My simple paneer and potato kofta are golden on the outside and a brilliant white colour on the inside. Each bite is soft, a little spongy and slick with a smooth and creamy tomato sauce. In my home, Malai Kofta is an essential curry for special occasions.

This Indian vegetarian curry of paneer (cheese) and potato kofta is a real celebration of rich flavours and warming spices.

What is Malai Kofta?

Malai Kofta is a delicious North Indian vegetarian curry, popular in restaurants and for celebrations like weddings and parties. It’s rich, creamy and utterly delicious with naan, paratha or rice.

Recipes for Malai Kofta vary from cook to cook. “Malai” refers to the liberal use of cream in the dish, while “Kofta” allude the balls of deep-fried paneer (a vegetarian take on meat kofta, so to speak). Many recipes also include potatoes and/or other vegetables in the kofta mixture. A filling of chopped nuts and sultanas is commonplace, too.

Where does Malai Kofta come from?

It’s said that Malai Kofta has roots in Mughlai cuisine; a style of cooking that goes back to the Mughal Empire and its’ royal kitchens. Originally from Central Asia, Turkey, Persia and beyond, Mughlai cuisine introduced dishes like Biryani, Nihari, Korma, Keema and Pasanda to the Indian subcontinent. You will now find hundreds of delicious variations of these and more dishes across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

They are often rich, luxurious and meat heavy. Ingredients like nuts, saffron, rosewater and dry fruits are found in both sweet and savoury dishes of the Mughlai kitchens.

Notable vegetarian Mughlai-influenced dishes include Malai Kofta, Shahi Paneer, Vegetable Korma, as well as desserts like Shahi Tukda, Falooda and Sheer Khurma.

There are two popular styles of Malai Kofta. Let’s explore them a little.

Mughlai Malai Kofta (Shahi Malai Kofta) – White in colour

This royal preparation of Malai Kofta is heavily inspired by the customs, techniques and ingredients of Mughlai kitchens. The white-coloured gravy is an ode to the royal emperors’ tastes for all things expensive (namely nuts, but also spices like cardamom, saffron and peppercorns).

Make this white gravy by first blanching almonds and/or cashews in hot water, then grinding to create a smooth and creamy paste. Fry off some spices and add the paste, but don’t let it brown. Copious amounts of cream and a pinch of sugar to finish, of course.

Punjabi Malai Kofta (North Indian-style Malai Kofta) – Orange or red in colour

Punjabi Malai Kofta is the version of the dish we most commonly find in restaurants. It’s an adaptation of the Mughlai dish that puts tomatoes to work, hence the orange or red gravy. Tomatoes and chillies were not introduced to India until the 15th and 16th centuries so you could say this is a more ‘modern take’ on Malai Kofta.

Over the years, recipes have changed and adapted with tastes and the movement of people. Each Malai Kofta recipe you’ll find online, in books or by word of mouth will be as unique as it is delicious.

Is this a Nut-free Malai Kofta recipe?

Yes, my recipe for Melt-Away Malai Kofta is incidentally, completely nut free. Most recipes for Malai Kofta will contain an assortment of nuts and raisins in the kofta filling and either cashews or almonds to thicken the gravy (sauce).

Now, I’ve never been a fan of crunchy nuts in my creamy kofta, although it is is typical of restaurant-style Malai Kofta.

A while back, I asked my Instagram community to vote on whether they like nuts and raisins in their Malai Kofta. An overwhelming 83% of 6,000 respondents said no. To make this suitable for those with nut allergies and intolerances, I decided to cut all the nuts out, even in the sauce. So here it is: A creamy, nut-free Malai Kofta recipe that tastes like a restaurant version!

What is Malai in Indian food?

In Indian cookery, the term ‘Malai’ refers to the cream extracted from heating whole milk (sourced from cattle: Either cow or buffalo). It’s used for making a range of dishes, both sweet and savoury. Some dishes include: Malai Kofta, Malai Peda, Rasmalai and Kulfi.

How to serve Malai Kofta

Serve Melt-Away Malai Kofta with your choice of Indian accompaniments, such as Naan, Paratha or Rice. I simply adore the combination of Malai Kofta and Garlic Naan.

Some recipes call for placement of the Kofta to be a last-minute affair, directly on top of the hot gravy. My recipe requires a gentle simmer to plump up the Kofta before serving. This gives them their mouth watering melt-away texture.

Why is it called Melt-Away Malai Kofta?

I’ve been making versions of this dish for years. Take a look at this delicious Paneer Kofta recipe from my archives. The first time I made this iteration of Malai Kofta, my husband took a portion out for himself at dinner time. I looked over and saw there were five koftas in his plate.

Important tips for making this recipe

Paneer

• Homemade paneer works best in this recipe. Refer to this recipe for Homemade Paneer. Make sure the paneer is very well pressed, overnight or for as long as possible. Chill in the fridge until ready to use. The paneer should be dry and crumbly. If it is not properly pressed, the kofta may break in the oil while frying.

Potatoes

• I use a floury variety of potato in my recipe. Maris Piper or King Edward if you’re in the UK. Any mealy potato you’d use for baked potatoes is ideal. Cook the potato however you like. I like to microwave mine in the skin until soft because it’s super quick and easy. It also draws water out of the potato rather than putting water in, like boiling does.

• Once the potato is cooked grate it on the fine side of a cheese grater. It’s best to allow it to cool a bit first!

Kneading kofta mixture

• Spend a bit of time kneading the kofta mixture. Use the heel of your palm to press the mixture into the worktop and away from you. We are creating a smooth-textured dough without a crumbly texture. This process is similar to kneading chhena (paneer) for sweets like Rasmalai and Rasgulla. It produces the perfect smooth and creamy finish.

• I spent about 5 minutes per portion, so 15 minutes kneading in total. It’s a great work out! I don’t recommend using a blender for this as it can overwork the mixture and ruin the texture of the kofta.

Frying kofta

• Heat the oil to 125°C/260°F on a cooking thermometer. It should be low enough to seal the kofta all around without browning too quickly. If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, drop one of the kofta into the oil – it should bubble around the outside very slowly.
  
• The kofta need to be fried very slowly until they turn golden. Each batch will take around 10 minutes. Keep them moving in the oil all the time for even browning. If the heat is too high the outside will brown too quickly and they will deflate as soon as they come out of the oil.
  
• I do not recommend baking or air frying the kofta.

Sauce/gravy

• Since we use tomato purée in the recipe, there is no need to strain the gravy after we blend it. I love the punchy tang of tomato purée in this recipe. Fresh tomatoes don’t even come close.
  
• Skimmed milk powder and fried onions will thicken the sauce beautifully in the absence of nuts. You can replace it with 8-10 cashews, soaked in boiling hot water for 30 minutes.
  
• Be sure to remove large whole spices like star anise and cinnamon from the onion masala before you blend it. They can ruin the colour!
  
• For a bright colour, slowly sizzle Kashmiri chilli powder in warm ghee or oil before adding the gravy mixture. It has a mild flavour and great colour. If you can find this, use half the amount of regular chilli powder and supplement with a teaspoon of paprika (not smoked paprika).

