Best Vegetarian Curry Recipes

VEGETARIAN THAI GREEN CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid. Add the shallots with a generous pinch of salt and fry for 7-10 mins over a medium heat until softened and beginning to caramelise. Add the curry paste and chilli to the dish and fry for 2 mins. Tip in the squash and pepper, then stir through the coconut milk along with 200ml water. Add the lime leaves, cover and cook for 15-20 mins or until the squash is tender.
• Stir the mangetout and baby corn through the curry, then re-cover, cooking over a medium-low heat for a further 5 mins or until the veg is just cooked. Season and stir through half the coriander. Remove the lime leaves and discard. Spoon the curry into deep bowls, scatter with the remaining coriander and serve with rice and lime wedges for squeezing over.

EASY VEGETARIAN KOFTA CURRY

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, cardamom pods, whole cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf. Cook until spices start to sputter, about 1 minute. Stir in onion, ginger, and garlic. Cook and stir until onion is softened and just starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in diced tomatoes, coriander, turmeric, cumin, garam masala, cayenne, and salt. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer; add yogurt and stir well. Add frozen vegetable balls. Pour in hot water to thin sauce slightly to desired consistency. Bring mixture back to a simmer and cook, covered, until sauce is thickened and vegetable balls are heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.

VEGETARIAN KOFTA CURRY

Steps:

• Put the garlic, ginger and green chiles in a food processor, and pulse until you have a coarse paste. Put half the paste into a large bowl. Set the rest aside.
• Add the beans, spring onions, fresh herbs, bread crumbs, egg, garam masala, chile powder and salt to the large bowl with the paste. Mix well with a fork, mashing up the beans as you go into small pieces.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange on the pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, and bake until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium. Sauté the onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, ginger and chile paste, and sauté until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. If using fresh tomatoes, purée them until smooth in the food processor. Stir the tomato purée or crushed tomatoes, coriander and cumin into the skillet, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the kofta to the skillet, and turn the heat to low. If necessary, add enough water for the liquid to come about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the meatballs, then simmer another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kofta are warmed through and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a light dust of garam masala and some extra herbs.

VEGETARIAN THAI GREEN CURRY

Steps:

• Dab tofu with a clean dish towel to remove excess moisture.
• Heat 2 tablespoons peanut oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Fry tofu, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Trim ends of lemongrass stalks and peel off tough outer layers. Pound inner stalks gently with a heavy object to bruise and flatten out.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon peanut oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir curry paste until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in lemongrass, 1/4 cup coconut milk, eggplants, zucchini, carrot, green bell pepper, galangal, and lime leaves. Simmer until flavors combine, about 5 minutes.
• Pour remaining coconut milk into the saucepan. Add soy sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until carrot and green bell pepper are nearly tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in fried tofu, bamboo shoots, and green peas. Simmer until bamboo shoots and green peas are heated through, about 5 minutes.

CURRY COUSCOUS AND QUINOA PILAF (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Combine vegetable stock with 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; add 1 teaspoon turmeric and 1 teaspoon curry powder. Stir in couscous and remove pan from heat. Cover and let sit until water is absorbed completely, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a pot and add quinoa. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Cover and let stand for a few minutes if there is liquid left in the pot.
• Fluff couscous with a fork and place in a very large bowl. Mix quinoa into the bowl; allow to cool.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute almonds until toasted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Let cool and add to the couscous and quinoa. Add celery, carrots, garbanzo beans, parsley, raisins, green onions, and preserved lemon. Stir to combine.
• Combine 2/3 cup olive oil, vinegar, honey, 2 tablespoons turmeric, 2 tablespoons curry powder, vegetable soup mix, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a bowl. Whisk together. Toss dressing over the couscous mixture, a little at a time, stirring to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to let the flavors develop, 8 hours to overnight.

VIETNAMESE STYLE VEGETARIAN CURRY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Saute onion and shallots until soft and translucent. Stir in garlic, ginger, lemon grass and curry powder. Cook for about 5 minutes, to release the flavors of the curry. Stir in green pepper, carrots, mushrooms and tofu. Pour in vegetable stock and water. Season with fish sauce and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then stir in potatoes and coconut milk. When soup returns to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 40 to 60 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Garnish each bowl with a pile of bean sprouts and cilantro.

VEGETARIAN INDIAN CAULIFLOWER AND PEA CURRY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds and stir for 15 to 30 seconds. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and cook until soft and lightly colored, about 5 minutes. Add diced tomatoes with juice and cook for about 5 minutes more.
• Blend coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, turmeric, and cardamom into the sauce in the skillet. Add cauliflower and stir until coated with sauce. Cover and cook for 4 minutes. Stir and cover; continue cooking about 4 minutes more. Add green peas and stir. Reduce heat to low and cook until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve with steamed rice.

VEGETARIAN THAI CURRY FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice a few times under cold running water until water runs clear.
• Bring rice, water, and coconut water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and water has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat oil in a wok or large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add red bell pepper, ginger, and lemongrass. Allow to cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add curry paste and mix until well combined. Add cooked rice and mix well. Move rice mixture to one side of the wok and crack eggs into the wok. Cook and stir eggs until set and scrambled, about 3 minutes. Mix scrambled egg with rice mixture. Add frozen vegetables and mix well. Stir in coconut milk.
• Remove from heat and sprinkle with Thai basil.

