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Having diabetes does not mean you can not enjoy delicious meals. Here is a collection of tasty and healthy Diabetes friendly Indian recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, that the whole family can enjoy. They are all relatively low in carbs and taste amazing!
Note: I am not a doctor, and I am not sharing medical advice here. Whenever you make any changes to your diet, make sure to check with your doctor and monitor your blood sugar level.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes means that your blood glucose (blood sugar) is too high. Glucose comes from the food we eat. An organ called the pancreas (PAN-kree-as) makes insulin (IN-suh-lin). Insulin helps glucose get from your blood into your cells. Cells take the glucose and turn it into energy.
When you have diabetes, your body has a problem making or properly using insulin. As a result, glucose builds up in your blood and cannot get into your cells. If the blood glucose stays too high, it can damage your body.
• Type 1 diabetes—In this type of diabetes, the body does not make insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day and do not have dietary restrictions.
• Type 2 diabetes—In this type of diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or use insulin well. Some people with type 2 diabetes have to take diabetes pills, insulin, or both or need to watch their diet. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes—This type of diabetes can occur when a woman is pregnant. It raises the risk that both she and her child might develop diabetes later in life.
How many Carbs should I eat?
Unfortunately, there’s no “one size fits all” answer—everyone is different because everyone’s body is different. The amount you can eat and stay in your target blood sugar range depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors. Your doctor will be the best person to suggest the right amount for you.
On average, people with diabetes should aim to get about half of their calories from carbs. That means if you normally eat about 1,800 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, about 800 to 900 calories can come from carbs.
Follow the routine of eating small and frequent meals to keep your blood sugar levels in control. Include foods in your diet that reduce the glycemic index. You can do that by mixing carbs with good fats. Limit your portions, choose wisely, and eat healthy!
Below, you will find recipes for an Indian Diabetic diet for Type 2 diabetes, including recipes for breakfast, snacks, and some vegetarian and meat diabetic recipes. Most of these recipes are relatively low in carbs, easy to make, and are super delicious.
I am also sharing some tips I got from my readers on Instagram:
Replace wheat roti with bajra or jowar roti’s.
Quinoa, amaranth, bulgur, barley, millets, and buckwheat are good alternatives grains to add to the diet.
Some focus on Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) eating plan with a high protein diet.
Bitter gourd juice is a great recipe for diabetes reversal. Cut bitter gourd, apply salt, and turmeric, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then juice it and enjoy. This can also be frozen in ice-cube trays.
Note: I am not a doctor, and I am not sharing any medical advice here. Whenever you make any changes to your diet, make sure to check with your doctor and monitor your blood sugar level.
Indian Breakfast for Diabetics
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Indian Masala Oats (Savory Oatmeal)
Masala Oats is a savory oatmeal breakfast porridge cooked with lots of vegetables and aromatic Indian spices. A healthy & delicious vegan breakfast recipe.
These easy-peel Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are going to be your new favorite. Once you try this 5-5-5 method to steam eggs in your instant pot, you will never cook them any other way. Eggs are boiled to perfection every single time!
Egg bhurji is the Indian twist to scrambled eggs. Packed with the right amount of flavor and spice, these delicious Indian scrambled eggs are perfect for any meal of the day!
Soft and fluffy Khaman Dhokla made in the Instant Pot and stovetop. These delicious steamed savory chickpea flour cakes are a popular Gujarati delicacy, perfect to enjoy for breakfast or snack!
Karela, also called bitter melon, is a popular vegetable used in many Asian countries. Here is a delicious North Indian Karela recipe, where bitter melon is cooked with onions and spices, along with some jaggery to get a sweet, spicy and tangy stir fry!
Instant Pot Chana Masala / Punjabi Chole Masala Recipe in Pressure Cooker
Punjabi Chole Masala or Chana Masala is an Indian favorite chickpea curry. This one-pot recipe for the authentic Chana Masala can be made in the Instant Pot or stovetop Pressure Cooker. A healthy protein-rich vegan and gluten free chickpea recipe.