Can I make vegan Malai Kofta using this recipe?

I have not tried veganising this Malai Kofta recipe. I’d imagine quite a few significant changes would need to take place in order to make a vegan Malai Kofta with this recipe. I recommend checking out this Vegan Malai Kofta recipe by Nisha at Rainbow Plant Life.

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Is this recipe for Malai Kofta gluten free?

The kofta contain plain wheat flour. Feel free to swap this for rice flour or your favourite gluten-free baking flour. Use a gluten-free baking powder.

How to make Homemade Paneer

My recipe below is best made with Homemade Paneer. Although, if you don’t have time and want to use shop-bought, I’ll totally forgive you. Please do your best to find the softest paneer possible. Malai Paneer is perfect.

Melt-Away Malai Kofta recipe

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Melt-Away Malai Kofta

I call this creamy paneer kofta curry Melt-Away Malai Kofta simply because they melt away as soon as you put them in your mouth. Malai Kofta are the ultimate North Indian vegetarian curry recipe to dazzle friends and family. A celebration of rich flavours and warming spices.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Keyword celebration, curry, dinner party, kofta, north indian, paneer, party food

Prep Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Sanjana

Equipment

• Blender
• Large pan for cooking the sauce
• Kadai, work or large pan for deep frying
• Slotted spoon for deep frying

Ingredients

For the kofta:

• 225 g paneer, very well pressed homemade is best (recipe linked above)
• 100 g potato (any floury variety such as Maris Piper, King Edward or Yukon Gold) cooked, cooled, peeled and grated on the fine side of a grater
• 1 1/2 tbsp plain flour
• 1/3 tsp salt
• Baking powder same amount as two grains of rice
• Oil for deep frying any cooking oil

For the kofta curry:

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 whole star anise
• 2 cm stick cinnamon or cassia bark
• 4 whole green cardamom pods
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 small piece black stone flower optional
• 2 onions finely diced (about 250g)
• 2 tbsp double concentrate tomato purée
• 2 large cloves garlic chopped
• 2 cm piece ginger grated
• 2 tbsp skimmed milk powder
• 250 ml water

To finish the Malai Kofta:

• 1 tbsp ghee or oil
• 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• Small pinch of saffron
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 100 ml whipping cream (cooking cream)
• 1/4 tsp kasoori methi
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Instructions

To make the kofta (see video for visual tutorial):

• Crumble your well-pressed homemade paneer onto a large plate or on a clean surface. it should feel dry and crumbly. If using shop bought paneer, you will need to grate it on the fine side of a grater.
• Add the finely-grated cooked potato, salt and baking powder. Work everything together using your hands and then sprinkle over the flour. Bring the mixture together to form a very rough mixture. It should bind to a sticky, but not wet dough. Divide it into three portions.
• Taking one portion of mixture at a time, begin to knead the dough on a worktop or clean surface. Use the heel of your palm to press the mixture into the worktop and away from you. We are creating a smooth-textured dough without a crumbles This process is similar to kneading chhena (paneer) for sweets like Rasmalai and Rasgulla. It produces the perfect finish.
• Spend a bit of time kneading the kofta mixture. I spent about 5 minutes per portion, so 15 minutes kneading in total. It's a great work out! I don't recommend using a blender for this as it can overwork the mixture and ruin the texture of the kofta.
• Bring the kofta mixture back together and begin to portion it out into approximately 13-15g portions. Don't make them any bigger than this as they will expand slightly in the oil. Roll each one with a little pressure between your palms. They should be perfectly smooth and without any cracks. You should have between 24-26 kofta.
• Heat enough oil to deep fry the kofta in a kadai or wok. Work in batches of 2-3 so the oil is not overcrowded. Heat the oil to 125°C/260°F on a cooking thermometer. It should be low enough to seal the kofta all around without browning too quickly. If you don't have a cooking thermometer, drop one of the kofta into the oil – it should bubble around the outside very slowly.
• Fry the kofta at this temperature. At no point should the oil temperature exceed 130°C/265°F. Agitate the oil around them, rather than directly moving the kofta at first. This will ensure they don't get knocked out of shape. The kofta need to be fried very slowly until they turn golden. Each batch will take around 10 minutes. Keep them moving in the oil all the time for even browning. If the heat is too high the outside will brown too quickly and they will deflate once they come out of the oil.
• Line a plate with kitchen towel. Lift out your fried kofta and drain on the plate. Repeat this process for your remaining batches of kofta. Note: It's okay if the kofta deflate very slightly on the surface. They will plump up again in the kofta curry later.

For the kofta curry:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add star anise, cinnamon or cassia bark, cardamom, cloves, black stone flower if using (I recommend it) and onions. Sauté over a medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes, until the onions turn soft and translucent but do not brown. Tip: Add the salt at this stage to help the onions cook quickly.
• Next, add the tomato purée and cook out for a further minute. Finally, add the ginger and garlic and cook for two minutes longer over a low heat. Allow this mixture to cool and then remove the whole star anise and cinnamon or cassia. Leave the other whole spices in.
• Once cool, transfer the mixture to a blender. Add the milk powder and water. Blend on the highest speed until very smooth. The sauce should be thick and very creamy.

To finish the Malai Kofta:

• Heat ghee or oil in a large pan set over a low heat. Add the Kashmiri chilli powder and allow it to sizzle for a few seconds before adding the blended kofta sauce. Stir well. Add saffron, sugar and cream (reserve a tablespoon for garnishing). Stir well and bring to a very gentle simmer.
• Add the fried kofta and mix gently to ensure they're covered. Place a lid on the pan and allow to heat through over a low heat for 4-5 minutes.
• Remove the lid and garnish with a swirl of cream, kasoori methi (rub between your palms first) and fresh coriander. Serve immediately with naan, paratha or rice.

Video

Notes

How to store leftover Malai Kofta

Pack any leftovers into an air-tight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan, adding water if sauce is too thick. Try not to stir too much to avoid breaking. Do not freeze.

To make Malai Kofta ahead of time

This can be made up to 3 days in advance. Keep the kofta and sauce separate until you’re ready to serve. At the last minute, bring the sauce to a gentle simmer (add water if necessary as it will thicken over time), add the kofta and simmer gently for 4-5 minutes as directed in the recipe above.

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Restaurant-Style Shahi Paneer

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Now that’s what I look for in a delicious, comforting dinner. I mean, have you seen the Vegan Broth with Tofu Skin & Noodles I posted recently? It’s LOADED with flavour.

Rendang is a fiery and richly-spiced Malaysian and Indonesian curry. Simmer it low and slow until the flavours come to life. As a result, it’s packed with flavour! My version brings all the flavours I love about rendang such as sweet lime leaves, citrusy lemongrass and sour tamarind pulp together in a quick-fix marinade.

Cook all the spices and then whiz it up in a blender to save time. Let me tell you now, this marinade smells HEAVENLY! The tofu and broccoli get to bathe in the warm spice paste for a while before crisping up under the grill. You can also roast it in the oven but I love the smoky barbecue-style finish you get from grilling.

