New Delhi: India is undeniably a vegetarian paradise. With 38% of its population being vegetarians, there is no dearth of vegetarian food options available to the foodie. 

For the benefit of a veg-foodie travelling out of the country, the Global Vegetarian Index has created a very exhaustive list of the best countries to travel to. In case you are wondering, India is 11th on the list.

We have presented the top ten best vegetarian friendly countries in the world and what they eat there.

1. Seychelles
The local cuisine consists of Coconut curry, Dhal (lentils), Saffron rice and fresh tropical fruits.  Additional food staples include coconut, breadfruit and mangoes. Dishes are often garnished with fresh flowers.

 
Ladob is eaten either as a savory dish or as a dessert. The dessert version usually consists of ripe plantain and sweet potatoes.

2. Thailand
Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge.
Thai curry incorporates many Indian spices in its pastes, it still manages to maintain its own unique flavour with the addition of local spices and ingredients, such as Thai holy basil, lemongrass, and galangal (Thai ginger).

 
Vegetarian Pad Thai is perfect for those who want a lighter noodle dish without the meat. It offers lots of protein in the form of eggs and ground nuts. 

3. Malaysia
Chilli peppers, coconut, soy sauce, tofu, tamarind, candlenuts, rice and roti are Malay staples.
For a traditional Malay meal, rice is considered the centerpiece of a meal, with everything else considered as an accompaniment, relish or side for the rice.

Nasilemak is a Malay fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. It is considered to be the national dish of Malaysia and it is eaten at all times of the day. 

4. Sao Tome and Principe
This country is not self-sufficient in meat production and is reliant upon imports of these foods. Hence a lot of the cuisine revolves around vegetables. Primary food crops include bananas, breadfruit, taro, maize, beans, papaya and palm oil.

Staple foods include fish, seafood, beans, maize and cooked banana. Tropical fruits such as pineapple, avocado and bananas are also available. The use of hot spices is prominent in São Tomése cuisine. Coffee is utilized in various dishes as a spice or seasoning.

5. Peru
The Peruvian cuisine uses a lot of native herbs referred to as Andean herbs, they include Muña (a kind of mint),Aji (chili) and Huacatay. Another main herb is cilantro and in case of beverages, lemongrass. 

Some classic vegetarian Peruvian dishes are Ceviche, Pachamanca (veggies cooked in an earthen pot), Stewed quinoa, as well quinoa in salads, Papa a la huancaina y ocopaarequipeña (potatoes in chili cream).

6. Singapore
Singapore's cuisine which includes Indian food is well-known for vegetarian cuisine, and Chinese Buddhists have been making vegetarian food for centuries in the tiny city.

Roti Prata is a light, fluffy puff pastry pancake. Being an Indian speciality, its typically served with curry but nowadays you can get exotic versions with cheese, mushrooms and even banana and chocolate for a sweet version. It is best drunk with tehtarik – hot frothy milk tea.

7. Cambodia
Vegetable fried rice or noodles are the most common vegetarian options. Most restaurants can whip up a vegetable stir-fry but the most interesting options are with variations like lemongrass spicy basil vegetables or vegetables with pineapple.

Kralan are bamboo tubes stuffed with sticky rice, red beans, grated coconut and coconut milk, and roasted over charcoal at the street stalls. The bamboo is peeled back to eat the rice that’s crispy on the outside and soft inside. The most common vegetarian street snack is grilled bananas.

8. Solomon Islands
Special dishes are made using all kinds of ingredients. Fish is the staple meat in the Solomon Islands cuisine. Cooking techniques include baking, boiling and frying. Sweet potatoes, rice, taro roots, cassava, taro leaves and many other vegetables are staples there. 

Distinctive dishes of the Solomons include Ulu (breadfruit) which can be served with any dish, Bananas and other exotic fruits wrapped in pearl cassavas and served with whipped cream or caramel.

Poi, made with fermented taro roots is served during any Solomonian celebration. This dish can be served with chicken or fish, or made like a porridge.

9. United Kingdom
British cuisine is a hot pot of international food. The island has been traditionally heavily influenced by its neighbour across the Channel when it comes to food. 

More recently however, with the influx of Indian migrants to Britain, curries and kormas have become very popular.

Crumpets are a traditional British dish. They aresavory cakes with a distinctly porous and spongy texture and are perfect for piling with butter and marmalade and pairing with a piping hot cup of tea. They are often eaten between meals. 

10. Botswana
Here they have large cookouts with traditional foods called braais. There are salads, as well as other various vegetables likesweet potatoes, regular potatoes, beans and different kinds of squash. 

 
One of Botswana's traditional foods, chakalaka, is made with carrots. Pap and sorghum with coleslaw is also a popular dish that has been served at almost every braai.

References
www.oliverstravels.com
www.wikipedia.org