This Air Fryer Cauliflower seasoned with spices is easy to make and amazingly delicious topped with cilantro yogurt sauce. Enjoy as a wonderful low-carb side dish or appetizer.
Instant Pot Egg Curry (Pressure Cooker Anda Curry)
Egg curry made by adding boiled eggs to a curry sauce, along with coconut milk to give a flavorful protein-rich dish. In this Instant Pot Egg Curry, we will make the curry sauce and boil the eggs together, to make this delicious dish even quicker! Pair it with rice, naan or roti to make a complete meal.
Patta Gobi Matar is a Cabbage & Peas Stir Fry made with cabbage, green peas, ginger, tomato, and spices. It's vegan, gluten-free, and can be made low-carb/keto-friendly by skipping the green peas. Make it in the instant pot or stovetop.
Mint Cilantro Chutney Recipe (Indian Green Chutney)
A cool, spicy and tangy green chutney. This no-cook mint cilantro chutney is a must try accompaniment to Indian food such as samosa, chaat, kebabs and sandwiches.
Instant Pot Chickpea Curry with Spinach (Chana Saag)
This easy one-pot Spinach Chickpea Curry, also known as Chana Saag is a healthy vegan and gluten-free curry. Serve it with rice, quinoa, or naan for a perfect weeknight dinner!
Sprouted green lentils curry packed full of nutrition made in the instant pot or stovetop. Mung bean sprouts cooked in an onion-tomato sauce with ginger, garlic and aromatic spices. This curry goes perfectly with roti, paratha or rice.
Enjoy this easy and delicious Ridge Gourd Curry, also known as Turai ki subzi, made in the pressure cooker or instant pot. This is a simple, yet flavorful curry with many nutritional benefits of ridge gourd.
Instant Pot Dal Makhani (Madras Lentils with Brown Rice)
Authentic Punjabi Dal Makhani (Madras Lentils) made in Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot. This restaurant style Dal Makhani made in the pressure cooker is rich, creamy and flavorful.
These perfectly steamed Instant Pot Green Beans have a fresh, crunchy texture, and are so easy to make! Saute with butter and garlic, drizzle on some lemon juice, and they make a delicious side dish for any meal.
Instant Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry is a creamy vegan curry, perfect for those busy weekdays. Made with staple pantry ingredients, this one-pot meal with pot-in-pot brown rice will make up for a perfect wholesome meal.
A nutrition packed Black Chickpea Salad made with black chickpeas, crunchy onions, tomatoes, avocado and spices. This refreshing salad has fresh and tangy flavors, and can be enjoyed as a great protein rich breakfast or snack.
Gujarati Dal is a sweet, spicy and tangy lentil soup, made with pigeon peas (tuvar dal), lots of warming spices and the sweetness of jaggery. This staple dal from the Gujarat region of India can be enjoyed with rice, roti or as a soup!
Instant Pot Pumpkin Curry Recipe (Pressure Cooker)
North Indian sweet and sour pumpkin curry made in a pressure cooker or instant pot. This is a delicious and healthy vegetable curry to add to your meal. Vegan & gluten free!
Kala Chana is a mildly spiced black chickpeas curry made in instant pot. This is a simple everyday Punjabi curry, made in a onion-tomato gravy with ginger and garlic.
You won't believe how easy it is to make this asparagus soup in your Instant Pot! It's creamy and full of flavor, and you'll have it ready to serve in less than 30 minutes!
Wholesome Green Moong lentils simmered in onion-tomato gravy made in Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker). A protein rich mung bean curry, enjoy as a lentil soup along with a side of rice.
Healthy Cream of Broccoli soup made in the Instant Pot or Stovetop in less than 30 minutes. This amazing comfort food can be enjoyed guilt free with this plant based vegan & gluten free recipe. Perfect for a quick satisfying lunch or dinner.
