Tikka masala is one of the UK’s most popular dishes, both for cooking at home and takeout. No one’s quite sure where it comes from and there are a pile of explanations, but it’s definitely not an ancient dish. Usually made with chicken, it’s a spicy (masala, obviously) curry-style gravy and it’s excellent vegan, too.
Cauliflower tikka masala is an obvious riff on the classic chicken recipe, because cauliflower is the do-all vegetable. Great texture and it takes on any flavour you throw at it. And since we don’t eat tofu around here, cauliflower saves the day!
Seriously though, cauliflower tacos, cauliflower steaks, cauliflower potato soup. It’s good in everything and 100% the plant based version of chicken for when you’re not sure what to have for dinner. It also has a surprisingly long season, with different varieties growing well into winter, though it’s generally best in spring and early autumn.
You need about half an hour for this, or just the time it takes to cook the cauliflower. All the spices make for excellent flavour without a long cooking time.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This might seem like a long list but it’s mostly dry spices! Other than the cauliflower, which can be from frozen, all of the other ingredients are pantry items.
- Garam masala: if you don’t have garam masala, you can use the following blend: 1/2 teaspoon each cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and coriander. Since the other usual additions to a garam masala are included in the recipe anyway, you don’t need to add extra but you can up the cumin and cayenne slightly if you like.
- Cauliflower: I haven’t tried this since I don’t think I’ve ever even seen frozen cauliflower to buy here, but I’m 99% sure you can use frozen instead of fresh if you like. Add it at the same time, right from frozen, and the cooking time should be the same or even slightly less.
- Add-ins: beyond the spices, it’s a very minimal recipe and there’s not a substitute for cauliflower but you could add more vegetables! Green peas are great added right at the end of cooking time, and so are any greens. You can do sweet potato too but then you’re really heading more toward a cauliflower sweet potato curry anyway.
- Coconut milk: if you’re not averse to dairy, you can sub heavy cream for the coconut milk and use butter for the oil. I haven’t tested this, obviously, but I don’t see why it’d be a problem.
Recipe Notes
Tikka masala is meant to be a spicy dish. I’ve toned it down a bit here with 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, but your garam masala probably includes something hot too. Reduce the cayenne if you have a hard time with spice, or increase it if you love it.
The recipe calls for only the cream from a can of coconut milk. If you find you need to thin the curry a bit, you can use the water from the coconut milk instead of tap water.
I’ve chosen to serve with brown rice for the pictures. It’s a good fit because brown rice takes about 40 minutes to cook, so if you start it just before you start on the tikka masala, they’ll both be done right around the same time. If you prefer it, naan is a great fit too.
Coconut sugar or honey are important to add to this recipe – usually I’d use less than a full teaspoon for other recipes, but there is quite a bit of sweetness in a tikka masala. It is key so please don’t leave it out. You can use cane sugar or maple syrup or whatever you prefer, just add a sweetener.
A good passata (crushed tomatoes) will make a big difference here with the short cook, so use one that you like the taste of. Just don’t mix it up with tomato paste.
How to Store
Storage: keep leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freezing: transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating as usual.
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Expert Tips
- Grate the ginger: if you don’t like the spiciness of ginger so much and find that mincing it is a bit much, finely grate it instead.
- Use full-fat milk: it’s key to the dish and it won’t taste the same with low-fat coconut milk. Try to find a brand with at least 60% coconut.
- Season to taste: as always, you should taste the dish before serving to make sure it has enough salt to suit your tastes.
More Great Vegetable Curries and Stews
Vegan Chickpea Stew
Chickpea, Sweet Potato, and Kale Curry
Golden Coconut Curry Noodle Bowls
Pumpkin Chickpea Curry
Cauliflower, Sweet Potato, and Chickpea Curry
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Cauliflower Tikka Masala
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 thumb ginger minced (~2 tablespoons)*
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon sea salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste
- 1 medium sized head of cauliflower cut into florets
- 400 ml passata (pureed tomato)
- 200 grams chickpeas cooked or canned, rinsed well
- 400 ml full-fat canned coconut milk cream only**
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar or honey
To Serve
- Brown rice
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Start the brown rice now if it isn’t already cooked.Brown rice
- Heat a large pot over medium heat. Once the pot is heated, add the coconut oil, followed by the onion. Cook the onion for 4-5 minutes, or until fragrant and translucent.2 tablespoons coconut oil, 1 medium onion
- Add the garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds.2 cloves garlic, 1 thumb ginger, 2 teaspoons garam masala, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Add the cauliflower and stir to coat it in the spices. Stir in the passata and chickpeas. Cover and increase the heat to bring the curry to a low boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender.1 medium sized head of cauliflower, 400 ml passata (pureed tomato), 200 grams chickpeas
- Stir in the coconut milk and coconut sugar. Taste and season if needed, and serve over brown rice, topped with cilantro. Leftovers will keep well in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, and can be frozen up to 3 months.400 ml full-fat canned coconut milk, 1 teaspoon coconut sugar, Cilantro
Notes
* For American cup measurements, please click the pink link text above the ingredient list that says ‘American’.
Nutrition
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
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