Cauliflower Curry Recipe (Indian Style)
Learn how to make a Indian Cauliflower Curry at home with this easy step-by-step recipe. This simple vegetarian dish is made with fresh cauliflower, aromatic spices, and creamy yogurt, making it a healthy Indian recipe. This north Indian-style curry is full of flavor and goes very well with rice or naan, making it a wholesome meal for lunch or dinner. Even if you are new to cooking, you can make this tasty cauliflower curry recipe is beginner-friendly and requires just a few basic ingredients.
If you enjoy Indian vegetarian dishes, you might also like Aloo Gobi recipe, a classic North Indian dish made with potatoes and cauliflower cooked with spices.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable oil or mustard oil)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger (or 1 teaspoon ginger paste)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic (or 1 teaspoon garlic paste) 2 green chilies, sliced 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped or pureed
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ½ teaspoon ground fennel (optional but recommended)
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- Salt, to taste
- 1 cup full-fat yogurt, whisked
- 1 cup water (adjust as needed)
- Fresh coriander leaves, for garnish
Cauliflower Curry (Step-by-Step Instructions)
Heat the Oil
1. To start making your easy cauliflower curry, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or deep pan.
2. Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and let them sizzle for 1 minute on high flame. This gives a beautiful aromatic base for the Indian cauliflower curry recipe.
Sauté the Ginger
3. Add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped ginger and sauté for 1 minute. Sautéing ginger is an important step in traditional cauliflower curry recipes to build rich flavor right from the beginning.
4. Add 2 finely chopped onions to the pan and stir-fry on high flame for about 2 minutes.
5. Add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped garlic and 2 sliced green chilies. Sauté for 2 minutes.
6. For a delicious cauliflower curry with gravy, it’s important to cook the onions until they turn slighltly golden brown and soft. Garlic and green chilies add a real punch to this homemade Indian-style cauliflower curry.
Tip: You can also use ginger-garlic paste for faster cooking.
Prepare Gravy for Cauliflower Curry
7. To make a rich tomato base for your cauliflower curry recipe, add 2 chopped tomatoes.
8. Add the following spices to the pan:
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ½ teaspoon ground fennel
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- Salt, to taste
Stir well to coat the ingredients evenly and allow the spices to bloom in the oil.
9. Mix well, cover with a lid, and cook on low flame for 10 minutes. Stir the tomato gravy occasionally so the masala does not stick to the pan. This helps create a rich and smooth masala base for your cauliflower curry.
10. After the gravy is cooked, remove the lid and stir well. Add 1 cup full-fat yogurt to make a creamy and flavorful Indian cauliflower curry.
11. Cover the pan with a lid and cook on low flame for 2 minutes, allowing the yogurt to blend into the tomato gravy.
Add Cauliflower Florets
12. Add the cauliflower florets into the tomato-yogurt gravy. Mixing the cauliflower well ensures every piece is coated in the spicy and creamy curry, making it the best homemade cauliflower curry you can try.
Cook Cauliflower Curry
13. Pour in 1 cup water and mix gently. Cover the pan with a lid and let the cauliflower curry cook on low flame for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
14. A delicious and perfectly cooked cauliflower curry recipe always ensures that the florets are soft, tender, and full of flavor. Adjust the salt if needed once cooked.
Garnish and Serve
15. Turn off the flame and garnish your flavorful cauliflower curry with fresh coriander leaves. Serve this easy Indian cauliflower curry hot with naan, jeera rice, or plain basmati rice for a comforting meal.
Serving Suggestions for Cauliflower Curry
- This flavorful Indian cauliflower curry pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes. Serve it hot with soft naan, jeera rice (cumin rice), or plain parathas for a healthy Indian meal. It also tastes delicious with basmati rice, you can add a side of cucumber raita, fresh salad, or pickles.
- Complement this cauliflower dish with a simple Indian dal (like dal tadka or masoor dal) for a wholesome vegetarian thali.
- Serve hot cauliflower curry with roti, naan, or paratha for a comforting North Indian meal. You can add a side of cucumber raita, plain yogurt, or a fresh salad to balance the spices.
FAQ
Avoid overcooking the cauliflower. You can lightly blanch or sauté the florets before adding them to the curry to help them retain texture.
Yes, you can substitute yogurt with coconut milk or cashew cream.
Mustard oil is healthy for cooking. It adds an authentic North Indian flavor, but you can also use vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or even ghee for richness.
Recipe Card
Indian Cauliflower Curry (Indian Gobhi Curry)
Equipment
- 1 Deep pan or wok
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Knife & chopping board
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons oil vegetable oil or mustard oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger or 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- 2 green chilies sliced
- 2 medium onions finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes finely chopped or pureed
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel optional but recommended
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder adjust to taste
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup full-fat yogurt whisked
- 1 cup water adjust as needed
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare Indian Cauliflower Curry, wash the cauliflower in fresh water before cooking.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or deep pan on high flame.
- Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and let them sizzle for 1 minute until aromatic.
- Add finely chopped ginger and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add chopped onions and stir-fry on high for 2 minutes.
- Add garlic and green chilies. Sauté for another 2 minutes until golden.
- Add chopped or pureed tomatoes to make a tomato base.
- Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala, fennel powder (if using), red chili powder, and salt.
- Mix well, cover with lid, and cook on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in 1 cup whisked yogurt and mix well into the cooked masala.
- Cover with lid and cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
- Add cauliflower florets to the tomato-yogurt curry base. Mix everything well to coat.
- Add 1 cup water and stir gently. Simmer the curry for few minutes.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 10–15 minutes until cauliflower is tender.
- Taste and adjust salt if needed.
- Turn off the flame. Garnish Cauliflower Curry with fresh coriander leaves.
- Serve hot with naan, jeera rice, or parathas.
Notes
- Serve with Rice: Serve Cauliflower Curry with steamed basmati rice or jeera rice for a wholesome Indian meal.
- Serve with Indian Bread: Pair with roti, plain paratha, or garlic naan.
- Side Options: You can add cucumber raita, salad, or pickle for extra flavor.
- Try With: Enjoy alongside Aloo Gobi for a delicious Indian vegetarian combo.
