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Vegetarian Recipes

For Friendship Day 2026, Sure To Please Even Your Picky Eater Friends

Quick Summary

Friendship Day 2026 falls on Sunday, August 2 in India, the first Sunday of August, but you know that it began as a 1930s greeting-card campaign in the United States? It was Hallmark (the famed card company) founder Joyce Hall who proposed the idea in the same year, and the US Congress formally recognised the first Sunday of August as National Friendship Day in 1935. It is celebrated with cards, friendly gestures like gifting chocolates, and increasingly, shared meals. 

Deep Dive

Because the date always lands deep in the monsoon season, it is also a natural choice to build a menu around special monsoon food, like the many gourds, leafy greens (whether locally grown or wild ones), and corn, rather than force summer or winter specials onto a rainy weekend. There’s a mix of Italian, French, Japanese, Vietnamese and American cuisines in here with local touches. So, read on for some classic vegetarian recipes, so Friendship Day 2026 remains far from boring and does not consist of the same three paneer dishes on repeat.

1. Arancini

Finger foods are the perfect appetiser, and for Friendship Day 2026, you should make this Sicilian street food classic, made with risotto, cheese, corn, and methi. One of the simplest vegetarian recipes, these crisp and cheese-stuffed rice balls make them perfect for picky eaters.

Ingredients

• Cooked, cooled risotto (arborio rice): 2 cups

• Grated Parmesan: 1/2 cup

• Mozzarella, cut into small cubes: 100g

• Fresh corn kernels or finely chopped fenugreek leaves (methi): 1/2 cup

• Eggs, beaten: 2

• Breadcrumbs, plus extra for coating: 1 cup

• Salt and pepper: to taste

• Oil, for shallow frying: as needed

Method

Once the risotto is cool, mix with Parmesan, corn or methi, salt and pepper. Take small portions, flatten in your palm, place a mozzarella cube in the centre, and shape into a ball, sealing the rice around it. Dip each ball in a bowl of whisked egg, then roll in breadcrumbs. Shallow-fry in hot oil or bake at 200°C for 20-25 minutes. Serve with ketchup with a bed of mashed potatoes below.

2. Pot Pies

Baking during monsoons can be really therapeutic if you do away with the frills of meat and seafood and pick one of the vegetarian pot pie recipes. Friendship Day 2026 is already special, so use this occasion to bake one using seasonal vegetables. It’s a smart pick for turning any humble monsoon food staples like corn, cluster beans and mushrooms into a creamy dish.

Ingredients

• Butter: 2 tbsp

• Onion, chopped: 1

• Pumpkin (kaddu), diced: 1 cup

• Chopped seasonal vegetables (corn, cluster beans, mushrooms): 1 cup

• Flour: 2 tbsp

• Vegetable stock: 1.5 cups

• Milk or cream: 1/2 cup

• Salt, pepper and thyme: to taste

• Puff pastry: 1 sheet

• Egg, beaten, for egg wash: 1

Method

Saute onion and pumpkin in butter, then add the remaining vegetables and cook for 5 minutes. Tip: if you can get your hands on rugda or olmi mushrooms, use them instead of the usual button mushrooms. Then add the flour, mix and add the stock and milk. Cook until thick and creamy. Sprinkle salt, pepper and thyme, then divide the filling among small ramekins. Top each with a puff pastry lid, apply egg wash, and cut a small slit for steam. Bake at 200°C for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden.

3. Chilled Noodles

Cold noodles are an underrated monsoon food option when it is too muggy to want anything heavy. Save more time and go for your pack of favourite Yippee Noodles instead of the typical wheat noodles. The cherry on top is the creamy sesame dressing. It’s perfect for Friendship Day 2026, and can also be rolled into rice paper rolls. 

Ingredients

• Soba, wheat noodles or instant ramen noodles: 200g

• Sesame paste or tahini: 2 tbsp

• Soy sauce: 1 tbsp

• Rice vinegar: 1 tbsp

• Sesame oil: 1 tsp

• Grated ginger: 1 tsp

• Julienned seasonal vegetables (cucumber, radish, ridge gourd): 1 cup

• Toasted sesame seeds and spring onion: to garnish

Method

Cook the noodles as per pack instructions, then rinse under cold water to stop them from cooking and get their temperature down. Whisk the sesame paste, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil and ginger into a smooth dressing. Toss the chilled noodles with the dressing and julienned vegetables. Garnish with sesame seeds and spring onion.