Tips for customising these Easy Rendang Tofu & Broccoli Bowls

• MORE IDEAS: Transform this crispy tofu bowl into a luxurious and creamy curry by adding the cooked tofu and broccoli to a pan and pouring in a 400ml tin coconut milk + 250ml water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes and serve.
• Swap broccoli for sweet potato, cauliflower, French beans or even okra if you have those to hand. This is a great recipe for using up leftover veggies so go for a mix of veg if you like.
• Serve with plain white rice (I like to use Jasmine rice for this) for a neutral filler to temper the heat of the curry paste.

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Easy Rendang Tofu & Broccoli Bowls

Crispy, smoky tofu marinated in an aromatic rendang curry paste. Add a tin of coconut milk for a rich and creamy curry.

Course Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Asian, Indonesian, Malaysian

Keyword broccoli, curry, easy, tofu, vegan

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 400 g firm tofu
• 250 g broccoli florets blanched
• 2 shallots peeled and chopped
• 4 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
• 1- inch ginger or galangal peeled and grated
• 3 hot red chillies chopped
• 1- inch piece cinnamon
• 2 tbsp toasted coconut fresh or desiccated
• 2 cloves
• 1 star anise
• 2 cardamom pods
• 1 stick lemongrass bruised
• 6 kaffir lime leaves
• 2 tbsp tamarind pulp
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• Boiled or steamed Jasmine rice to serve

Instructions

• Press the tofu between absorbent kitchen paper and weigh it down with something heavy for 30 minutes. I find a few tins of beans do the trick.
• Heat the oil in a pan. Add the shallots, garlic, ginger and chillies. Sauté for 30 seconds. Next, add the all the remaining ingredients and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender and grind to a smooth paste.
• Slice the tofu into batons or cubes.
• Gently toss the tofu and broccoli in the spice paste and allow to marinate for 30 minutes or longer (you can keep it covered in the fridge for up to 2 days).
• Arrange the tofu and broccoli on a roasting tray and grill until crispy and a little charred. Turn them over and repeat for the other side.
• Serve with steamed or boiled rice and chopped coriander.

Notes

Marinate the tofu for at least 30 minutes, or longer if you have the time. Keep it marinating in the fridge for up to 2 days or alternatively, place into an air-tight container and freeze the tofu in the marinade for 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before cooking as per instructions above.

The post Easy Rendang Tofu & Broccoli Bowls appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

For me, the Indian food of East Africa is some of the most delicious food that exists. There’s no shying away from scorching hot chillies and the tang of lemon. This combo seasons everything you eat, wherever you go and whatever you order. From raw mangos on the beach, to fire-roasted maize and fried cassava chips on the salty-aired streets, it’s the typical seasoning Kenya’s rustic coastal towns. I hope to visit India to enjoy street-style Pau Bhaji in its birthplace of Maharashtra, India, but my first experience of eating this iconic street dish was in Kenya, the home of my Indian immigrant grandparents.

Pau Bhaji is a great dish to make for big get-togethers. It’s easy to scale the recipe up to feed more, since the rolls (pav) are almost always shop-bought and making more curry (bhaji) simply requires doubling up the veggies and sliding in some more masala.

My Pau Bhaji masala is magic dust. Not only is it a beautiful blend for this buttery vegetable dish, it also makes daal more delicious and peps up any Pulao (Indian fried rice). I often make up a triple batch of the masala recipe below and store it in an airtight container for using in other dishes. For this recipe, just work with the measurements below and use it all in the Bhaji recipe. It might look excessive but trust me, your buttery veggies are crying out for some spice.

The beauty of Pau Bhaji is that you can use any vegetables you like, since they’re all getting mashed like crazy anyway. The most common ones are potatoes, cauliflower, peas and carrots. This also happens to be my favourite combination but feel free to add red peppers, aubergine and green beans if you like those. I typically add in some sweet potatoes for colour and sweetness without having to add sugar or food colouring. It’s very common for some street vendors to add red food colouring to their Bhaji for a rich appearance. I find a combination of tomato passata (sieved tomatoes), sweet potatoes, turmeric and Kashmiri chilli powder do a great job of giving my bhaji a deliciously-deep colour without having to do that. Use your judgment and add it if you like though.

This is one of those dishes where the garnishes are as important as the main component of the food itself. Don’t skip the lemon wedges, finely diced red onions, tomatoes and coriander topping. And don’t skip the extra butter on top either. It adds the special, indulgent touch that separates good Pau Bhaji from average Pau Bhaji. Nobody likes average Pau Bhaji.

Lastly, the bread must be soft, white and most importantly, cheap rolls. Don’t get fancy with artisan rolls from a French bakery. The rolls are going to get bathed in salty butter anyway (the best kind of bath, IMO). In the end, they’re a crispy carrier for spicy, melt-in-the-mouth vegetable lava and erm… even more butter.

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Melt-in-the-Mouth Butter Pau Bhaji

Slow cooked vegetable masala cooked with plenty of butter and served with fluffy buns. It’s no wonder Pau Bhaji is one of India’s most famous street food dishes.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Keyword curry, street food, vegetables, vegetarian

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 6

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 250 g potatoes boiled, peeled and roughly cubed
• 200 g cauliflower stalks removed and chopped
• 150 g sweet potato boiled, peeled and roughly chopped
• 100 g carrots peeled and finely diced
• 100 g peas
• 500 g passata
• 100 g salted butter + 50g for mashing in once cooked
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 1 large red onion finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 500 ml water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tsp salt

For the pau bhaji masala:

• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground fennel seeds
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin seeds
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 2 cardamom pods seeds crushed

To garnish:

• 1 red onion finely diced
• 2 large vine tomatoes finely diced
• 50 g fresh coriander chopped
• Lemon wedges for serving
• 50 g salted butter
• Fresh chillies chopped (optional)

For the pau:

• 12 soft white bread rolls
• 100 g salted butter softened

Instructions

For the bhaji:

• In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the pau bhaji masala. It will look like a lot but you will need to use it all, trust me.
• Melt the 100g butter in a large, heavy-based pan. Add the onions, bay leaves and salt and sauté until slightly browned, about 10 minutes. The salt will draw out moisture from the onions and help them to brown quickly.
• Add the garlic and sauté briefly, about 30 seconds. Next, add in the passata, cauliflower, cooked potatoes, cooked sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, pau bhaji masala and water. Give everything a good stir and cover with a lid. Cook over a medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. If it starts to dry out, add more water and continue to cook until everything is very tender.
• Switch the heat off and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Now, add the reserved 50g of butter, grab a potato masher and give everything a good mash until it resembles a coarse purée. Adjust the consistency by adding more water if necessary. It should be slightly runny, like lava. Add salt and lemon juice and continue to mash until well incorporated.
• Return the pan to the heat with the lid on and simmer over a low heat for 15-20 minutes.

To prepare the pau:

• Slather both sides of the rolls with butter and toast in a frying pan until golden all over.

Notes

Sprinkle the onions, tomatoes and coriander over the top of the pau bhaji. Serve with more onion, tomato and coriander, as well as extra butter, lemon wedges and the toasted pau. Chilli lovers can also top with chopped fresh chillies if they dare.

