Gujarati Recipes

My family is from Gujarat so I have a special fondness for the delicious food from this region of India.

Despite the stereotypes, there is way more to Gujarati food than Khaman (Which is delish!). From Gujarati Kadhi which is tangy with sweet undertones to the popular Sukhdi sweet, there’s a lot to explore.

You’ll find recipes for shaaks (spiced vegetable main dishes), sweets, snacks, and pickles – all Gujarati-style! You’ve come to the right place for Gujarati dishes.

I’ve created this page as an easy way for you to explore vegetarian Gujarati food recipes and hope you find inspiration to make something new! Maybe you’ll find new Gujarati dinner ideas.

 Whether you are a pro or a beginner, there is something here for everyone. I’ve learned all these recipes from my mom.

All recipes are vegetarian on my site. Where possible, I also offer alternative vegan options.

About Gujarati Food – The Perfect Balance

First things first – Gujarat, is a state in Western India.

Gujaratis are known for the HUGE amount of variety in food.  From main courses, snacks, to sweets and sides there are diverse wide-ranging options. 

Vegetarian: In India, it’s the 4^th highest state in terms of the number of vegetarians.  So, the food is primarily vegetarian.

Flavor profile: Authentic Gujarati cuisine is delicious food with a balance of flavors hitting your taste buds -spicy, tangy, salty, and sweet.

You can’t peg it as mild or spicy or sweet.  It’s balanced and adjusted to each family’s preference, like most food 😊

I see a lot of people mistakenly characterizing Gujarati food as sweet.  While there is sugar added to some of our savory dishes, the reason is to bring that balance.  Not to overly sweeten the dish.

Sugar balances khattu (sour), thiku (spicy) to provide a balanced flavor profile.  Over the years as I learned more about making Gujarati food I learned by tasting the dish before adding sugar and then after what a HUGE difference it makes. 

Again, its just a little sugar.  We’re not talking crazy amounts 😊

Gujarati Thali

Traditional Gujarati thali is a platter of various types of dishes from India’s state of Gujarat. 

They can be simple with a few dishes or an elaborate thali with multiple vegetable dishes and sweets. It is typically a vegetarian platter of food served as main courses.

You can learn all about making a delicious Gujarati thali for more details.

Some common components of a typical thali across regions are rice, shaak (vegetable dishes), rotli (Indian bread), dal, Indian pickles, and Indian sweets. 

Kathiyawadi thalis may include Khichdi.

Shaaks – Vegetable Main

Growing up in a Gujarati household in the US, we regularly had traditional dishes.  Shaaks, spiced vegetable dishes, are VERY easy and make for perfect weeknight dinners.

Simple basic ingredients and Indian spices  like dhana jeeru are needed.

Serve with some roti or a piping hot plate of delicious Basmati Rice, Coconut Basmati Rice, or Brown Basmati Rice, and you are set!

If you don’t have basmati rice on hand, Sona Masoori is a great accompaniment too.

Peas Cauliflower Shaak

Bhinda Nu Shaak

Okra, Gujarati style, is a popular dish across all age groups.  This is the traditional Gujarati dish with no tomatoes.  If you want to make a variation – adding potatoes and extra garlic is a delicious alternative.

Ringan Bateta Nu Shaak

Potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes are the primary ingredients. Tastes delicious with Khichdi too!

This Kathiyawadi dish comes together quickly and uses commonly used Indian spices. 

Tindora Nu Shaak

This is a very simple, lightly spiced shaak with tindora and potatoes.  In English, tindora is known as ivy gourd. 

Parval Nu Shaak

Parwal is known as pointed gourd.  So, it is part of the gourd family but different from tindora or ivy gourd.

Cabbage Shaak

Cabbage shaak is a quick and delicious dish.  You can add peas or potatoes or make it with cabbage only.

Sukhi Bhaji

This is an easy potato dish.  It’s one of my favorite farali foods. Easily pairs with some yogurt and masala peanuts for a filling upvas meal. 

Valor Muthia Nu Shaak

Hands down, valor muthia nu shaak is one of my favorite traditional Gujarati recipes.  It is made with primarily muthias and valor (papdi or flat beans).

If you don’t want to make muthia from scratch, you can easily find them frozen in Indian grocery stores! This turns it into a quick meal.

Guvar Nu Shaak

Cluster beans or guar beans are native to India and can be found easily in Indian grocery stores.  While they look similar to French Beans they are different.  You can substitute with those if you’d like to try.

Cluster beans are smaller, thinner, and have a slightly bitter taste while French beans are longer, thicker, and do not have a bitter taste.

Bharela Bhinda Nu Shaak 

Stuffed okras are easy and so yummy!  They are slit and filled with spiced gram flour. 

Saragva Nu Shaak

This is a family favorite!  Have you heard of moringa or moringa tea?  Well, the pods of the moringa plant are used in this along with potatoes.

Karela Nu Shaak

Gujarati Snacks or Lunch Items

Naasto (snacks) are our specialty 🙂

Khaman

Khaman Dhokla, a popular Gujarati snack, is made from a base of gram flour.

 The batter is steamed and then a delicious tadka (tempered oil) of mustard seeds, sesame seeds, green chillies is poured on top adding a depth of flavor.

 Served with Green Chutney and sometimes even Garlic Chutney. My favorite to serve with this dhokla recipe is next!

Besan Chutney

Perfect accompaniment for khaman and easy to make!

Moong Dal Pudla

Khichu or Papdi No Lot

Popular amongst all age groups this is a steamed and spiced rice flour based dish.  There are no words to do this one justice.  

There is a reason it so popular!

Methi Masala

This is a key ingredient for above (Papdi No Lot).  Sprinkled methi masala on top of papdi no lot with a little oil is perfection!

Bhakri Pizza

A popular Gujarati street food!

Methi Na Gota

Fresh fenugreek leaves add BIG flavor to these fritters! A classic and traditional Gujarati dish.

Sev Mamra

Chevdo

A quick recipe that can be made easily with cereals.  Like a savory trail mix.

Sev Khamani

This dish is khaman dhokla crumbled into pieces and served with crispy sev, chutneys, and other toppings.

Sakkarpara

Moraiyo Khichdi

Gujarati Sweets

Indian desserts are so varied and Gujarat is no exception! 

Find the perfect sweet dish below! 

Mohanthal

This is one of the most popular sweets in Gujarat! 

Tal Sakri or Til Chikki

This is popular especially during Sankrant.

Kopra Pak

Churma Ladoo

Sukdhi

Sing Pak

Magas

 Accompaniments

From flatbreads to rice and Indian pickles, these will help round out your main course!

Kadhi

Bhakri

Puran Poli

Technically, this could be under dessert too.  But, it is often served as part of a thali in place of rotli or bhakri.

Made often for special occasions! 

Athela Marcha

Chundo

Carrot Pickle

Turmeric Pickle

Basmati Rice

Sona Masoori Rice

Jeera Rice

Other Popular Dishes

I’m working my way through adding more Gujarati recipes I learned from my mom. Some more coming up are:

Dal dhokli: Masala (spiced) whole wheat flour pieces are simmered in a pigeon peas dal.

Methi thepla:  Made with whole wheat flour and fenugreek leaves is a key Gujju food!  I’ll be posting it soon!