Indian Vegetable Curry

Name: Indian Vegetable Curry
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon ghee, (butter or coconut oil); 1 medium brown onion, (peeled and diced); 2 cloves garlic, (peeled and diced); 2 cm piece of ginger, (peeled and finely chopped); 1 tablespoon fennel seeds; 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, (ground); 1 teaspoon turmeric powder ((or a 1cm piece of fresh, peeled and finely grated)); 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, (ground); 1 tablespoon garam masala; 150 grams (1 cup) raw cashew nut pieces; 5 ripe tomatoes, (roughly chopped); 1 teaspoon sea salt and black pepper, (to taste); 250 grams (1 cup) full-fat natural or Greek yoghurt; 180 mls (¾ cup) water; Vegetables ((I used 1 small sweet potato, 1 large carrot, 1 red capsicum, ½ head cauliflower, ½ head broccoli and big handful baby spinach), see note below); Try to cut your root vegetables to roughly the same size and group vegetables into approx. cook times. So (in this case, the carrot and sweet potato will take the longest so I add them to the sauce first, followed by the red capsicum, cauliflower, broccoli and lastly, I stir in the spinach to wilt. The cook time will depend on the size you have cut your vegetables. I like a fairly chunky curry, which is easier to cut up but takes a bit longer to cook than if you cut the vegetables smaller. Your call. PS - I'm a bit of a nazi with vegetables, I really don't like them overcooked, but if you don't mind you can throw it all in together.)

July 22, 2015 | Meals, Vegetarian

So this is a very basic, mild Indian vegetable curry sauce that I often whip up for a quick meal that is guaranteed to please my family. It is very versatile so even though my main recipe is vegetarian, feel free to add in meat or legumes (see recipe variations). You can also freeze batches of the sauce for a quick curry another time.

Health benefits

Anything with this many veggies is just good! Coupled with so many wonderful anti-inflammatories, digestion and immune supporting spices; protein and essential fatty-acid rich cashew nuts, this is not only really delicious but supports optimal health and healing.

Take a look at the variations below for all the details as well as suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.

If you’re looking to save money across pantry items such as nuts, seeds, rice and much more, I personally shop at The Wholefood Collective – great whole foods at heavily discounted prices (and delivered to my door), click HERE to take a look. Their brown basmati is divine and organic cashew nuts super cheap.

Indian Vegetable Curry

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 25 minutes

Total 40 minutes

Serves: 4

5 from 5 votes

This Indian Vegetable Curry really easy to make, mild curry that the whole family will love. It's also super versatile so you can adapt it to suit your taste.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon ghee, butter or coconut oil
1 medium brown onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and diced
2 cm piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon turmeric powder (or a 1cm piece of fresh, peeled and finely grated)
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, ground
1 tablespoon garam masala
150 grams (1 cup) raw cashew nut pieces
5 ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt and black pepper, to taste
250 grams (1 cup) full-fat natural or Greek yoghurt
180 mls (¾ cup) water
Vegetables (I used 1 small sweet potato, 1 large carrot, 1 red capsicum, ½ head cauliflower, ½ head broccoli and big handful baby spinach), see note below

Note:

Try to cut your root vegetables to roughly the same size and group vegetables into approx. cook times. So in this case, the carrot and sweet potato will take the longest so I add them to the sauce first, followed by the red capsicum, cauliflower, broccoli and lastly, I stir in the spinach to wilt. The cook time will depend on the size you have cut your vegetables. I like a fairly chunky curry, which is easier to cut up but takes a bit longer to cook than if you cut the vegetables smaller. Your call. PS - I'm a bit of a nazi with vegetables, I really don't like them overcooked, but if you don't mind you can throw it all in together.

Method

In a large, deep pan, melt the ghee, butter or coconut oil and sauté the onion, garlic, ginger and spices over a low heat unit the onion is just starting to become opaque and the spices smell amazing.
Transfer this to a blender or food processor with the cashews, tomatoes, sea salt, yoghurt and water and blend until it is smooth.
Add it back to the pan you cooked the onions and spices in (no need to wash it), add your vegetables in stages (see the note above), and simmer with the lid on (it will spit), stirring frequently until the vegetables are cooked to your liking. Taste and season again.
My curry takes approx. 15 minutes for the root vegetables and another 5-10mintes for the quick cooking veggies (broccoli, cauliflower and capsicum). Always add leafy greens (baby spinach/coriander) at the very end once you have turned off the heat.
Another way to cook this curry is to steam (or roast) the vegetables and just mix through the sauce (which has simmered 10-15 minutes to build flavour).
Lovely served with brown basmati, quinoa or cauliflower rice.

Thermomix Method

Place your onion, garlic and ginger (also fresh turmeric if using) in your TMX and process 3 seconds, speed 6. Scrap the sides. Add the fennel seeds, cumin, turmeric powder, coriander seeds and garam masala and ghee, butter or coconut oil and sauté 3 minutes, temp 100, speed 1.
Add the cashew nuts, sea salt and tomatoes and blend 20 seconds, speed 7.
Add the yoghurt and water and blend 1 minute, speed 8.
At this point, you can choose to cook your curry in a stove-top pot (point 3 above), or continue in your TMX. Personally, I like to finish this in a pot as I find the vegetables stay more intact than cooking it in the TMX. See the note above re-cook time. If you do choose to cook your vegetables in the TMX, make sure the blade is on reverse and cook at temp 100, speed 1 (cook times will vary as explained above).
If you are using the steamed method (point 5 above), cook for 10 minutes, temp 100, speed 3 before pouring over your vegetables.

Variations

Dairy-free and vegan

Sub the yoghurt with coconut milk.

Onion-free

Replace the onion with a small bulb of diced fennel.

Garlic-free

Increase the ginger to a 4cm piece to replace the garlic.

Add a legume

Feel free to add in cooked chickpeas or lentils.

Add meat

You could also add meat to this curry sauce – I’d suggest it’s best suited to chicken or fish.

Make it spicy

Add dried chilli flakes at part one of the method. Or, serve with fresh or dried chilli so everyone can control their own heat (this is what we do).

Hope you enjoy this very versatile curry. Love to hear how you like it or post a question in the comments below.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Indian Vegetable Curry