Indian food is not automatically vegan: ghee (clarified butter), paneer (cottage cheese), yoghurt, cream and sometimes butter are common even in vegetarian dishes. South Indian and Kerala cooking is more often vegan because it uses coconut and rice. At Herb, dishes tagged V are vegan as served, and others can be made vegan on request.
Vegetarian is not the same as vegan
Many people assume a vegetarian Indian menu is vegan. It often is not. The hidden ingredients to ask about are:
- Ghee – used for frying and finishing; common in North Indian cooking and some rice dishes and desserts.
- Paneer – fresh cottage cheese in curries, dosas and starters.
- Yoghurt and raita – in marinades, some curries (such as pachadi and pullissery) and as a side.
- Cream and butter – in rich gravies.
- Milk-based sweets – gulab jamun, kulfi, halwa and payasam often contain milk or ghee.
Why South Indian food is often vegan
Kerala and South Indian cooking uses coconut milk and coconut oil rather than cream and ghee, and builds meals on rice, lentils and vegetables. Dosa, idli, vada, sambar, rasam and many vegetable curries are vegan as made. See idli, dosa, uttapam and vada explained and vegan restaurants in Leicester and Leamington Spa.
How Herb marks vegan dishes
- V vegan as served. Herb withholds the V tag on dishes that list paneer, yoghurt, ghee or ice cream in the description.
- On request a vegan version can be prepared if you ask (for example the pepper fry or Nair masala dosa).
- Examples that are tagged vegan on the Leicester menu: Plain Dosa (£6.89), Idli (£5.95), Koonu Curry (£11.55), Green Papaya Stew (£13.95), Herbal Parippu (£8.95) and Vegan Vanilla ice cream (£5.65).
The two restaurants have separate menus, so check the Leicester menu or the Leamington Spa menu.
Questions to ask in any Indian restaurant
- Is this cooked with ghee or butter?
- Does this contain paneer, yoghurt or cream?
- Can the dish be made without dairy?
- Is the bread made with milk or ghee?
- Are there any nuts (cashew paste is common in rich sauces)?
A group with vegans
For a table with mixed diets, read group dinner with mixed dietary needs or see the Christmas menu, which has vegan options if you tell the team in advance.
Book
Herb Leicester (0116 233 2715) or Herb Leamington Spa (01926 771460).
FAQ
Is Indian food vegan?
Not automatically. Many dishes are vegan, but ghee, paneer, yoghurt and cream are common, so always ask.
Is South Indian food vegan?
Much of it is, because it uses coconut and rice rather than dairy: dosa, idli, sambar and many curries are vegan as made. Some dishes use ghee, yoghurt or paneer.
How do I know which Herb dishes are vegan?
Dishes tagged V on the Herb menus are vegan as served; dishes marked "vegan option on request" can be prepared vegan if you ask.
Visit Herb Restaurant
Authentic vegetarian and vegan South Indian & Kerala food in Leicester and Leamington Spa.
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