Love Sanjana

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I get such a sense of satisfaction from emptying the fridge of the last of the vegetables. Knowing we’ve used up every last bit of fresh food without throwing anything out fills me with all the good feelings.

A rogue carrot, a handful of mushrooms and a glut of peppers bought two weeks ago. They all have their uses.

Vegan Kadai Tofu & Vegetables: A zero-waste recipe

Food waste is such a huge problem today and it makes no sense because there are also so many people struggling to feed themselves and their families.

Along with supermarkets and food manufacturers, we’re all responsible for ensuring we do what we can to cut down on the amount of food we toss in the bin.

Tesco have recently announced they will stop printing Best Before dates on some fruit and veg products which is a great start.

Having worked on a number of food TV shows in the past, I’ve seen an immense amount of (perfectly good) food being thrown in the bin. It’s just a sad thing to see.

How to make Homemade Kadai Masala

Along with Pau Bhaji and Biryani, my other raid-the-fridge dinnertime favourite is this Kadai Tofu and Vegetables.

You can make it with pretty much any veg you have in the fridge and it tastes like a restaurant-quality Kadai dish.

The flavour comes from the coriander seed, fennel seed and black peppercorn Kadai masala. It’s the star of the show.

What veg can I add to Vegan Kadai Tofu & Vegetables?

Mixed peppers, mushrooms, spring onions and red onions are all great. However. , you could also use squash, cauliflower, potatoes, asparagus or mixed root vegetables. Anything goes.

Can I make adapt this recipe to make Kadai Paneer?

For a vegetarian but non-vegan option, you could swap the tofu for paneer or even halloumi if that’s what you have. It will work with any non-melting cheese.

Other ways to customise this recipe

I’ve also tried it with soya chunks and it turned out great. Adding all the veggies at the same time and cooking them very briefly on a high heat. This ensures they stay deliciously crunchy but with that smoky, charred flavour you’d expect from a restaurant-style Kadai dish.

If you prefer your veggies tender, you can cook them a little longer. I add my chillies whole so I can pop them in my plate but the rest of the family can avoid them if they don’t want theirs too hot.

How to serve Kadai Tofu & Vegetables

Serve this dish hot with soft chapattis/phulkas, jalebi paratha or simply with jeera rice, salad and a cooling cucumber raita.

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Kadai Tofu & Vegetables

Serve this dish hot with soft chapattis/phulkas, jalebi paratha or simply with jeera rice, salad and a cooling cucumber raita.

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Keyword masala, tofu, vegan, vegetables

Servings 4

Ingredients

For the kadai masala:

• 2 tbsp whole coriander seeds
• 1 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
• 2 tsp kasoori methi

For the curry:

• 300 g firm tofu cut into cubes
• 3 tbsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 whole green chillies
• 2 large tomatoes cut into large chunks
• 1 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 2- inch piece ginger julienned
• 2 large red onions cut into 3cm wedges
• 3 peppers cut into 3cm wedges
• 5 spring onions trimmed and quartered
• 100 g button mushrooms wiped clean and sliced
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• A few sprigs of fresh mint to garnish

Instructions

For the kadai masala:

• Toast all the ingredients in a dry frying pan until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder or a pestle and mortar and grind to a coarse powder. Set aside.

For the curry:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a non-stick pan. Toss the tofu cubes in cornflour and carefully slide them into the pan. Cook on all sides until golden. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same pan and add the cumin seeds, ginger and chillies. Allow to sizzle briefly and then add all the vegetables, 3/4 of the kadai masala, garam masala, turmeric and salt. Stir fry over a high heat until slightly charred in places, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tofu and toss to combine. Serve immediately with the remaining kadai masala sprinkled over the top. Garnish with fresh mint.

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Tofu Tikka Masala

Love Sanjana

The post Vegan Kadai Tofu & Vegetables appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

You can tell a good Indian restaurant from a bad one by the quality of their Palak Paneer.

Have they bothered to blend the sauce for a rich, luxurious finish? If it’s left chunky with tomatoes, lots of turmeric and far too many spices, it might be the base for another dish on the menu, doubled up to be used for Palak Paneer too.

What is Palak Paneer / Saag Paneer?

It also shouldn’t be labelled Saag Paneer on the menu. Saag Paneer is an entirely different dish made with a blend of seasonal greens. Usually it’s peppery mustard greens but it can be a whole range of locally-grown leafy greens.

Saag Paneer shouldn’t be confused with the milder-tasting Palak Paneer made purely with spinach.

How to make smooth and creamy Palak Paneer

It’s delightful when restaurant Palak Paneer turns out to have a smooth and creamy blended spinach sauce with a bright green colour.

You can tell it’s been made with care and attention. simple flavoured sauce paired with a big, bold and spicy tadka on top (but using very few ingredients).

Ginger, garlic & chilli: the big 3 Palak Paneer additions

You have to be able to taste the ginger, garlic and green chillies; they can’t just be part of the background flavour. Bonus points for a little splash of cream on top to temper the heat of the green chillies.

What is Palak Paneer?

Palak Paneer is a stick-to-your-ribs North Indian treasure that was made to be a filling vegetarian option so please don’t cut out the butter.

How to make vegan Palak Paneer

You can however, veganise this Palak Paneer easily by switching the paneer for pan-fried firm tofu, using a flavourless oil in place of ghee and butter and topping it off with a splash of coconut milk instead of cream.

For a true restaurant-style finish, I have some simple tips to share. These will ensure you have a smooth, bright green sauce, melt-in-the-mouth paneer chunks and a luscious tempering of garlic and chilli on top.

My tips for Easy Creamy Palak Paneer

1. Don’t overcook the spinach

The trick to a super green sauce is to cook the spinach as little as possible. Just apply enough heat to wilt it at the beginning and heat the finished sauce just to warm all the ingredients through.

2. Soak the paneer in hot water (if using shop-bought paneer)

Soak the paneer in slightly-salted boiling water to soften it up and give it a bright white colour. You only need to do this if you’re using shop-bought paneer. Fresh paneer will already be tender.

3. Top it with garlic tadka

I like to finish Palak Paneer off with a buttery garlic and chilli tadka (tempering). Only cook it up until the point that the garlic is blonde and crispy. Ensure the chillies are slit so that they don’t burst in the oil.

4. Make the most of the spinach flavour

If there’s excess water in your wilted spinach, use a slotted spoon to drain as much as you can from it before you blend the leaves.

Leave the cooking liquor in the pan and reduce it down to around 2 tbsp. This is full of flavour and goodness so you don’t want to throw it away but you also don’t want excess water blended into the sauce.

This will ensure you don’t need to evaporate the water by simmering the finished sauce too long.

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Easy, Creamy Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a stick-to-your-ribs North Indian treasure that was made to be a filling vegetarian option. Serve with laccha paratha, roti, naan or rice!

