If you’ve had your fill of bland salads and tasteless nut roasts over the years, don’t panic – some of London’s finest ethnic eateries are celebrating National Vegetarian Week with menus that are full of Eastern promise.
At London’s favourite Thai restaurant, Mango Tree, they’re serving up fragrant yellow curry with chickpeas and butternut squash, deep fried salt and pepper tofu, and light herb and vegetable rolls – a perfect summer snack. Their sister restaurant, Awana, is joining in too, with classic Malaysian dishes like shredded bean and pineapple salad and king oyster mushroom stir-fry. Don’t miss the tohu kukus – steamed silken tofu topped with leek and pepper spaghetti and a rich yellow bean and garlic sauce.
For a meat-free mid-week lunch, try Min Jiang on the tenth floor of Kensington's Royal Garden Hotel. If the impressive views over Hyde Park don't seduce you, the £15 vegetarian express lunch certainly will. Available Monday to Friday, the menu includes hot and sour soup, a dim sum platter, wok-fried rice with minced vegetables, and braised beancurd with Sichuan chilli sauce. A glass of house red or white wine will only raise the bill to £19.50 and you'll still be back at your desk on time.
If you’re craving curry, head for The Cinnamon Club and feast on the all-vegetarian garden menu designed by Executive Chef Vivek Singh. Inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show, his menu has a floral theme – starting with a hibiscus and rose petal bellini and finishing with a rose petal and milk carom seed crumble. In between, there are crisp zucchini flowers with pomegranate raita; grilled aubergine with citrus morel and saffron sauce; and asparagus spears with kadhai spices. Priced at £60, the menu is guaranteed to please discerning veggies and carnivores alike!
For those who like their flavours fresh and fruity, Mela are serving an exotic ‘Fruits of India’ menu at their restaurants in Covent Garden, Redhill and Herne Hill. With most restaurants focusing on vegetables, Head Chef Kuldeep Singh has chosen to highlight seasonal Indian fruits with dishes like fruit and nut stuffed potatoes with Kashmiri curry sauce; jack fruit biryani; and paneer cheese stuffed with gooseberries in a mild cashew curry.
Still hungry? Rasa, Sagar and Woodlands serve vegetarian South Indian food all year round. These chains have branches all over London so you’re never far away from a quality curry. We love their dosas – traditional thin pancakes with fillings like spicy potatoes, onions and peas. Perfect for mopping up the fiery lentil sambhar. Don't forget old favourites like Ram's in Harrow, Vasanta Bhavan in East Ham; Chi Vegan Noodle Bar in Covent Garden; and Govinda's in Soho.
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