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5 from 3 votes
Tofu makhani
Tofu Makhani Recipe
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
 

Restaurant style vegan makhani curry with tofu

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: curry, tofu makhani
Servings: 4
Author: Preethi Venkatram
Ingredients
  • 2 medium sized onions thinly sliced
  • 3 big tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 20 cubes extra firm tofu / substitute with paneer if not vegan
  • 11/2 tsp kashmiri chilly powder (substitute with 1/2 tsp normal chilly powder)
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder
  • 11/2 tsp Kitchen King Masala
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/4 tsp Garam Masala
  • 1 inch ginger cut into thin strips
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 tsp kasuri methi / dried fenugreek leaves
  • 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
  • 1/4 cup cashew powder / ground cashew
  • 1/4 cup coconut powder (can substitute it with coconut cream)
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil or any neutral tasting oil of choice
  • 1 tsp honey / maple syrup / agave
  • salt to taste
  • 1 Green chilly slit (optional)/ substitute with serrano or jalepeno
Instructions
  1. Add 1 tbsp oil in a pan and when it becomes hot, saute the sliced onions until they turn golden brown. When done, set it aside to cool and grind it to a paste, along with couple of tbsp water.

  2. In the same pan, add the remaining oil, add the thinly sliced ginger and fry them until golden.

  3. Now add the chilly powder, turmeric powder and saute for 30 seconds.

  4. Puree the 3 tomatoes and add it to the ginger and chilly mixture. Add the tomato paste, ginger-garlic paste to it too. Cook them in medium flame until you see oil releasing from the sides.

  5. Now add the crushed kasuri methi, chopped coriander leaves and mix.

  6. Add the ground onion paste, coriander powder, kitchen king masala, garam masala, slit green chilly and saute for a minute or so.

  7. Now add 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups water and let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes in low medium heat until the oil starts floating.

  8. Add the cashew powder, coconut powder and more water as needed to dilute the gravy and let it boil further for 6 to 7 minutes.

  9. Add honey and salt as per taste.

    (Optional step - You can blend everything using a hand blender to get a creamy silky consistency in the gravy)

  10. Finally add the Tofu cubes (You can fry the tofu before adding or use it as such) and give everything a mix.

  11. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes
  • Kitchen king masala is very important to get the restaurant taste. But if you cannot find it, you can omit it and increase the coriander and garam masala powder by 1/4 tsp each
  • Substitite the tofu with roast veggies/ paneer or soy curls
  • Can use coconut cream instead of coconut powder. I prefer adding the powder
  • To make cashew powder, simply grind the cashews to a somewhat smooth powder
  • Sauteeing the onions until golden brown and sauteeing the tomatoes until they become thick and start oozing oil from the sides is important to get the restaurant taste