy it with a coconut chutney.
8. Corn Upma:
While Upma is the most relied on breakfast recipe of South Indian homes, Corn is considered the healthiest ingredients. Now, what if we tell you that you can make upma with corn and it tastes delicious? A little spicy, a little sour and a little soft, corn upma is a healthier choice for breakfast. If you are on a diet or wish to eat light, just note the ingredients down, try your hands on this healthy recipe and enjoy your breakfast!
Ingredients:
- Corn.
- Milk.
- Chilly Paste.
- Sugar.
- Salt to taste Lemon Juice.
- Sour cream Oil.
- Curry leaves.
- Urad dal for tempering.
How to Make:
- To start with the corn upama, grate or blend the corn well.
- Then mix it in milk and put it to boil.
- Halfway through boiling, add chili paste, sugar and salt along with lemon juice and sour cream.
- In a separate pan add oil and curry leaves and some urad dal and fry it.
- Now mix the two together and serve hot.
9. Paneer Dal Curry:
While Paneer is the favourite ingredient of most of us, dal is vegetarians’ protein source. Now when we say Paneer dal curry, does it sound weird? Well! It’s wonderful instead! With an exceptional flavor and being protein-packed, this recipe is at its best when rolled into a roti or any such breads. With the flavor of the spices and the garlic on one side and the tenderness of the dal and paneer on the other, this recipe is just amazing at its taste. This is a must-try of all the Jain recipes!
Ingredients:
- Paneer or tofu.
- Dal / Lentil.
- Cardamom.
- Garlic.
- Clove.
- Curry Leaves.
- Bay Leaves.
- Five Herb Mix.
- Black Pepper.
Paneer is what we call tofu in English and dal is simply lentil.
- For this you will need cardamom, garlic, clove, cinnamon, curry and bay leaves, five herb mix and black pepper.
- Roast the spices ground them to powder and mix them together.
- Now boil the lentil and in a pan softly fry the tofu to the slightest.
- Now add all of it in a pan along with a little water and you are done.
10. Hyderabadi Biryani:
Hyderabad, the city of pearls is equally famous for its exclusive Biryanis. Be it veg or non veg biryanis the city hosts an array of food joints that serve exclusive Biryani recipes. This is another flavour-filled rice recipe made exclusively with the long rice grains popularly known as Basmati rice. With a dash of spices, dry fruits and some sour cream that enriches the flavor, the Hyderabadi Biryani which is too popular across continents is a must-try! Now, with our recipe guidance, you can make it for yourself in your kitchen. Try and relish your taste buds!
Ingredients:
- Coriander.
- Bay Leaves.
- Cardamom.
- Cinnamon.
- Curry Leaves.
- Spinach.
- Black Pepper.
- Chillies.
- Rice (preferably Basmati Rice).
- Coconut Oil.
- Raisins (soaked).
- Cumin.
- Cashew Nuts.
- Sour Cream.
- Grind coriander, bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, curry leave, spinach, clove, black pepper and chili into a mix which forms the base flavor to the biryani.
- Now cook the rice in a pan with coconut oil.
- Add the bay leaves and cumin along with soaked raisins and cashew nuts.
- Mix the earlier herbs with sour cream and then mix them in the biryani rice.
11. Bhakri:
If you are a snack lover or have little kids who love to munch on some crunchy snacks, Bhakri is the best choice. With just three power ingredients, the recipe tastes too good. While it looks like biscuits or cookies, you can just make them at home using a baking oven. This special recipe made out of organic dough is filled with an exclusive flavour of bay leaves. Sounds interesting? Let the baking happen then!
- Atta
- Ghee
- Bay Leaves
Bhakri is a flatbread used for side dish or snack purposes. This is made from full organic dough. Here’s how you make it:
- Mix the dough in ghee and fried bay leaves.
- Roll them up in small balls.
- Now roll them into flatbreads and lightly bake them in a grill or oven.
- Enjoy with a side dish.
Food cuisine has several restrictions and these recipes have been chosen keeping those restrictions in mind. Jain religion food don’t include onions, potatoes and ginger. The cuisine also excludes all root vegetables. That shouldn’t stop one from enjoying great food. The recipes we’ve put together include main course and snacks that are some of the best Jain food recipes. Bring out the foodie in you and indulge in some amazing Jain foods.
