Easy cauliflower tikka masala curry

Cauliflower tikka masala is the perfect easy vegetarian dinner served with steamed rice. It’s also a great recipe for feeding a crowd.

Cauliflower tikka masala

Ingredients

Full recipe + amounts can be found in the recipe card below. 

  • Cauliflower. 
  • Oil. 
  • Spices : You can use a blend of spices like Garam Masala or curry powder. I like to use a combination of spices like Garam Masala, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander, paprika, etc.
  • Onion. 
  • Garlic. 
  • Ginger. 
  • Tomatoes. I used chopped tomatoes but fresh tomatoes can also be used.
  • Tomato paste. 
  • Cream. Heavy / whipping cream.
  • Butter. 
  • Sugar (optional).
  • Salt and pepper.

How to make cauliflower tikka masala

  1. Roast the cauliflower: Slice the cauliflower head into florets. Drizzle with oil and season with spices. Transfer to a sheet pan in an even layer and roast for 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked.
  2. Make the Tikka Masala sauce: Fry the onion, garlic and ginger in a few tablespoons of oil until soft and fragrant. Add the spices and cook until the pan is dry before adding the tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for a few minutes before pouring in the cream and sugar. Simmer for another 10 minutes until slightly reduced.
  3. Finish the curry: Add the roasted cauliflower and butter. Stir to coat in the sauce and allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes then serve with rice or sides of your choice.

Cauliflower tikka masala

What is in tikka masala sauce?

I make my tikka masala sauce in the same way I make butter chicken. Onion, garlic, ginger and lots of aromatic spices are sauté07ed before adding tomatoes, cream and butter. This results in a rich, fragrant and silky sauce perfect for cooking cauliflower or chicken in.

What spices are in tikka masala?

  • Coriander
  • Cumin
  • Garam masala
  • Paprika
  • Turmeric
  • Chili powder
  • Cardamom

Curry roasted cauliflower

How do you thicken tikka masala sauce?

By simmering the sauce for long enough it will reduce and thicken but if you want to thicken it more, you can mix 2 teaspoons cornflour with 1 tablespoon water and add it to the sauce. Allow to cook until the sauce has thickened.

What to serve with tikka masala?

  1. Almond pilaf rice 
  2. Easy cheese stuffed garlic naan bread
  3. Quick and easy curry rice

Cauliflower tikka masala

Curry recipes

  1. Creamy shrimp curry
  2. Butternut squash curry with crispy chickpeas
  3. Instant Pot butter chicken
Cauliflower tikka masala

Cauliflower tikka masala

Cauliflower tikka masala is the perfect easy vegetarian dinner served with steamed rice. It's also a great recipe for feeding a crowd.
4.60 from 93 votes
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Cauliflower curry, cauliflower tikka masala, tikka masala
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Calories: 294kcal
Author: Alida Ryder
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the roasted cauliflower

  • 1 large head of cauliflower (you need approximately 1kg of cauliflower)
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 2 tsp salt

For the tikka masala curry

  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 3-4 garlic cloves crushed
  • 2 tsp ginger grated/crushed
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • ½-1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • 2 400g/14oz cans crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1-2 tsp sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 200ºc/390ºF.
  • Slice the cauliflower floret off the head of cauliflower. Chop the remaining stalk into bite size pieces. Place the cauliflower into a large roasting tray and drizzle over the oil and season with the spices then place into the oven and roast for 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked. 
  • In the meanwhile start making the sauce. Fry the onions in the oil until soft and translucent then add the garlic and ginger and fry for another 30 seconds. 
  • Add all the spices and fry for a minute before adding the tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the cream and sugar then simmer for 10 minutes
  • Add the roasted cauliflower and butter and stir together then allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes. Season to taste and serve. 

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 1318mg | Potassium: 863mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1228IU | Vitamin C: 109mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg