Gobi Masala Recipe (Cauliflower Masala)
By Swasthi on August 21, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe
Gobi Masala is a North-Indian dish of cauliflower cooked with an onion tomato masala. This dish is simple to make for a weeknight dinner and gets done under 35 to 40 minutes. Gobi Masala goes well with Basmati rice, flavored rice dishes like Jeera rice and even with roti, Chapati or naan. It is gluten-free and vegan.
In Hindi cauliflower is known by the name Gobi, which is the star ingredient in this dish. Masala means a mix of spices and here it means onion tomato masala.
This Gobi Masala is made in a home-style and uses basic pantry staples. You can also add some green peas or boiled chickpeas to add more protein or make the meal more filling.
Like many other dishes, this Gobi Masala is made in many ways. Here are a few more ways to cook with Gobi
Aloo Gobi
Cauliflower Curry
Navratan Korma
Cauliflower Stir Fry
Mixed Vegetable Curry
Here, to begin with we make an onion tomato masala using pureed onions, tomatoes, ginger garlic and a few cashews or almonds. This is one of the simplest ways to get your onion tomato masala ready.
You don’t need to fine chop onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic like we do for many curried dishes. We just throw all the ingredients in a blender to make a fine puree and cook that until the masala loses its raw flavor.
While the masala cooks, we get some time to prepare and cut the gobi.
To make the dish nut-free, you may leave out the cashews/almonds mentioned. Just stir in a little heavy cream towards the end for a creamy touch.
If you are accessible to magaz or white poppy seeds use them instead. To use white poppy seeds, we soak them in hot water until they become soft and then puree with little water until really smooth and milky.
Pour that to the pan towards the last few minutes of cooking.
How to Make Gobi Masala (Stepwise Photos)
Preparation
1. Dice 1 medium onion to make 1 cup. Clean and cut a medium cauliflower head to make about 250 grams florets.
Optional – If you do not prefer to use raw pureed onions in the gravy as sometimes they make the gravy bitter then you can follow this step. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add the diced onions. Boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain them.
Optional – This step is done to bring out any worms hidden in the cauliflower florets. Heat 3 cups of water to slightly hot temperature. Switch off the stove. Add 1 tsp crystal salt and cleaned cut florets. Then drain them and rinse well under running.
2. While the gobi is resting in water, add onions, 1½ cup cubed ripe tomatoes, 8 cashews or almonds (optional), ¾ inch peeled ginger piece and 2 to 3 cloves of garlic.
3. Blend them without adding water to a smooth puree.
Make Onion Tomato Masala
4. Heat a pan with 2 tablespoons oil. Add 1 cardamom, half inch small cinnamon and piece of bay leaf and 2 cloves. You can also leave out all these spices and just use bay leaf and cinnamon or just use half teaspoon cumin seeds.
5. Pour the pureed onion tomato mix.
6. Cover partially and cook until the mixture cooks thickens and leaves the sides of the pan. Add
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- half teaspoon salt
7. Saute until the mixture turns thick and begins to smell aromatic, meaning all the raw smell has gone.
8. Add cauliflower and saute for 3 mins.
9. Pour ¾ cup hot water and stir well. Cook covered on a medium heat until the gobi is cooked al dente. Do not over cook as the cauliflower can become too soft. Add more hot water as you cook if required.
10. Crush 1 tablespoon kasuri methi in your palms and sprinkle on the gobi masala. Cook for a min. Taste test and add more salt or garam masala to your taste. Garnish with 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves.
Serve Gobi Masala with Basmati rice, roti, chapati or plain paratha.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Gobi Masala Recipe (Cauliflower Masala)
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1 small head gobi (250 grams cauliflower florets)
- 1 cup onions cubed (avoid purple onions)
- ¾ inch ginger peeled
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves
- 8 cashews or almonds
- 1 green chill slit (optional)
- 1½ cup tomatoes diced
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ¾ to 1 cup hot water (more if required)
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon sugar (optional)
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala (more if required, adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 tablespoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
Whole Spices
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- ½ inch cinnamon (optional)
- 1 green cardamom (optional)
- 2 cloves (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- This step is optional. Boil onions in 2 cups of water for 3 mins. Drain the water.
- Add the onions to a grinder/blender jar with tomatoes, ginger, garlic and cashews. Make a smooth puree without adding water. Keep aside.
How to Make Gobi Masala
- Heat a pan with oil and add all the whole spices.
- When they begin to sizzle, add the onion tomato puree and saute on a medium heat until the raw smell goes off. This step takes about 8 to 10 minutes.
- While you saute the onion tomato masala, clean and cut cauliflower florets. If you find worms in the florets, simply add them to slightly hot water and rest for 5 mins. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Stir in chili powder, salt, garam masala and coriander powder. Saute until it begins to smell good and aromatic, for 2 to 3 mins.
- Add drained cauliflower and saute for 3 to 5 mins.
- Pour hot water and mix. Cover and cook on a medium flame until the gobi is cooked al dente. If the gravy is too thick add more hot water as required.
- Taste test and add more salt, sugar and garam masala if you want. Stir in the kasuri methi.
- Garnish gobi masala with chopped coriander leaves. Serve with plain rice, jeera rice, roti, paratha.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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Comments
Can you make this recipe without the nuts?
Yes you can.
Really delicious. or a change, we wanted a cauliflower dish that was not dry. I added potatoes, peas and edamame to the mix. And I decided to use coconut milk instead of cashews. Terrific! Swathi’s recipes are foolproof.
Poojitha, So glad you like it.
Thank you so much for the trust.
🙂
Easy, quick, and delicious! Came out really well. Thank you for the recipe!!!
Glad to know! Thank you
I tried your Gobi masala recipe today, it was too good. . I added some yogurt while blending onions and tomatoes which it gave a little tangy flavour.
Thank you so much.
Welcome Ahsan
Glad to know!
This turned out really great! Thank you! I added blended tofu and almond milk to thicken it a little and worked really well so thought I’d share!
Hi Sahana,
Tofu and almond milk! Sounds so good. Glad it came out good. Thank you
I make so many dishes with your receipe. Gobi masala is one of them. My husband love my food and always feel proud when everyone in his office praise my cooking. A big thanks to your recipe.
Hi Josna
You are welcome. So happy to know the recipes are useful. Thanks a lot for trying & the comment too. You made my day!
🙂
Good recipe but too many ingredients which are not on hand, so had to give up.
Hi Lewis,
Thank you. You can still make the curry with whatever you have in hand. To get a good tasting flavorful curry you need all of them except for the kasuri methi or fenugreek leaves.
This recipe was something different but was really tasty. We enjoyed the flavours. Thank you Swasti.
Welcome Asha
Wow this was really tasty! I was so pleasantly blown away by how good this tasted! Thank you!
Welcome Nisha,
Thanks for trying. Glad to know it turned out good.
Awesome recipe,it was too good
Hi swasthi today I’m going to try this looks yummy ..
Hi Supriya
Hope you are doing good. Thanks. Yes do try it
followed this recipe, turned out really tasty, thanks for this.
welcome Mlyer
Can I skip onion and garlic? Pls suggest me.
I suppose it will turn out sour without onions. You can try using grated coconut or more cashews inplace of onions. You can skip garlic
Hi Swasti,
This recipe turned out very tasty. My kid and hubby liked it a lot. Thank you very much
As a matter of personal taste, instead of pureeing raw onions, i prefer to boil them a bit and then puree.
I am really impressed by the breadth and depth of your website and also by the modesty and simplicity of the website. What a fantastic job you have done, and how lucky your family is, to have you. God bless you and your family.
Hi Neha
You are welcome. Yes boiling them also prevents the bitter taste. I have updated the post with your tip. Thanks a lot for all the compliments.
So happy to read your good wishes.
🙂
Thanks a ton
Yummy, tried it very delcious
Thanks Meena.
TASTY & WONDERFUL
U know now a days, whenever my family members come at dinning table they just ask me what’s new recipe is there from your swasthi’s treasure.
They all have thanked you, for your tasty recipes.
Thank you so much Shalini,
I really really appreciate your time in writing back to me about how the dishes turn out.A hearty welcome to all of you.”your swasthi’s treasure” these words have touched my heart.Once again thanks a lot.
🙂
nice pics, looks delicious..
delicious masala,love with rotis:)
ah gobhi i love this more than the cabbage<br />it gets unique flavour in whatever form we use<br />the color has come out very good
Looks yummy …..Famous Punjabi Food :)<br /><br />
looks yummy…….