I’ll confess, of all of the recipes my mother made rising up, tikka masala was by no means on the menu. As a lot as we liked indulging within the wealthy sauce of the dish at weddings and eating places, my mother simply by no means had a style for making it, so we simply loaded up after we might. And I’m nonetheless obsessive about the dish to at the present time. It’s nostalgic—I’ve so many meals recollections from household and associates’ weddings the place tikka masala was on the buffet line, or out at our favourite Indian eating places in Houston the place we’d eat the dish family-style, loading up our plates time and again. Today, when the craving strikes, I make this cauliflower tikka masala—and my hankering is instantly happy.
Let’s break it down. Cauliflower is arguably probably the most scrumptious—and standard—veggies of the second. It soaks up all of the scrumptious flavors of this easy recipe. And since it comes collectively in a flash, I promise this cauliflower tikka masala can be a part of your common recipe rotation.
Ingredients for Cauliflower Tikka Masala
Yogurt. While this recipe is vegetarian, as an ode to chicken that is marinated in yogurt for chicken tikka masala, I “marinate” cauliflower in the yogurt. It also adds a little subtle tang.
Garlic and ginger. In both the yogurt marinade and the sauce, these warming spices add so much flavor. Use the fresh stuff—trust me.
Cauliflower. Prepped florets or whole cauliflower that you chop up yourself work great. You can also substitute for another starchy vegetable like potatoes (a personal favorite), or paneer.
Onion. I prefer a yellow onion, but red onion or a shallot will work in a pinch.
Spices. Garam masala, turmeric, cardamom, cumin, and coriander, pack this recipe with flavor. Fresh ground is always best, but use what you can find!
Jalapeño. For just a hint of spice.
Canned tomatoes. You can use a few options. Crushed, whole, or plain tomato sauce. I prefer tomato sauce because I like to keep everything extra smooth. But because the sauce gets blended, any of these options will work.
Heavy cream. While I don’t usually have heavy cream on hand, I do add it to my list when I’m making this. And you don’t need a lot, so even if you want to save extra in ice trays to freeze and use for next time, that will also work! You just want that creamy richness. Coconut milk will also work.
Butter. Just a tablespoon adds a nice glossy finish to the sauce.
Sugar. Sprinkle in a pinch to round out all the flavors.
How to Make Cauliflower Tikka Masala a 30-Minute Meal
Once I discovered that I could make this recipe in about 30 minutes, it became a go-to for weeknight meals. A few tips:
- Marinate the cauliflower the night before. Add the yogurt, ginger, garlic, and spices to a bowl to toss over the cauliflower and let it sit covered in the fridge. This makes it easy to just toss in the oven while the sauce simmers so both can be cooked at the same time. It also saves a little prep during the craziness of dinnertime.
- Mise en place is your friend. Before you actually start cooking, measure out spices in one bowl, chop the onion, garlic, ginger, and jalapeño on your cutting board. Add the butter and cream to the blender before you start the cooking and set aside. All of these little steps make things move a lot faster and save you clean-up time, too!
- Toast your spices. For maximum flavor, toast the spices with the onion until super fragrant. Once you can smell them, add the tomatoes.
- Make the whole thing ahead of time. My mom says this a lot, but recipes like this are incredibly forgiving as leftovers. In fact, they often taste even better the next day. Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat on the stove with an extra splash of cream or ghee and serve. No one will know the difference.
Tips for Serving
Serve alongside hot rice, with naan, or even just on its own in a bowl. Top with plenty of chopped cilantro, a little lime juice, and even a drizzle of yogurt if you like.
I also like serving this dish alongside a little kachumber salad for added freshness or with raita on the facet. Just a little palak or saag paneer can also be scrumptious in order for you just a few choices on the desk for individuals to eat with a giant bowl of rice. Nevertheless you serve it, this cauliflower tikka masala can be scrumptious.
Description
A simple vegetarian dinner recipe that’s filled with taste.
- 8 ounces Greek yogurt
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1-inch knob of ginger, grated
- Pinch of salt
- 4 teaspoons garam masala, divided
- 1 head of cauliflower, minimize into florets
- 1/2 of a yellow onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon floor coriander
- 1 teaspoon floor cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 cardamom pods, crushed
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 inch of ginger, chopped
- 1/2 of a jalapeño, chopped
- 1 1/2 cans plain tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- salt and pepper to style
- Prep the cauliflower. Add the yogurt, grated garlic and ginger, salt, and 1 teaspoon of garam masala right into a bowl and whisk collectively. Add the cauliflower and toss to coat. Let sit for a minimum of half-hour, or prep forward of time. As soon as able to cook dinner, preheat oven to 400 F. Add cauliflower to a lined sheet tray in a good layer and drizzle with oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes till tender. Take away from oven and put aside.
- Make the sauce. To a big range prime pan, add a few tablespoons of oil and produce to medium warmth. Add the onion and cook dinner for a couple of minutes till beginning to flip translucent. Add all the spices, together with the remainder of the garam masala, and cook dinner for a couple of minute till aromatic. Add the garlic, ginger, and jalapeño and cook dinner for an additional minute, then add the tomato sauce. Simmer for a couple of minutes, stirring till wealthy in coloration.
- To a blender, add the tomato sauce, heavy cream, butter, and, sugar with salt and pepper. Watch out mixing the recent liquid, remembering to let the steam launch. Mix till easy. Style and modify salt and sweetness as wanted. Add the sauce again to the pan on the range and produce to medium warmth.
- Add the cauliflower to the sauce and coat to mix. Let cook dinner for about 10 minutes and preserve coated till able to serve. Take pleasure in!
- Prep Time: 30
- Prepare dinner Time: 30
- Class: Vegetarian
- Delicacies: Indian
Key phrases: cauliflower, tikka masala
This put up was initially printed on August 17, 2018, and has since been up to date.
