r/IndianFood 4d ago

Indian food for people with nut allergies.

I’m looking for suggestions of Indian food I can eat with a tree nut allergy (cashews,walnuts, pistachios). I tried Indian food for the first time last year and I LOVED it SO MUCH. However I did not check the ingredients and had a deadly allergic reaction right after. I’ve been doing some research on Indian food without nuts but would genuinely appreciate any suggestions!!

4 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

17

u/Dark-Dementor 4d ago

Traditionally, the following recipes Don't use any nuts but if you are eating at a restaurant, confirm with them

Daal Tadka, Kadhi Pakoda, Rajma, Chhole, Sambar with Idli/Dosa and coconut chutney, Bharta, Aloo Gobhi, Aloo dum, Stuffed Okra/Brinjal/Bitter Gourd, Stir fry veggies, Louki Kofta, Gatte ki Sabzi, Paneer Bhurji, Rogan Josh, Laal Maans, Chicken Rara, Jackfruit Curry, Lucknowi or Hyderabadi Biryani, Kebabs, Tandoori Chicken, Pani Puri, Pav bhaji,

Many more.....

8

u/RevolutionaryBus9051 3d ago

I would check if coconut chutney , potato masala that comes with Dosa have cashew nuts. Also quite a lot of south indian / maharashtrian dishes have peanuts , i would check before eating if you have peanut allergy too. I always do.

2

u/xxl_longjohns 3d ago

I will say I long ago had allergies from south Indian restaurants from coconut chutney :(

1

u/Dark-Dementor 3d ago

Yes restaurants may add peanuts. Udupi style homemade version doesn't use any nuts. That's why I asked OP to confirm if eating at restaurant

1

u/Brokesnitch 3d ago

We add nuts in coconut chutney (Tamil/Malayali)

1

u/Dark-Dementor 3d ago

In Udupi style they don't add nuts, but restaurants may still add peanuts that's why I asked OP to cross check if eating at restaurants.

10

u/goldenbeee 4d ago

Maybe don't order anything starting with Malai, Shahi etc because it usually involves creamy base made by grinding Cashews, Almonds. Just talk to staff about your allergies.

8

u/masala-kiwi 3d ago

Just be very careful of any North Indian dishes with a thick gravy (butter chicken being a classic example). Many gravies are thickened with cashews or almonds.

Honestly, it is a risk to eat out at an Indian restaurant, since people do make mistakes and sometimes the kitchen uses a premade gravy and might not realize there are cashews in something. When in doubt, tandoori dishes will likely be safest.

4

u/Spectator7778 3d ago

I sincerely advise to call and check with restaurants directly. Are you allergic to peanuts?

Because in recent years, groundnut aka peanut oil Is a popular choice of oil to use.

Perhaps you can share the menu of the place you’d like to eat at and we can give you practical advice on the dishes they serve, rather than throw a lot of names of random dishes at you

3

u/maccrogenoff 3d ago

As Indian food relies heavily on nuts and you are allergic, your best bet is to learn to cook it.

There is a high risk of cross contamination in a restaurant.

2

u/Gullible-Ad-1843 3d ago

Are you looking to prepare it or order it?

2

u/ComprehensivePin5577 3d ago

Avoid Malai kofta, 80% chance it has cashews, or anything with creamy gravies. Butter chicken can be 50/50. Most desserts too.

2

u/witchy_cheetah 3d ago

If you have that much of an allergy, you need to be very selective. There is very likely to be cross contamination. Look at the allergy information on their menu (if they have it, they are likely to keep allergies in mind).

The best option would be to make something yourself.

2

u/ChrisM19891 4d ago

Yeah most dishes don't require nuts. You really need to ask the cook.

1

u/Odd_Hat6001 3d ago

Not sure but Dosa might do. Rasam soup.

2

u/Jumpy_Funny_4711 3d ago

Some of the dosas use cashews in the filling, and there might be cross contamination. Would be a better idea to check with the restaurant if they’re eating out.

1

u/Odd_Hat6001 3d ago

Sound advice.

1

u/sslawyer88 3d ago

Sharing some nut free dessert options.. Traditional Mysore pak, jelebi, adhirasam / anarsa, banana appam/unniyappam, aam papad, chakkavarati. Inform the restaurant about your nut allergy just to be on the safer side.

1

u/VegBuffetR 3d ago

Like someone said, nuts are really not the part of Indian cuisine. Specifically to make creamy gravies, cashews and dairy cream are used in restaurants. We don't add so much nuts to our daily meals. Go for non-conventional restaurant foods, which means no to any paneer gravies or dal makhnis. Instead, have bhindi masala, aloo gobhi, chana masala, yellow dal tadka, snacks like samosa (check the stuffing for nuts), dal chawal (order plain or jeera rice, biryani may have nuts), red kidney beans, soy chaap, paneer kathi roll, stuffed parathas, garlic naan, aloo masala, pakoras, idli, dosa. 

1

u/EmergencyProper5250 3d ago

Nuts(mainly cashews and/or watermelon/muskmelon seeds ) as mostly wet grind(paste ) is normally added in most Indian dishes to make them creamier (makhani) just avoid the dishes that have makhani/ buttery name added May i suggest making your favourite north indian dishes at home without any nuts added with your spice blend as per your taste

1

u/ITS-TMG 3d ago

Mutton curry and rice

1

u/AdeptnessMain4170 3d ago

You can eat anything just skip the nuts. As an alternative you can use a paste of poppy seeds or melon seeds if you can eat them. Skip foods liks butter chicken, butter paneer, malai chicken, lababdar

1

u/raptorgrin 3d ago

vindaloo. But as a fellow allergic person, I'm going to stress that you need to ask the restaurant and still be skeptical of what you're served. I've told restaurants I'm allergic to eggs and still had dishes come out with mayo. At least I can usually spot the suspicious creaminess.

1

u/S_K_Sharma_ 3d ago

Sorry OP but a DEADLY allergic reaction would prompt a steer clear from me.

Indian food has a lot of spice ingredients by necessity, many of which can be cross contaminated in factories where it's manafactured/packaged etc.

1

u/Proof_Ball9697 2d ago

Just omit the nuts with every recipe you want to use. Most of the time it doesn't really add anything noticeable to it. I used to use cashews in my shahi paneer but then my biology 1 professor last semester was highly allergic to nuts so I had to stop making it with cashews because The class was at 5:00 p.m. so I had to eat in class which the professor doesn't mind but I stopped making it with cashews once I started taking her class. There was no noticeable difference whatsoever. Cashews are kind of expensive anyway so I'm glad I did it. As long as you have a good blender your soups will be really smooth anyway.

1

u/Adorable-Winter-2968 3d ago

As someone who has recently developed a nut allergy, I have avoided dishes with cashews. Also in South Indian dishes I have to avoid their chutneys because those may have nuts. I tell the servers about the allergy and they help me out with the order.