The main course is the heart of any meal, providing the sustenance and nourishment that the body needs. In the Hare Krishna tradition, main courses are prepared with love and devotion, adhering to the principles of purity and sattvic cooking.
Our Hare Krishna recipes are designed to be both delicious and spiritually uplifting.
Using This Page
When preparing a meal for other devotees or cooking at the temple, you can choose one or two items from each main course section to create a proper Hare Krishna meal that will be well received. For example, select one or two rice preparations, one or two vegetable (sabjis) dishes, one or two dals, and a curry. This approach ensures a balanced and satisfying meal for everyone.
Sabjis (Vegetable Dishes)
- Aloo Sabji: Potatoes cooked with spices and herbs, a versatile dish enjoyed with bread or rice.
- Mixed Vegetable Sabji: A colorful mix of seasonal vegetables cooked with aromatic spices.
- Sak Paneer: A nutritious combination of spinach and or other greens and paneer cheese cubes cooked with Indian spices.
- Gobi Manchurian: Cauliflower florets cooked in a tangy and spicy sauce, perfect with rice or bread.
- Baingan Bharta: Roasted eggplant mashed and cooked with tomatoes and spices.
- Bhindi Masala: Okra cooked with tomatoes and spices.
- Matar Paneer: Paneer and green peas cooked in a tomato-based gravy.
- Pav Bhaji: Mixed vegetables cooked in a special pav bhaji masala (spice blend) that creates a traditional Mumbai meal that’s served with buttered pav (bread rolls).
Dals
- Chana Dal: Split chickpeas cooked with spices, often enjoyed with rice or bread.
- Mung Dal: Yellow lentils cooked to perfection, a staple in many households.
- Mung Dal with Spinach: Mung dal (Moong Dal) cooked with spinach and tomatoes and a blend of spices.
- Toor Dal Fry: Pigeon peas simmered with tomatoes and spices, a comforting dish.
- Rajma: Kidney beans cooked in a spiced tomato gravy.
- Dal Makhani: A rich and creamy dal made with black lentils and kidney beans.
Rice Dishes
- Basmati Rice: Unseasoned plain basmati rice produces a naturally nutty flavor that pairs well with any subji (vegetable preparation) or dal recipe.
- Vegetable Biryani: Aromatic basmati rice cooked with mixed vegetables and spices.
- Lemon Rice: A tangy rice dish flavored with lemon juice, curry leaves, and spices.
- Tamarind Rice: Rice cooked with tamarind paste and spices, a flavorful South Indian specialty.
- Coconut Rice: Rice cooked with grated coconut, spices, and curry leaves, perfect for a light meal.
- Jeera Rice: Basmati rice cooked with cumin seeds, providing a fragrant and flavorful side dish.
- Pulao: A simple and flavorful rice dish cooked with vegetables and spices.
- Yogurt Rice: Rice mixed with yogurt, herbs, and spices, providing a cooling and soothing dish.
Curries
- Punjabi Red-Base Gravy: This no-onion, no-garlic red curry base recipe can be used to make many of the curries below. This Hare Krishna version was created out love for Krishna and His devotees. Enjoy cooking wonderful curries with this base sauce and serving prasadam to devotees and karmi’s alike.
- Mixed Vegetable Korma: A rich and creamy curry made with mixed vegetables and a blend of spices.
- Paneer Butter Masala: Paneer cubes simmered in a creamy tomato gravy, a popular dish.
- Mixed Vegetable Curry: A medley of vegetables cooked in a spiced gravy, perfect with rice or bread.
- Malai Kofta: Soft paneer and vegetable dumplings in a rich and creamy sauce.
- Chole: Chickpeas cooked in a tangy and spicy tomato-based gravy.
- Aloo Gobi: Potatoes and cauliflower cooked with spices and herbs.
- Palak Paneer: Paneer cubes cooked in a spinach-based gravy.
Khichuri
- Hare Krishna Kitchari: A traditional Bengali khichuri made with roasted moong dal and rice, often enjoyed during festivals.
- Plain Kitchari: A simple and wholesome dish made with rice and lentils, often flavored with ghee.
- Vegetable Kitchari: A nutritious one-pot meal with rice, lentils, and mixed vegetables.
- Masala Kitchari: Spiced khichuri with a blend of aromatic spices, perfect for a comforting meal.
- Mung Dal Kitchari: A light and easy-to-digest khichuri made with split yellow or green gram and rice.
- Sabudana Khichdi: A popular fasting dish made with tapioca pearls, potatoes, and peanuts, ideal for breakfast.