Diwali, the festival of lights, is a time for celebration, family gatherings, exchanging gifts and, of course, enjoying delicious food. From traditional sweets to savoury snacks, food is an essential part of every Diwali celebration. 

This Diwali, we can make our celebrations even more meaningful by choosing plant-based alternatives. A vegan Diwali does not mean giving up your favourite festive treats. With simple ingredient substitutions, you can prepare delicious traditional Indian sweets and savoury snacks without using any animal-derived ingredients.

Here are seven delicious vegan recipes to make your Diwali celebrations festive, flavourful and compassionate.

Kaju Katli

Ingredients: Cashews, powdered sugar, water, cardamom powder and a little coconut oil or vegan butter.

Method: Grind cashews into a fine powder. Prepare a sugar syrup by heating sugar and water. Add the cashew powder and cardamom, and cook until the mixture forms a soft dough. Allow it to cool slightly, roll it between parchment sheets and cut into diamond-shaped pieces. Garnish with edible silver leaf if desired.

Image Credit: veganricha.com

Besan Ladoo

Ingredients: Besan (gram flour), powdered sugar, coconut oil or vegan butter, cardamom powder and chopped almonds.

Method: Roast besan in coconut oil or vegan butter over low heat until it turns aromatic and golden brown. Allow it to cool slightly before adding powdered sugar, cardamom and chopped almonds. Mix well and shape into small round ladoos.

Coconut Barfi

Ingredients: Grated coconut, coconut milk, sugar, cardamom powder and chopped pistachios.

Method: Heat coconut milk and sugar in a pan. Add grated coconut and cook until the mixture thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan. Add cardamom powder, transfer to a greased tray and flatten evenly. Garnish with pistachios, allow it to cool and cut into squares.

Shakkarpara

Ingredients: Maida or whole wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, cardamom powder, water and oil for frying.

Method: Mix flour, oil and cardamom powder. Add water gradually and knead into a firm dough. Roll it out, cut into diamond-shaped pieces and deep-fry until golden and crisp. For a sweeter version, coat the fried pieces in sugar syrup and allow them to cool.

Chakli

Ingredients: Rice flour, besan, sesame seeds, cumin seeds, red chilli powder, turmeric, salt, vegetable oil and water.

Method: Combine all the dry ingredients and add a little hot oil. Gradually add water and knead into a soft dough. Fill a chakli maker and shape spiral chaklis. Deep-fry until golden and crispy. Allow them to cool before storing in an airtight container.

Malpua

Ingredients: Maida, semolina, almond or soy milk, fennel seeds, sugar, cardamom powder and vegetable oil.

Method: Mix flour, semolina, fennel seeds and cardamom powder with plant-based milk to make a smooth batter. Allow it to rest for 20–30 minutes. Pour small portions into a heated pan with oil and shallow-fry until golden on both sides. Dip the malpuas in warm sugar syrup and serve with chopped pistachios.

Image Credit: veganricha.com

Kheer

Ingredients: Rice, almond or oat milk, sugar, cardamom powder, saffron, raisins and chopped almonds and cashews.

Method: Wash and soak rice for 20 minutes. Heat plant-based milk in a pan, add rice and cook on low heat until soft and creamy. Add sugar, cardamom and saffron. Garnish with raisins and chopped nuts and serve warm or chilled.

Make This Diwali a Celebration of Compassion

Diwali symbolises the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and hope over despair. It is also an opportunity to reflect on our choices and extend kindness to all living beings.

Behind many traditional festive foods are animals who are exploited for milk, eggs and other animal-derived ingredients. By choosing plant-based alternatives, we can enjoy our favourite festive delicacies without contributing to animal suffering.