Spinach Dal, also called Dal Palak, is a comforting lentil soup with added spinach made in the Pressure Cooker. It is so easy to make it in the pressure cooker. Enjoy it with basmati rice or as a soup. This is a vegetarian & gluten-free recipe.
This hearty Instant Pot Lentil Soup is easy to make, flavorful, and nutritious. It is packed with nourishing veggies and tender brown lentils. Get cozy with this warming soup on a cold winter day!
Vegan Cauliflower Soup made in the Instant Pot in less than 30 minutes. Packed with healing ingredients like turmeric, cauliflower and cashews, it is so creamy and full of flavor.
Moong Dal Fry / Split Yellow Lentils Soup – Instant Pot
Moong Dal Tadka or Split Yellow Lentils Soup made in instant pot or stovetop pressure cooker. A simple yet flavorful yellow dal tempered with cumin, garlic and spices. This is a mild everyday lentil enjoyed with rice.
This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup is filled with warm fall goodness. This vegan & gluten free Thai curried soup is so creamy, flavorful and healthy!
Instant Pot Vegetable Sambar (South Indian Lentils)
Sambar, a flavorful South Indian Lentil Stew made with lentils, vegetables, tamarind, curry leaves and spices prepared in the instant pot (pressure cooker).
This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Curry is a creamy vegan curry, filled with goodness of squash, coconut milk and spinach. This cozy and comforting curry is perfect for Fall dinners!
Bharwa Bhindi, which means Stuffed Okra is a popular Indian side dish where the okra is stuffed with spicy & tangy masala filling. This vegan & gluten free dish is a perfect side with Indian roti or paratha, or even great to enjoy as an appetizer.
Tandoori Cauliflower is a wonderful gluten-free and low-carb appetizer. Tossed with a spiced yogurt marinade and roasted in the oven or air fryer, this Tandoori Gobi Tikka is so flavorful, golden and crispy. The whole family will love this easy and healthy cauliflower recipe!
A flavor packed spicy dish from the Indian subcontinent popular all over the world. Chicken is marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic, spices and lime juice, then grilled in the air fryer or oven. Low carb and keto friendly.
Authentic Goan Chicken Vindaloo made in the Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot. Enjoy this dairy-free and gluten-free Chicken Vindaloo with rice or naan for a satisfying dinner!
Chicken Tikka Kebab is a delicious appetizer that is packed with flavor. It starts with chicken pieces marinated in yogurt along with lime juice and aromatic spices, then threaded onto skewers and cooked to create a delicious appetizer. Make it in the air fryer or oven to serve at the gathering, or include it into your meal prep for the week!
Chicken Saag, also called Palak Chicken, is a chicken and spinach curry from North India. This flavorful and healthy Chicken Saag can be made in just 30 minutes on the stovetop or in the instant pot. With this well-tested and easy-to-follow recipe, you can make authentic Saag Chicken with perfect results!
Try this delicious, healthy Chicken Fajita Soup made with tender chicken, bell peppers, onions, and spices. A perfect meal for the cold weather made easily in the instant pot or stovetop! Gluten-free and low-carb.
Delicious and easy Coconut Shrimp Curry made in the Pressure Cooker in just 20 minutes. This is a simple Indian shrimp curry made with ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes along with flavorful spices, and finished with coconut milk.
A creamy and delicious Butter chicken or Murgh Makhani made in the Instant Pot. Chicken cooked in a mildly spiced tomato gravy with aromatic ginger, garlic and spices.
I hope you have found your favorite and easy Indian diabetic recipes! Some of these can be made in the instant pot or air fryer, while others can be made on the stovetop. Let me know what you are most excited to make, and when you make it, don’t forget to tag #pipingpotcurry.
I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.
Nice collection of recipes.
But rice is not recommended for diabetic diet. It is misleading!
Excellent recipes, adding flavour to better health. Thank you!
This is so awesome. Thanks
Useful article & nice blog. Thank you for sharing these information about Indian foods related to Diabetes.