VEGETARIAN BUTTERNUT SQUASH COCONUT CURRY SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Cut ends off of butternut squash and peel with a vegetable peeler. Cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds and strings, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Put butternut squash into a 9x13-inch roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil; toss to coat. Mix in coconut, garam masala, curry powder, salt, and pepper; toss to cover squash evenly with the spices.
• Roast in the preheated oven until butternut squash pieces pierce easily with a fork, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Transfer roasted squash in batches to a food processor and add enough broth to cover squash. Process on low setting for 15 to 20 seconds. Repeat with remaining roasted squash. Transfer to a pot and heat until warm.

VEGETARIAN POTATO AND CAULIFLOWER CURRY

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 teaspoon salt. Add potatoes; boil until easily pierced with a fork, about 10 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a strainer using a slotted spoon; rinse with cold water. Add cauliflower to boiling water; cook until easily pierced with a fork, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer cauliflower to strainer using slotted spoon; rinse with cold water. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
• Combine 3 tablespoons water, curry powder, coriander, cayenne, and saffron in a small bowl until paste forms. Let curry paste stand until flavors blend, about 10 minutes.
• Heat ghee in a stockpot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds; cook and stir until seeds begin to pop. Add onion and remaining 1 teaspoon salt; cook and stir until onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add curry paste; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Add lemon juice, reserved cooking liquid, potatoes, cauliflower, and garbanzo beans; stir well to combine.
• Stir green peas, coconut milk, and cilantro into potato-cauliflower mixture; simmer until vegetables are heated through and mixture has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.

VEGETARIAN YELLOW CURRY

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and garlic; cook until garlic is gently browned, about 1 minute. Add curry paste and whole chile pepper; pan-fry until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion; cook until softened but not yet translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tofu; pan-fry until all sides are browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add potatoes, carrots, and celery. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Saute until carrots and celery begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
• Add coconut milk and regular milk to cover vegetables. Add zucchini and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until all vegetables are soft and potatoes are cooked, about 20 minutes. Add spinach and stir until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove chile pepper before serving.

VEGETARIAN RED LENTIL COCONUT CURRY

Steps:

• Rinse lentils with cold water until water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add carrots and onion. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to help vegetables release their liquid. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and another pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in vegetable stock and lentils. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer, stirring every so often, for 45 minutes. Stir in coconut milk, curry paste, curry powder, cumin, and chili powder. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

VEGETARIAN THAI RED CURRY

Steps:

• Place tofu onto a plate and place another plate on top. Set a 3- to 5-pound weight on top. Press tofu for 20 to 30 minutes; drain and discard the accumulated liquid. Cut tofu into cubes.
• Heat oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add tofu and saute, stirring occasionally, until nicely colored on all sides and moisture has cooked off, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, and curry paste in a large wok or pan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add onion; boil for 3 minutes.
• Add potatoes, reduce heat to medium, and cook until potatoes are nearly cooked, about 8 minutes. Add zucchini and bell peppers; simmer for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup more water if curry is too thick.
• Cut bamboo shoots in half and discard any tough ends. Add to the curry with the basil. Add brown sugar and lime juice; taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in tofu.

ZUCCHINI "MEATBALLS"-VEGETARIAN CURRY - MADHUR JAFFREY

Steps:

• 'Meatballs'.
• Wash, trim and grate the zucchini - use the regular grate size on your grater, grating too fine may make it too soggy. Put into a bowl and sprinkle with the 1/2 tsp salt. Set aside for about 1/2 an hour.
• Once the zucchini has sat for about 1/2 an hour, squeeze out as much liquid as you can, using your hands or pressing through a fine mesh colander. Reserve the liquid you press out, it will be used in the gravy.
• Dry out the bowl and put the zucchini back in, add the minced chili, onion, ginger and 2 tbsp of the cilantro (reserve the rest of the cilantro for garnish).
• Sift the chickpea flour over the zucchini mixture. Mix well and form into about 20 balls. If they're too large, they won't cook well in the middle unless you fully immerse them in oil. I prefer to use as little oil as possible for frying, so I flatten them out a bit to make frying easier.
• In a skillet or wok heat about 1 1/2 inches of oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, put in about 5 or 6 of the balls - or as many will fit in one layer with room around each of them. Fry for about 2 minutes, turning them until you get a nice even brown coat. I suggest you test one to get a feel for how long it will take to fully cook inside since it really depends on how large you make them, and how much oil is in your pan.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and leave to drain on paper towel. Continue with the rest of the 'meatballs', then set aside.
• 'Gravy'.
• Use about 5 tbsp of the oil from the frying and put into a skillet or saute pan. Heat the oil over medium heat and add onion once the oil is hot. Fry the onion for about 7 or 8 minutes, or until the onion begins to brown and become translucent. Take care not to burn the onion. Once cooked, take the pan off the heat for a moment and add the turmeric, cayenne, ground cumin and coriander. Stir and then return to the heat.
• Add the tomatoes and let that cook for about 5 minutes to combine flavours.
• Add 1 cup of the zucchini 'juice' -- if you are short, top up with water to reach 1 cup.
• Bring to a boil the lower the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for about 15 minutes. Up to this point, you could prepare the recipe in advance.
• To finish, (reheat if you have made in advance), add the cream, garam masala, roasted cumin and salt. (To roast the cumin, just put it in a dry really hot pan for a few minutes taking care not to burn). Mix sauce well and bring to a simmer.
• Add the 'meatballs' and gently spoon the sauce over them, trying not to break any of them. The meatballs turn soft in the sauce, so only cook enough to warm them through and then serve immediately with basmati rice and/or roti or naan bread. Garnish with the reserved fresh cilantro and cashews if using.