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Keyword curry, paneer, spinach

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 900 g spinach leaves washed and squeezed of any excess water
• 450 g paneer cubed
• 5 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
• 2- inch piece ginger grated
• 2-3 green chillies chopped
• 1 tbsp melted ghee
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 50 g butter
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 2 tsp salt or to taste
• 2 tbsp double cream optional

For the crispy garlic tadka:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 50 g butter
• 2-4 green chillies slit lengthways
• 3 large cloves garlic sliced finely

Instructions

• If you’re using shop-bought paneer, place the cubes in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. You can add a pinch of salt to this if you like. This will soften them up and give them a beautiful white colour. Allow this to soak.
• Place the ghee in a large pan and add the cumin seeds. Allow to sizzle for a moment before adding the ginger, garlic and chilli. Sauté for a minute or two before adding the spinach. Cover and allow the spinach to wilt, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Transfer the spinach to a blender, along with the butter. If there’s a lot of excess water in the pan (this depends on the spinach), remove as much of the spinach as you can and leave the water in the pan. Blend the spinach until totally smooth and creamy. The butter will help to emulsify the spinach and give the sauce a rich, silky finish. I use a Nutribullet to do this.
• Simmer the excess water down over a medium heat until reduced to about 2 tbsp. This is full of flavour and you don’t want to waste a drop.
• Drain the paneer cubes of their soaking liquid.
• Pour the sauce back into the pan and add the garam masala and salt. Stir to combine. Fold in the paneer pieces and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. You want to cook this as little as possible to retain that beautiful green colour.

For the garlic and chilli tadka:

• Heat the oil and butter in a small pan. Add the slit chillies and garlic slices. Sauté over a medium-low heat until lightly golden and crispy. Pour this over the Palak Paneer and garnish with the cream (optional).

Serve with paratha or naan. Or if you’re anything like me, eat it straight up with a spoon.

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for 30-Minute Saag Paneer

Love Sanjana

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Nothing went to plan. I half expected that to happen because when it comes to babies, nothing is straightforward. The parents amongst you all will know that all too well. Our little guy decided he was no longer going to grow in my belly so was evicted at 37 weeks under our doctor’s advice. And superb advice it was because after a failed induction, he arrived via emergency c-section at a tiny but mighty 4lb 1oz. Yeah. He was serious about getting out of there and getting some real food on the outside. Sounds like my boy. Yep – I had a BOY!

He’s been doing some serious milk guzzling over the past 7 weeks and has put on weight like nobody’s business. Now, at 8lb, he’s alert, smiley and super adorable. You can see his mini series, Daily Cute over on my Instagram Stories.

My little Bodhi Veer is a blessing in every sense of the word. His name means enlightened and brave and it suits him down to a tee. I can’t wait to watch him grow and learn with each day.

To celebrate, we ate Matar Paneer. What else is quite as delicious and indulgent, eh?

I’ve got a sneaky Restaurant-Style Matar Paneer recipe that’ll knock your socks off and it’s easier than you think. The base sauce is made with ground almonds and tomatoes. The spicing is mild but complex, making you wonder if you really just made that at home in the comfort of your own kitchen, without having to go to a restaurant or pick up a takeaway menu. Mad skills.

The secret to making shop-bought paneer butter-soft and like the homemade kind is soaking it in boiling hot water for 20 minutes before popping it naked, under the grill until golden. No need for oil or frying.

If paneer and peas aren’t your thing, my sauce recipe is actually a great base for any sort of curry. Cauliflower, chickpeas or mushrooms are great options too. But let’s be real, who doesn’t love cheese and peas? For a vegan version, swap out the paneer for fried tofu and omit the cream.

A blender is key to getting a super-smooth sauce and be sure to have a lid handy because it needs to simmer for 20 minutes – and it’s volcanic! Turn your back for a minute and you’ll be spending the rest of your evening scrubbing the ceiling free of orange splodges. You have been warned.

Serve with whatever you like. I chose my beloved Garlic and Coriander Naan because there is no restaurant bread greater. If you’re pushing the boat out, bust out a bowl of Pilau rice and your family and friends will love you forever.

Here’s to family ?

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Creamy, Restaurant-Style Matar Paneer

I’ve got a sneaky Restaurant-Style Matar Paneer recipe that’ll knock your socks off and it’s easier than you think. The base sauce is made with ground almonds and tomatoes. The spicing is mild but complex, making you wonder if you really just made that at home in the comfort of your own kitchen, without having to go to a restaurant or pick up a takeaway menu. Mad skills.

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Keyword curry, paneer, peas

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp oil sunflower/vegetable or rapeseed
• 1 red onion peeled and cut into large chunks
• 3 cloves garlic peeled
• 80 g ground almonds
• 200 ml + 400ml hot water
• 450 g paneer cubed and soaked in boiling water for 20 minutes and then drained
• 2 black cardamom pods whole
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 2 tsp ground coriander seeds
• 1/2 tsp green cardamom pods seeds removed and ground
• 1 tsp 5-spice powder
• 680 g tomato passata
• 2 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 300 g frozen peas
• 3 tbsp double cream optional
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves kasoori methi, plus more to garnish
• Fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Instructions

• Add the ground almonds, onion and garlic to a blender along with 200ml hot water. Blend until smooth.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based non-stick saucepan (one with a lid). Add the cumin seeds, black cardamom pods and bay leaves. Allow to sizzle and then add the almond mixture.
• Add the turmeric, cinnamon, chilli powder, ground coriander seeds, ground cardamom seeds and 5-spice powder. Stir to combine and cook on a medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring all the time to avoid it catching on the bottom of the pan. Once cooked, the paste should come away from the sides of the pan and the oil visible around the edges.
• Next, add the tomato passata and salt. Stir. Switch the heat off and allow to cool a little. Add the mixture to a blender - I used my Nutibullet. Blend until you have a super smooth sauce. Return to the pan, add 400ml hot water and cook on a medium heat for 15 minutes with the lid on (VERY IMPORTANT) otherwise the sauce with spit and bubble like a volcano.
• Meanwhile, grill the paneer until lightly golden. Carefully add it to the sauce and cook it for a further 10 minutes. Finally, add the peas, garam masala and fenugreek (rub it between your palms to release more flavour). Cook for 5 minutes and switch off the heat. Finish with cream, a sprinkling of fenugreek leaves and fresh coriander leaves. Serve with Garlic and Coriander Naan and Pilau Rice. I served a red onion, coriander and chilli bowl on the side for extra toppings.

Notes

Head on over to Instagram for a full step-by-step in my Stories.

Head on over to Instagram for a full step-by-step in my Stories.

Pin the image below to save the recipe to your Pinterest board.

Love Sanjana x

The post Creamy, Restaurant-Style Matar Paneer appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

Yep, I’ve always been this easy to please. My first memories of cooking with cauliflower began at the supermarket where mum trained me in how to pick the freshest veggies for our homemade vegetarian feasts – all reliant on the senses. Think Karate Kid but with more legumes and fewer spinning leg kicks. “Look for the slimmest aubergines – they contain the fewest seeds”, “Always feel for the firmest okra – they’re the freshest”, “Shake the coconut and listen to hear if there’s water inside – the flesh will be more tender”. 20 years on and I remember these and hundreds more tips every time I pick fresh fruit and veg. I’m talking Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind but with zero algebra and loads of brassicas.

