Vegan Cauliflower Chickpea Tikka Masala

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This vegan tikka masala is rich, creamy and packed with flavor! Made with tender cauliflower florets and hearty chickpeas are simmered in a spicy cashew tomato sauce, you’d never guess this cozy curry was dairy free. A delicious Indian-inspired dinner that tastes like it came from a restaurant and is easy enough for a weeknight!

It took me a long time to familiarize myself with the variety of dishes that make up Indian cuisine. I started out eating Indian food at a buffet, which is really the best way to get started on Indian food if you ask me. Head on over to the vegetarian section and grab a scoop of everything. Who needs labels? If it was meatless, I was happy to have it on my plate.

After that I experimented with some sit-down Indian dining, on the first occasion of which, a friend instructed me to “Just pick anything at random off of the vegetarian menu. It’s all good.” I did. It was!

It took a while before I ever learned about tikka masala, I suppose because usually shows up on restaurant menus as chicken tikka masala, which isn’t really that interesting to me. So even when I did learn of the dish’s existence, I never got to try it, with the whole chicken and later on dairy issues to contend with.

Really though, it would be such a shame to miss out on something like tikka masala. If you’re where I was not too long ago and know little of this dish, here’s the lowdown: rich, spicy, curry, tomato gravy. That’s it. It’s so good.

I finally got down to it and created my own vegan tikka masala. No need for chicken. Cauliflower is the meatiest of veggies and chickpeas the meatiest legume. I threw ’em both in there.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce

Nor is there any need for dairy. Traditional tikka masala is made with yogurt and/or heavy cream. Sounds tough to replicate, but it’s really not. Cashews do the job!

To make your tikka masala sauce, you’ll be soaking some cashews in water. Drain them, rinse them, then add them to a food processor bowl with some diced tomatoes, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, and lots of spices.

Blend everything until smooth.

Be patient! It can take a few minutes, especially if your blending device isn’t super powerful (mine’s not!). If you’re working with a very weak device, it can also help to blend your cashews to a paste before adding everything else.

Making the Curry

Once your sauce is ready, the dish comes together pretty easily.

Sweat an onion in some oil for a few minutes. Once the onion has softened up a bit, add your cauliflower, chickpeas and sauce. Stir in some water and brown sugar to balance out the acidity.

Let everything simmer for about 20 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender. Add more water when the sauce becomes too thick.

Take the pot off of the heat, give it a taste-test, season with salt, and adjust any other seasonings to your liking. Top off your tikka masala with a sprinkle of cilantro.

I serve mine with some basmati rice and vegan naan.

FAQ & Tips for Making Awesome Vegan Tikka Masala

This recipe reheats and stores very well. If the sauce thickens up too much, just add a splash of water.
Did you forget to soak your cashews? Try boiling them for 15 minutes.
I keep a stash of frozen cashews on hand so forgetting is never an issue. Just freeze them right in their soaking water, then when you’re ready to use them, thaw, drain and rinse.
Is this recipe gluten-free? Yes, it is!
Is there a substitute for the cashews? Macadamia nuts may work as a direct substitute — they’re often a good replacement for cashews. You could also try making a vegan yogurt-based sauce using this recipe for guidance.
How spicy is this recipe? It depends on how much sambal oelek (Asian chili paste) you use. The range suggested in the recipe should give you a mild to medium hot dish. If you’re concerned about the heat level, start with a small amount (or none) and add it to taste at the end.
For some extra protein, try adding some pan-fried tofu to your tikka masala.

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5 from 4 votes Print

Vegan Cauliflower Chickpea Tikka Masala

CourseEntree CuisineIndian Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 25 minutes Total Time 40 minutes Servings 4 (very generous) servings Calories 456 kcal Author Alissa

Ingredients

1cupraw cashews,soaked in water 4-8 hours and drained
1(14 ounce)can diced tomatoes
1cupwater,divided, plus more as needed
1tablespoonlemon juice
4garlic cloves
2teaspoonsfreshly grated ginger
1 to 3teaspoonssambal oelek,to taste
1tablespoongaram masala
2teaspoonground cumin
2teaspoonssweet paprika
1teaspoonground coriander
½teaspoonground cardamom
¼teaspoonnutmeg
¼teaspoonground cloves
¼teaspoonblack pepper
1tablespooncanola oil(or neutral oil of choice)
1medium onion,diced
1large cauliflower crown,broken into florets
1(14 ounce) canchickpeas,drained and rinsed
1tablespoonbrown sugar
1teaspoonsalt,or to taste
¼cupfinely chopped fresh cilantro
Cooked basmati rice,to serve

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Place the cashews, tomatoes, ½ cup of water, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, sambal oelek, garam masala, cumin, paprika, coriander, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and pepper into the bowl of food processor fitted with an s-blade*.
Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down sides of the bowl as needed. This may take a few minutes.
Coat the bottom of a large pot or skillet with oil and place it over medium heat.
When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook it until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the cashew mixture, cauliflower, chickpeas, brown sugar and ½ cup of water.
Raise the heat and bring the sauce to a simmer.
Lower the heat and allow it to simmer, uncovered, until the cauliflower is tender, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and thinning the sauce with extra water as needed. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot with a spoon to prevent the sauce from sticking and burning.
Remove the pot from heat. Season the curry with salt and adjust any other seasonings to taste.
Divide onto plates with basmati rice. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Recipe Notes

*If you are using a low powered blending device, I recommend blending the cashews and ¼ cup of water to a smooth paste first. Then add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

Nutrition FactsVegan Cauliflower Chickpea Tikka MasalaAmount Per ServingCalories 456Calories from Fat 194% Daily Value*Fat 21.5g33%Saturated Fat 3.7g19%Sodium 976mg41%Potassium 1316mg38%Carbohydrates 56.9g19%Fiber 13.3g53%Sugar 12.5g14%Protein 16.3g33%Calcium 100mg10%Iron 5.9mg33%* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.