10 Traditional Bangladeshi Vegetarian Dishes You Should Try​

Bangladesh is famous for its rich, flavorful cuisine—but did you know it also has a vibrant vegetarian food culture​? From ​lentil-packed curries​ to ​street-food-style snacks, Bangladeshi vegetarian dishes are ​nutritious, hearty, and full of bold spices.

Fun fact:​ Over ​12% of Bangladeshis​ follow a vegetarian diet (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2023), thanks to influences from ​Hindu, Buddhist, and health-conscious communities.

Whether you're exploring Dhaka’s street food​ or cooking at home, here are ​10 must-try Bangladeshi vegetarian dishes—100% meat-free, but 100% delicious!​​

1. Dal (Lentil Curry) – The Bangladeshi Staple​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Masoor dal (red lentils), turmeric, cumin, garlic
🔥 Best Served With:​​ Steamed rice or roti

No Bangladeshi meal is complete without dal. It’s ​protein-rich, comforting, and often flavored with fried garlic (bori)​​ for extra crunch.

Pro Tip:​ Try ​​"Moshur Dal"​​ (red lentil curry) with a squeeze of lime for a tangy twist!

2. Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice) – A Rustic Breakfast​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Leftover rice, water, salt, green chili
🔥 Best Served With:​​ Aloo bharta (mashed potatoes) or fried fish (for non-veg versions)

A traditional Bengali dish, ​Panta Bhat​ is ​fermented rice soaked overnight—light, tangy, and perfect for hot weather.

🌱 Vegan Hack:​​ Skip the fish and pair it with ​begun bhaja (fried eggplant)​​ instead.

3. Shobji (Mixed Vegetable Curry) – A Flavorful Medley​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Potatoes, cauliflower, pumpkin, mustard oil, panch phoron
🔥 Best Served With:​​ Luchi (deep-fried flatbread)

A colorful, spiced veggie stew, ​shobji​ is a ​must-try​ for its ​aromatic blend of Bengali five-spice (panch phoron)​.

4. Begun Bhaja (Fried Eggplant) – Crispy & Addictive​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Eggplant, turmeric, salt, mustard oil
🔥 Best Served With:​​ Dal and rice

A simple yet irresistible​ dish, ​begun bhaja​ is ​thinly sliced eggplant fried until golden—crispy outside, melt-in-your-mouth inside.

5. Cholar Dal (Chana Dal with Coconut) – Sweet & Savory​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Chana dal (split chickpeas), coconut, ghee, bay leaves
🔥 Best Served With:​​ Luchi or paratha

A festive favorite, ​cholar dal​ is ​slightly sweet, nutty, and cooked with coconut​ for extra richness.

🌱 Vegan Swap:​​ Use ​coconut oil​ instead of ghee.

6. Aloo Posto (Potatoes in Poppy Seed Paste) – A Creamy Delight​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Potatoes, poppy seeds, mustard oil, green chilies
🔥 Best Served With:​​ Steamed rice

A signature Bengali dish, ​aloo posto​ is ​creamy, nutty, and mildly spicy—thanks to ​ground poppy seeds (posto)​.

7. Bhorta (Mashed Spiced Veggies) – A Flavor Bomb​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Any vegetable (potato, eggplant, tomato), mustard oil, onion, chili
🔥 Best Served With:​​ Flatbread or puffed rice (muri)

Bhorta​ refers to ​mashed, spiced vegetables—each version has a ​unique, bold flavor.

Popular Varieties:​

• Aloo Bhorta​ (mashed potatoes)
• Tomato Bhorta​ (tangy & spicy)
• Shutki Bhorta​ (non-veg, skip for veg version)

8. Mishti Doi (Sweet Yogurt) – The Iconic Dessert​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Yogurt, jaggery or sugar, cardamom
🔥 Best Served Chilled​

A creamy, caramelized sweet yogurt, ​mishti doi​ is a ​must-try Bengali dessert.

🌱 Vegan Version:​​ Use ​coconut yogurt​ + ​date syrup.

9. Pitha (Rice Cakes) – Festive & Flavorful​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Rice flour, jaggery, coconut
🔥 Best Served Warm​

A traditional winter treat, ​pitha​ comes in ​sweet and savory versions—like ​patishapta (stuffed crepes)​​ or ​bhapa pitha (steamed rice cakes)​.

10. Jhalmuri (Spicy Puffed Rice) – The Ultimate Street Snack​

✅ Key Ingredients:​​ Puffed rice, mustard oil, peanuts, chili, cucumber
🔥 Best Served Fresh​

A quick, crunchy, and spicy snack, ​jhalmuri​ is ​Bangladesh’s answer to bhel puri—perfect for on-the-go munching.

Where to Find Vegetarian Food in Bangladesh?​

✔ Dhaka:​​

• Bharat Bhoj​ (pure veg Bengali thali)
• Panta Pani​ (vegan-friendly street food)✔ Chittagong:​​
• Annapurna Vegetarian Restaurant​

Final Thoughts​

Bangladeshi vegetarian cuisine is underrated but incredibly diverse—from ​protein-packed lentils​ to ​sweet, creamy desserts.