My lesson on picking the perfect cauliflower? The florets should be firm, pure white and the leaves enveloped around the cauliflower head. Bonus points for a lack of baby caterpillars.
When I was growing up in Yorkshire, I had incredible fresh ingredients from the local farm shop on my doorstep (not literally. – we lived above a newsagents, not in a field). I didn’t know many other 13 year olds who preferred doing the food shop with mum over heading into town with friends, but that’s okay. Back then I truly believed I was a bit odd. So, as a 27 year old, I wish to give my teenage self some advice…

• Don’t worry about being different to your friends, you’re you and that’s what makes you special.
•  Your obsession with cooking isn’t weird. It’ll help you later in life.
• Don’t be a jerk to your parents, they’re your number 1 fans and love you unconditionally.
• Stop obsessing over what you think makes people ‘pretty’. You’re fine the way you are. One day you’ll find a husband who loves the whole you.
• Your brother isn’t as evil as he seems.
• Friends come and go. Just hold on to the ones you really like 😉
• Mess with your hair as much as you want. Dye it purple and forget what other people say. Your genes are badass.
• Find beauty in everything. It’s there, you just need to look hard enough.
• Keep dancing in your bedroom every night.
• You are not the only person in the world who feels ‘this way’.
• Dedicate your time exploring the things you love. A career will follow if you show people how passionate you are.
• Talent is overrated – work hard and be patient.
• Gently let go of people who bring negativity into your life.
• Be respectful of other people’s time.
• Don’t focus too hard on big aspirations and goals. Pay attention to the smaller ones and bigger things will come.

Before I burst into a crappy rendition of Baz Luhrmann’s Sunscreen Song, I’d better get back to the recipe.

The cauliflower is first broken into small florets, scattered with a combination of turmeric, whole black peppercorns and cracked cardamom pods. After a liberal squeeze of lemon juice and a good rub, it’s roasted in a hot oven until it’s golden and tender. Once it comes out of the oven it’s succulent and smokey, with a wicked texture that’ll flabbergast all your meat-eating friends.

And the sauce? Let me tell you about the sauce. It’s rich, creamy and all kinds of comforting. A base of ground almonds blended with fresh ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon and chilli keep it fresh but with a gentle heat that tricks out the cauliflower and dances the Giddha on your taste buds.

A hailstorm of fresh, summer peas add a welcome sweetness and crunch. Bonus points if you strip the pods and throw those in too. I used to love sitting at the table on a Sunday afternoon chatting with mum, drinking chai and shelling fresh peas. She taught me how you should always remove the inner membrane of the pod if you want to use it in a dish. Once, when I was at university I forgot to do it and my Matar Bhaat left a lot to be desired. The cooked pods were like actual shards of glass. I won’t forget to do it again.

A video posted by SANJANA | K.O RASOI (@sanjanamodha) on Jul 17, 2016 at 4:03am PDT

To make the perfect jeera (cumin) pilau, I usually start with a good-quality Basmati rice, cumin seeds and ghee. As this is a vegan meal, sub it for coconut oil. Actually, even if you’re not vegan, I recommend you try this coconut version – it’s seriously good and will make your house smell sublime too.

The trick to perfect rice is patience. Wash it in cold water for a minute to remove excess starch (I use a fine-holed sieve). Next soak it in cold water to soften the grains – 20 minutes will do. Boil the kettle. Heat the oil or ghee in a large, non-stick pan that has a tight-fitting lid. Add the aromatics. Wait a sec and then add the rice. Make sure it’s well coated. Add double the volume of boiling water and some salt. Bring it to a boil and put the lid on. Turn the heat down very low and after 8 minutes, switch it off. Leave it with the lid on for 15-20 minutes. When you take the lid off you’ll have amazing jeera rice.

Garnish the Vegan ‘Butter’ Cauliflower with a final flourish of chopped coriander and a drizzle of coconut milk for that luscious restaurant-style finish.

Serve with rice and hot chapattis.

Vegan ‘Butter’ Cauliflower and Perfect Jeera Pilau

Ingredients

For the cauliflower:
800g cauliflower, broken into small florets
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp salt
Juice and zest of a lemon
3 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
5 whole black peppercorns
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted

For the vegan makhani sauce:
50g coconut oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp ground almonds
6 small green chillies
2 tbsp freshly-grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 dried bay leaves
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric
400g good-quality passata (sieved tomatoes)
2-3 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
100g coconut cream
Fresh coriander, chopped

You’ll also need: 300g fresh peas, shelled with the pod membranes removed (take a look at my instructions and Instagram video above if you don’t know what I’m talking about).

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.

2. Place the cauliflower in a large roasting tray. In a bowl, combine the coconut oil, turmeric, black peppercorns, crushed cardamom pods, salt, lemon juice and zest. Drizzle the mixture over the cauliflower and use your clean hands to give it a good rub.

3. Roast the cauliflower for 25 minutes.

4. In the meantime, make the sauce. Heat the coconut oil in a large, heavy based non-stick pan. Add the cinnamon, green chillies, garlic, ginger, ground almonds and bay leaves. Sauté for a minute.

5. Next, add the passata, turmeric, ground coriander, salt and sugar. Bring to the boil. Put the lid on and allow to simmer on a low heat for 15 minutes.

6. Take the cauliflower out of the oven.

7. Remove the lid from the sauce pan and stir. Remove the peppercorns and cardamom pods from the cauliflower and add it to the simmered sauce.

8. Place the sauce in a blender along with the coconut cream and blitz for a minute or two until it’s silky smooth.

9. Return the sauce to the pan and add in the peas and cauliflower. Stir and place the lid back on. Simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes. Check the seasoning, adding more salt if needed. Ladle into a big serving bowl. Garnish with chopped coriander and a drizzle of coconut milk.

Serve with jeera pilau and chapattis.

Perfect Jeera Pilau

Ingredients

185g good-quality Basmati rice (I use Golden Sela)
470g boiling water
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp cumin seeds
8-10 fresh curry leaves
2-3 whole cloves

Method

1. Wash the rice with cold water in a fine-holed sieve for a minute.

2. Soak the rice in cold water for 20-30 minutes.

3. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick pan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the cumin seeds, cloves and curry leaves. Sauté for a moment. They will snap and crackle.

4. Drain the rice and add it to the pan. Stir gently to coat all the grains.

5. Add the boiling water and bring the pan to the boil. Put the lid on and turn the heat right down. Simmer for 8 minutes.

6. After 8 minutes, switch the heat off and leave the rice to stand, undisturbed for 20 minutes.

7. Remove the lid and marvel at your perfect rice. All that’s left to do is fluff up the grains with a fork, serve and demolish.

Love Sanjana

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The post Vegan ‘Butter’ Cauliflower and Perfect Jeera Pilau appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

It carries the flavour of an excellent Makhani sauce, with extra tandoori tofu. Indeed, it’s a vegan take on Britain’s favourite curry.

