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.

I’m always looking for easy, delicious vegetarian meals I can make during the week for our dinners. We’re always trying to limit our meat consumption but finding recipes that the whole family will eat that don’t require hard-to-find ingredients or takes too long to prep can be challenging. Enter: vegetable curry. Vegetarian curries are always a hit because they offer all the same flavor and punch as a meat curry while being even easier to cook and my family absolutely LOVE when I say we’re having Cauliflower tikka masala for dinner. Win!

I use a sauce inspired by my butter chicken for this cauliflower curry. I like to spice and roast the cauliflower before adding to the sauce. The roasted cauliflower adds so much flavor to the finished curry and it also makes prepping this recipe in advance so much easier. Simply roast the cauliflower off and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to add it to the curry sauce. Delicious vegetarian dinners have never been this easy!

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 sauteed 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

How do you thicken tikka masala sauce?

By simmering the sauce for long enough it will thicken naturally but if you want to thicken it more, you can mix 1 tablespoon 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. Cardamom basmati rice
3. Easy naan bread

5 from 6 votes

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Cauliflower tikka masala

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 15 mins

 

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

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Cauliflower curry, cauliflower tikka masala, tikka masala

Servings: 4

Calories: 218 kcal

Author: Alida Ryder

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

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200ºc/390ºF.

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

4. 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

5. Add the roasted cauliflower and butter and stir together then allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes. Season to taste and serve. 

Nutrition Facts

Cauliflower tikka masala

Amount Per Serving

Calories 218 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14g 22%

Saturated Fat 9g 45%

Cholesterol 15mg 5%

Sodium 1368mg 57%

Potassium 953mg 27%

Total Carbohydrates 21g 7%

Dietary Fiber 7g 28%

Sugars 8g

Protein 6g 12%

Vitamin A 22%

Vitamin C 155.6%

Calcium 8.3%

Iron 14.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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