MADRAS VEGETABLE CURRY (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• In a lrg frying pan, heat oil till hot over med-high heat. Stir in onion, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom + bay leaves & cook till onion begins to brown (See NOTE below).
• Stir in garlic, gingerroot + curry powder & cook till flavors are released (I assume aroma is the test of this point).
• Add tomatoes & cook for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low, stir in potatoes & cont cooking till potatoes are partially cooked.
• Stir in carrot, cauliflower, eggplant + coconut milk & simmer till vegetables are tender, stirring occ.
• Remove whole spices & bay leaves. Stir in peas, season to taste w/salt, stir in the cilantro & serve immediately as suggested.
• NOTE: Altho not mentioned in the recipe, stirring in the whole spices + bay leaves & then removing them as above seems like a lrg challenge unless they are introduced to the dish in 1 of those porous spice cooking bags. :-).

VEGETARIAN COCONUT CURRY WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Wrap tofu in 2 to 3 layers of paper towels and place on a plate. Place a second plate on top to encourage fluid out of the tofu. Let sit until paper towels are saturated, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking tray.
• Discard wet paper towels and cube tofu. Place on the prepared baking tray.
• Bake in the preheated oven until adequately dry, about 20 minutes.
• While the tofu is baking, drain pineapple chunks, reserving juice.
• Combine coconut milk, liquid aminos, ginger, curry paste, chili powder, curry powder, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Add reserved pineapple juice and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
• Mix cornstarch and water together in a small bowl; add to the coconut milk mixture and whisk until slightly thickened.
• Stir in basil and jalapeno; cook for 1 minute. Add bok choy, spinach, green onions, mushrooms, chile peppers, tomatoes, and pineapple chunks; stir to coat. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are crisp tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add tofu and stir to coat. Season with salt. Transfer to a covered dish for 10 minutes to let flavors mix, or serve immediately.

VEGETARIAN CHICKPEA AND LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, chile pepper, and garlic. Cook until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add curry powder and turmeric and cook for a few seconds. Add lentils and water. Bring to a boil, about 5 minutes. Add chickpeas and continue to cook until lentils are tender, 10 to 12 minutes more. Add more water if needed.
• Add spinach to curry and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Add cilantro, lemon juice, and cayenne before serving.

THAI-STYLE VEGETARIAN YELLOW CURRY

Steps:

• Press tofu cubes between towels to drain excess water.
• Heat oil in a shallow pan over medium heat. Cook tofu in the hot oil until golden brown and crispy on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and place on towels to soak up excess oil.
• Open the can of coconut milk and scoop out the thicker top portion into a large wok or pan. Save the watery bottom portion. Cook over medium-high heat until bubbling and a thin layer of oil appears on the top, about 5 minutes. Add curry paste and stir to incorporate. Allow to cook, stirring so this mixture does not stick or burn, until the oil film reappears.
• Add the rest of the coconut milk and enough vegetable broth to reach desired consistency; bring to a simmer. Stir in potatoes and simmer until almost tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in carrots, bell pepper, and snow peas; simmer until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add tofu and heat through, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve.

SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN CURRY

Steps:

• Combine cauliflower, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, water, cumin, curry powder, turmeric, and chili powder in a slow cooker.
• Cook on Low until vegetables are tender, 5 to 6 hours.

VEGETARIAN YASAI KATSU CURRY (WAGAMAMA STYLE!)

Steps:

• 1. Cook your rice, according to instructions on the packet. 2. Slice the butternut squash and boil slices soft (not too soft or they will fall apart. Drain and set aside to cool. 2. Grind the bread crumbs and crackers together. Beat an egg. Set to side. Keep the flour ready (mix in spices if desired). 3. Make the curry sauce, either by mixing your spices with some water and cooking for 15 mins (adding more water if required) until you reach a desired creamy texture. Alternatively, cheat and buy a packet of ready made curry sauce in the store. 4. Heat vegetable or light olive oil in a frying pan. 5. Dip the slices in the flour mix, then egg, then breadcrumb mix. 6. When you have 4 slices ready, start frying. Make sure the oil is hot to give a crispy texture but that it does not burn. 7. When ready, place on paper to drain excess oil. 8. When all slices are done, invert a cup of sticky rice on a place, serve with a few fried slices and pour curry sauce over. I usually add a green or red vegetable or sallad that I have home to give some colour too.