In my book, anything served on a stick is a winner. It seals the deal if what’s on the stick is smothered in a charred tandoori paste, restaurant style.

Here’s my take on a British-‘Indian’ dish. It’s loaded with homemade tandoori spices, garlic, lemon, ground almonds and coconut cream. The best thing about it is that it’s 100% vegan.

How to make Tandoori Tofu Tikka Masala

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it’s not an “authentic Indian recipe” and have heard far too many times, “Ask any Indian what tikka masala is and they won’t know.”. Wrong. It’s delicious and you must try it.

What type of tofu is best for Tandoori Tofu Tikka Masala?

I’ve been obsessed with tofu puffs for as long as I can remember. I like to think of them as sailboats for any sauce or spice you add. They soak in flavours like there’s no tomorrow and you don’t have to marinate them for hours.

Tofu puffs are pre-fried tofu cubes you can find in your local Chinese supermarket. If you can’t get these, substitute them for firm tofu. Drain it and pan fry it until golden.

How to cook with tofu puffs

A lot of the time, we make our weeknight stir fries in a matter of minutes and thanks to these spongy little fellas, they’re filling and seriously flavoursome.

In this recipe, tofu puffs the perfect carriers for my homemade tandoori paste and creamy vegan tikka masala sauce.

If you like a mild curry that still packs a punch in terms of being aromatic, this one’s for you.

How to make Tofu Tikka Masala

As compromised as I feel for not owning my own tandoor (I keep telling myself it will happen one day), this works just as well in the oven. Whack the temperature up as high as it goes and cook your skewers for about 8-10 minutes or until slightly they carry a slight char.

It’s also worth noting that while it’s not exactly traditional to add tomato puree to a tandoori masala paste, I do. However, if you don’t like tomatoes, go ahead and add some red food colouring. This is your dish.

What if I don’t have tofu?

If you can’t get tofu puffs (I get mine from our local Chinese supermarket), try this with regular firm tofu, cauliflower florets, baby potatoes, paneer, mushrooms, idli pieces or anything else that will hold its own on a skewer.

If you still want to use tofu but can’t get the puffed kind, try using firm tofu, weighted and pressed for a few hours to remove excess water, cubed and lightly pan-fried. I’m afraid that medium or silken tofu won’t cut it on the kebab skewer for this recipe.

What kind of skewers should I use?

I use flat metal kebab skewers. They get really hot so be careful if you’re using them too. If you only have bamboo skewers, soak them in cold water for an hour to ensure they don’t burn in the oven.

How to serve Tandoori Tofu Tikka Masala

Finally, serve with flaky paratha, rice and lime wedges. It’s also delicious with garlic and coriander naan.

Tofu Tikka Masala recipe

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Tandoori Tofu Tikka Masala (Vegan)

In my book, anything served on a stick is a winner. It seals the deal if what’s on the stick is smothered in a charred tandoori paste, restaurant style. Here’s my take on a British-‘Indian’ dish. It’s loaded with homemade tandoori spices, garlic, lemon, ground almonds and coconut cream. The best thing about it is that it’s 100% vegan. That’s got to get me extra brownie points, right?

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Keyword curry, north indian, tandoori, tofu, vegan

Prep Time 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 300 g tofu puffs (I get mine from my local Chinese supermarket)
• Fresh coriander chopped, to garnish
• Lime or lemon wedges to garnish
• Paratha or naan to serve
• Basmati rice to serve

For the homemade tandoori paste:

• 1 tsp whole coriander seeds
• 6 black peppercorns
• 2 dried red chillies or fresh if you like
• 2 inch stick cinnamon
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 star anise
• 4 cloves
• Seeds of 4 green cardamom pods
• 1 black cardamom optional
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 2 tbsp concentrated tomato puree
• 2 tbsp coconut cream
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the sauce:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 4 cloves fresh garlic chopped
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 3 red chillies chopped (or to taste)
• 1 tbsp concentrated tomato puree
• 400 g passata
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 2 tbsp ground almonds
• 2 tsp ground green cardamom seeds
• 2 tsp ground fennel seeds
• 400 ml coconut milk
• 1 tsp kasoori methi optional
• 2 tbsp light brown sugar
• Salt to taste

Instructions

• To make the tandoori paste, heat a dry frying pan until hot. Add all the spices apart from the coconut cream, lemon juice, salt and concentrated tomato puree. Toast until aromatic, a couple of minutes but don’t leave it unattended because it can burn very easily.
• Place all the spices in a high-powered blender or coffee grinder. I use my NutriBullet. Once ground to a fine powder, stir in the lemon juice, coconut cream, tomato puree and salt.
• Add the tofu puffs to the paste and give them a good mix, taking care not to break the tofu pieces up. Set aside while you make the vegan tikka masala sauce.
• Pre-heat the oven to 200°C.
• To make the vegan tikka masala sauce, heat the oil in a medium, non-stick pan. Add the garlic, ginger and chillies. Sauté for a few moments before adding the concentrated tomato puree. Cook for 5 minutes on a medium heat, stirring all the time. Add the passata, followed by the rest of the ingredients. Give it a good whisk, cover and cook on a low heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring often.
• Lightly grease a non-stick oven tray. Skewer the tofu pieces onto your kebab sticks. Arrange on the baking tray and pop into the oven for 8-10 minutes, turning them halfway to ensure even browning. Remove from the oven.
• Serve immediately, bringing the kebabs and sauce to the table, letting everyone mix their own sauce and tofu pieces for a bit of fun and drama. Garnish with chopped coriander, lime or lemon wedges and extra coconut cream. Serve with jalebi paratha or garlic and coriander naan and rice.

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Kadai Tofu & Vegetables

Love Sanjana

The post Tandoori Tofu Tikka Masala appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

Stuffed with rich coconut, pistachios and paneer before being baked in a tomato masala containing no fewer than eleven incredible spices (important: in small amounts) to create a beautifully balanced, aromatic aubergine experience.

You’ve probably worked out by now that I’m a total aubergine fiend, always thinking about where my next fix is coming from. Whether it’s Slow Cooker Aubergine Makhani or the love of my life, Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry, I’m obsessed.

Kolhapuri Vegetables and Kolhapuri Chicken are popular dishes from, you guessed it, Kolhapur, Maharashtra in India. These curries are notoriously spicy and almost always contain a killer combo of crimson Kashmiri chillies, black pepper and poppy seeds.

I’ve played about with the masala recipe to come up with my own blend, which I think lends the ultimate kick to vegetarian dishes. Meat eaters won’t even complain. The masala recipe makes double the amount you’ll need for this recipe but I like to keep some in an airtight container in the fridge for later. It’s amazing sprinkled into pasta sauce, over crispy fries and in spicy soups.

If you don’t have baby aubergines, you can omit the stuffing part and roast regular, cubed aubergines before adding to the sauce and simmering for 20 minutes. The sauce base is also delicious with regular white chickpeas (serve with Masala Poori), potatoes or mixed mushrooms and sweetcorn.

Be creative and play around with it until you find your favourite combinations. This one is mine.