4. Cheesy Corn Pasta Open Sandwich

Sandwiches can feel basic, especially the vegetarian recipes, when they are closed-faced. But with open-faced ones, they look like something out of a Parisian cafe. That is the illusion of such sandwiches, and if you want to go the extra mile, combine macaroni and corn to make a pasta, and top it over sourdough slices. Perfect for a special occasion like Friendship Day 2026, it is cheesy and herby.

Ingredients

• Sourdough slices: 8

• Cooked macaroni: 1 cup

• Sweet corn kernels: 1 cup

• Bell peppers (mixed), finely chopped: 1¼ cups

• Onion, finely chopped: ¾ cup

• Butter: 3 tbsp

• All-purpose flour (maida): 4 tbsp

• Whole milk: 2 cups

• Garlic powder: 1 tsp

• Italian seasoning: 1 tsp

• Chilli flakes: 1 tsp

• Salt: to taste

• Grated mozzarella: 1 cup

• Chopped parsley or coriander: for garnish

Method

Heat butter and sauté the onion, bell peppers and sweet corn in a pan. Set aside, and melt butter for the roux, then add flour, cook, then add milk, cooking until thick. Add the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, chilli flakes and salt. Fold in the cooked pasta and sautéed vegetables, then cook for a couple of minutes. Butter and toast the sourdough, then spoon the pasta mixture over each slice, sprinkle with mozzarella and bake. Garnish with dry herbs and serve.

5. Veggie Sliders

Celebrating Friendship Day 2026, with a friend who loves Mediterranean cuisine and the burger as well? Then these veggie sliders inspired by Mediterranean flavours are something you must try. It might look like one of those vegetarian recipes that are complicated, but it just takes 30 minutes to make!

Ingredients

For the Chickpea Patties

• Slider buns: 12

• Chickpeas, cooked and skins removed: 2 cans

• Red onion, finely diced: ½ cup

• Red bell pepper, finely diced: ½ cup

• Garlic, grated: 2 cloves

• Tahini: 3 tsp

• Breadcrumbs: ⅓ cup

• Harissa paste: 2 tbsp

• Hummus (optional): 1 tbsp

• Dried oregano: ½ tsp

• Za’atar: ½ tsp

• Paprika: ½ tsp

• Fresh parsley, chopped: ½ cup

• Fresh mint, chopped: ¼ cup

• Lemon juice: ½ lemon

• Salt and black pepper: to taste

• Oil, for grilling

For Assembly

• Onion, sliced: 1

• Tomato, sliced: 1

• Arugula or lettuce: as needed

• Feta cheese: as needed

• Fresh or pickled jalapeños, sliced (optional): as needed

Lemon Mint and Garlic Tahini Sauce

• Tahini: ¼ cup

• Garlic: 1 clove

• Lemon juice: ½ lemon

• Fresh mint, roughly chopped: ¼ cup

• Salt and black pepper: to taste

• Water: as needed to thin

Lemon Mint and Garlic Aioli

• Mayonnaise: ½ cup

• Garlic: 2 cloves

• Lemon juice: ½ lemon

• Fresh mint, finely chopped: ⅓ cup

• Salt and black pepper: to taste

Method

Mix all the ingredients for the tahini sauce, using just enough water for a smooth and pourable consistency. Set aside, then mix the aioli ingredients and refrigerate. Then mash the cooked chickpeas in a large bowl. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, tahini, harissa, breadcrumbs, hummus, herbs, spices, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix well. The mixture should hold. Shape into 12 small patties for the slider buns. Grill them on both sides. Toast the slider buns, spread the aioli on them, add lettuce, the chickpea patty, tomato, onion and jalapeños. Drizzle with the tahini sauce, crumble over feta and cover with the top bun.

Friendship Day 2026 Vegetarian Recipes Made Desi

Use seasonal vegetables typically consumed as monsoon food in sabzis and gravies. Take inspiration from Western and Eastern global classics like toasts, noodles, sliders, and appetisers, and sneak in lauki, corn, and cabbage seamlessly for nutritious and tasty dishes that even your picky friend will love.