Vegan Indian Food

As the only Indian restaurant in Valletta, our endeavour at Naan Bar is to present an authentic Indian experience presenting the cuisine that is known for its variety of rich flavours derived from the use of vibrant spices, herbs and fresh ingredients. Though diets and preferences tend to change across the Indian landscape, most people follow a primarily plant-based diet which fits well into the food trends popular in Malta today such as vegan and gluten-free diets.

The most popular and healthy vegan options at Naan Bar include the Kumbh Biryani that consists of seasonal wild mushrooms, saffron and aromatic Basmati rice as well as small plates such as Nimona which is a chilli and cumin spiced, pan-seared green pea patty with tamarind chutney or more traditional sides such as Rajma Masala made up of red kidney beans tempered with fennel seeds, whole spices and garlic and Aloo Jeera which is turmeric potatoes tempered with cumin seeds, ginger and green chilli.

Traditional Indian food emphasizes a high intake of plant foods like vegetables, lentils and fruits, as well as a low consumption of meat. At the forefront of traditional dishes, are spices such as turmeric, fenugreek, coriander, ginger and cumin that not only add rich flavour but also possess powerful nutritional benefits.

One of the most popular spices used in Indian dishes, Turmeric, is known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anticancer properties as it contains a compound called curcumin has been found to fight inflammation in the body, improve brain function and reduce risk factors of heart disease.

As a modern Indian Bar in Valletta, at Naan Bar we even infuse rich ingredients such as saffron, ginger and cinnamon to our exotic cocktail menu along with other smoked cocktails including chai spice and star anise. Popular cocktails include Naan Tonic with curry leaf infused gin and Chai Negroni with chai spice infused gin.

The Ketogenic or Keto Diet plan is a high fat, low carb diet which deprives the body of carbohydrates as a source of fuel and uses fats for energy instead. While Indian food would not necessarily come to mind when considering a Keto diet, surprisingly the use of herbs and spices as well as fat sources makes it a sustainable option as long as carb-intake is carefully restricted. At Naan Bar, our chefs have created keto-friendly Indian dishes that have been tried and tested by local maltese Keto groups to include favourites such as Lamb Sheekh, Chicken Tikka from our Tandoori selection as well as curries such as South Indian beef, Coconut Shrimp and Kashmiri Lamb made up of red chilli and yogurt. The Keto menu at Naan Bar also includes vegetarian options using cottage cheese as the protein source such as paneer makhani in a tomato gravy flavoured with fenugreek and palak paneer which is prepared in a creamy spinch sauce. Thus, keto friendly Indian food is now a easily available option in Malta and is also available for delivery and takeaway.