Stuffed and Baked Baby Kolhapuri Aubergines
(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients

16 long baby aubergines, washed and dried

For the Kolhapuri masala:

3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp unsweetened desiccated coconut
2 tsp red Kashmiri chilli powder
2 tbsp white poppy seeds or sesame seeds
4 curry leaves
1 tbsp fennel seeds
½ tsp nigella seeds
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp ground coriander seeds
2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp salt

For the Pistachio and Coconut filling:

100g unsweetened desiccated coconut
30g unsalted pistachios
100g paneer, grated (replace with an additional 70g unsweetened desiccated coconut and 30g unsalted pistachios if vegan)
1 tsp amchur (dried mango powder)
1 tsp white pepper
¼ tsp salt

For the Sauce:

2 tbsp sunflower oil
2 large onions, finely sliced
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
4 tbsp Kolhapuri masala
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp brown sugar

400ml water

Fresh coriander and sliced red chillies, to garnish
Paratha and optional plain yoghurt to serve

Method

1. Begin by making the filling. Toast the pistachios and desiccated coconut in a dry non-stick pan until golden and aromatic. Transfer to a food processor and pulse to a crumb-like texture. Transfer to a bowl and add the grated paneer, amchur, white pepper and salt. Stir to combine well. Set aside.

2. To make the Kolhapuri masala, blend all of the ingredients together in a coffee grinder or food processor until fine. Set aside. This will make twice as much masala as you’ll need for this recipe but I love to stash it away in the fridge in a sealed container to sprinkle over fries (guilty pleasure alert!)

3. Next, make the sauce. Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan and add the sliced onions. Allow to soften, about 8 minutes. Don’t let them get too brown. Add the tomatoes, 4 tablespoons of Kolhapuri masala, water, salt and sugar. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook on a low heat for 20-30 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, slit the aubergines lengthways not slicing all the way through. Stuff each aubergine with the pistachio and coconut masala.

5. Make yourself a cup of tea and pre-heat the oven to 190C.

6. Take four cast iron skillets or any deep, large baking dish and pour in the sauce. Arrange the aubergines on top of the sauce and bake for 60 minutes until the aubgerines are tender all the way through.

7. Serve with flaky paratha, a bowl of cold natural yoghurt and nothing more.

Love Sanjana

The post Stuffed and Baked Baby Kolhapuri Aubergines appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

What is Oroh?

Oroh is simply a name for smoky aubergine cooked with garlic, onions, tomatoes and chillies. If you’re a fan of North Indian food, you’ll probably know it as Baingan ka Bharta – the North Indian version. Oroh is the Gujarati name for it and here’s how we cook it at home.

Baingan ka Bharta is a part of the national cuisines of all nation states of the Indian subcontinent. It’s a well-loved vegetarian dish that’s made by mincing aubergine or eggplant that is grilled over charcoal or direct fire. At home we do it over direct fire.

A whole head of garlic?!

It’s really easy to be afraid of overdoing it with the garlic in this dish. You might think it’s mad to add as much garlic as my recipe calls for but please do stick with it. The burnt aubergine needs flavours that can stand up to it so that the result is smoky, spicy, punchy and tangy.

Can beginners make Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry?

Absolutely! This is one of the first dishes my mother taught me to cook. I’d seen her make it a million times before and it was a favourite in our home. Gather your ingredients and take your time roasting the aubergines over the open flame. Why? Because this is where the dish gets a tonne of flavour so it’s important to get this bit right. Finally, don’t skimp on the charring.

My love affair with Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

I learnt to cook this when I was 12 years old and it blew my mind. I thought it was insane to cook aubergines on an open flame until they’re practically incinerated on the outside. It went against everything I thought to be true about Indian food. However, the very beauty of it was that while the outside burns to a crisp, the inside is cooked until butter-soft and smoky. Perfection.

Some important things to remember when making this aubergine curry:

• Before you start, make some holes through the aubergines – otherwise there will be explosions and they won’t be fun to clean up.
• I also recommend you line your gas cooker with aluminium foil. That way once you’re done, you can just lift it off and throw it away. Besides, nobody wants to be scrubbing their cooker for hours.
• You’ll only be using the inner flesh of the aubergine in the curry. As a result, the charred skin will eventually be discarded. Therefore, try to think about the skin as a protective layer that needs to be charred for the greater good of the flesh. Wow, that got philosophical quickly!

What can I add instead of spinach?

I’ve added spinach to this but to make classic Gujarati Oroh, simply leave it out. I like the combination of leafy green spinach and melt-in-the-mouth aubergine. Similarly, I’ve made this successfully with kale. Note: kale takes longer to cook than spinach so keep this in mind when simmering for a final time. It’s likely to take around 10-15 minutes longer.

How to serve Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

Serve with hot, buttery Gujarati Chapattis.

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Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

Smoky aubergine cooked over an open flame + a WHOLE HEAD of garlic! This Indian Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry is a sure-fire hit with spice lovers. Yum!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Keyword aubergine, curry, grilled, spinach, vegan

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 3 large, aubergines eggplant
• 2 tbsp sunflower oil or any flavourless oil
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp asafoetida optional
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 8 large cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
• 3 hot green chillies finely chopped
• 390g tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
• 1 tsp ground cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 250 g baby leaf spinach washed and squeezed of excess water
• Fresh coriander, lemon wedges and chopped green chillies to garnish

Instructions

• Make around 10 holes in each aubergine and place one on each burner of your gas cooker. Turn the flame on high and cook the aubergines for 8 minutes. Don’t touch or move them during this time. Trust me.
  
• Once 8 minutes have passed, use tongs to turn them over and cook the other sides for 8 minutes, again not moving them. Steam will escape from the holes you’ve made. It’s important not to leave the kitchen during this time! Open a window too. Once charred on the outside, use tongs to place each aubergine onto a plate and set aside to cool.
  
• In a large pan, heat the oil and add the cumin seeds and optional asafoetida. Cook for a minute and then add the onions. Allow to cook on a medium heat until golden, about 10 minutes. Add in the garlic and chillies and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
• Tip in the tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients except for the spinach and freshly-chopped coriander. Cook for around 15 minutes, stirring frequently until the sauce is thick and the oil begins to separate from the tomatoes slightly.
• Whilst the sauce is cooking, check the aubergines have cooled enough to handle. Split each aubergine lengthways and scrape out the soft inside. It’s okay if some burnt skin comes away with it but try to remove the large pieces. Chop it all up roughly and add to the tomato sauce along with the spinach. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring all the time until the spinach has wilted and any excess water has evaporated.
• Serve sprinkled with fresh coriander, chopped green chillies and lemon wedges.

Notes

• This curry can be made 48 hours in advance. The flavours get better with time so it’s a great make-ahead recipe!
• Make a double batch and freeze half for later! Allow the curry to cool completely, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost and room temperature and ensure the curry is piping hot before serving.
• This curry is traditionally eaten with chapattis and salted lassi. Badasses can add a side of Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney if they like. Yeah, MORE GARLIC!
• Once your cooker has cooled down completely, you can lift off the foil lining and wipe down as normal.

 

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Meatless Seekh Kebabs

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