Mushroom Masala Curry
Updated: May 13, 2024, By Swasthi
This North Indian Mushroom Masala Curry features sautéed mushrooms simmered in a spicy, creamy and aromatic masala or curry base. It is a popular restaurant dish usually eaten with Basmati rice, Jeera rice, Ghee rice or with roti, Chapati, Plain Parathas. While white button mushrooms are common in this gravy, you are free to use any other kind you prefer.
Mushrooms are not a common veggie in the traditional Indian cuisine yet they are used to prepare many dishes like Pepper Mushrooms, Mushroom Biryani, Mushroom pulao, curries & mushroom stir fry. Indian cuisine is by far diverse and each dish is made in numerous ways depending on the region. This Mushroom masala or say Mushroom Curry is no exception.
In this post I share 2 recipes – the first one is North Indian restaurant style and the second one is a South Indian dish, made similar to this Hyderabadi Mirchi ka Salan. Both the dishes have a creamy and nutty taste but have a different flavor profile. While the North Indian dish uses cashews, the South Indian curry uses peanuts, sesame and coconut. They both are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan if you make the recipe with oil.
About this recipe
This Mushroom Masala is a curried dish of mushrooms simmered in a spicy and fragrant gingery-garlicky onion tomato masala. Spices like garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder and kasuri methi are the key as they impart Indian flavors to the dish.
Cashews are used to thicken the curry and balance the tangy taste of tomatoes. Apart from that they add a creamy taste without the need to use heavy cream. They can be replaced with blanched almonds, almond flour, nut butter, heavy cream or coconut cream but note that coconut changes the taste of the dish.
White button mushrooms are commonly used in Indian cuisine but I use different kinds based on the availability. Every kind of mushroom has a different taste, flavor and texture. So use what you like the most.
I have used 300 grams (11 ounce) fresh shiitake here, other varieties like white button mushrooms, Swiss Brown mushrooms (Cremini) and Portobello are some good choices.
For more Mushroom recipes, you may check
Spicy kadai mushroom
Simple mushroom stir fry
Mushroom pepper fry
Garlic mushrooms
Mushroom omelet
Photo Guide
How to Make Mushroom Masala (Stepwise Photos)
Preparation
1. You need the following ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion very fine chopped to make 1 cup (120 grams)
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger (or use 1½ tsps ginger garlic paste)
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic or pressed
- 280 grams sweet tomatoes pureed in a blender to make 1¼ cup puree
- 20 cashew nuts soaked in ¼ cup hot water for 10 mins in hot water and pureed to cream or use 1½ tablespoon nut butter or 1/3 cup cream
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (reduce for low heat)
- 1¼ teaspoon garam masala or meat masala (more if needed)
- ¾ teaspoon cumin powder (I use roasted cumin powder)
- 1½ teaspoons coriander powder
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (optional, dried fenugreek leaves)
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves to garnish
Chop the onions and begin to cook, prep up the rest as you cook. This saves some time. You will prepare 300 grams (11 ounces) mushrooms later.
Make the Masala
2. Heat 2½ tbsp oil or ghee in a pan and add the optional whole spices – 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 green cardamoms and 2 inch cinnamon piece, followed by onions. Saute until golden for about 9 to 10 mins. Stir in the ginger garlic. Saute for a minute and pour 2 tablespoons water and deglaze the pan.
3. Stir in all the ground spices – red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric, salt and garam masala.
4. Add tomato puree.
5. Saute until the raw flavor is gone and the masala becomes thick and smells aromatic.
6. Pour cashew puree and ¾ cup hot water.
7. Mix well and bring to a rolling boil on a high heat. Reduce heat and cook covered until the onions are soft and the gravy turns thick.
Saute Mushrooms
8. Meanwhile trim the stems and rinse the mushrooms under running water. If they are organic and clean enough you may wipe them with moist cloth. If you are using white button mushrooms, you don’t need to remove the stems. Rinse and slice them thick or quarter to equal sizes. (Find more tips in the pro tips section below)
You can omit the steps of sautéing mushrooms before adding to the curry but this step brings out the flavor of mushrooms better.
9. Add ½ tablespoon ghee to another pan and add the mushrooms.
10. Saute them on a high heat until aromatic for 4 to 5 mins. You will notice the pan being dry as the mushrooms absorb the oil. It’s normal and continue to cook. It’s alright if they let out moisture.
11. Transfer them to the masala and mix well. (Do not add them before the masala is ready and thick.) Cook covered until the mushrooms are completely tender to your liking. If the masala is too thick add a splash of water.
12. Add kasuri methi and more salt or garam masala as needed. If your gravy is too tart, add little sugar or maple syrup. (If you use heavy cream stir in here)
Sprinkle lemon juice at the time of serving and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve mushroom masala over rice or with flatbreads – roti, chapati, plain paratha or naan.
Pro Tips
- This recipe makes a slightly chunky masala since chopped onions are used but it is creamy. If you want a smooth masala, simply add the sautéed onions to the tomatoes and puree. But avoid using red onions if you want to puree them.
- Prepare the mushrooms only when you are ready to use them. I usually do that while cooking the masala.
- It is not essential to saute the mushrooms but some kinds of mushrooms won’t taste good without this step. So do what you like.
- If using small mushrooms, you don’t need to trim the stems as they are not woody and fibrous. But if you are using medium to larger mushrooms, trim off the stems as they can taste woody and fibrous. They will remain under cooked in the curry.
- To make the dish nut-free, dairy-free and coconut free, boil ¾ cup (75 grams) diced onions in 2 cups water for 5 mins, drain and puree with the tomatoes. You will still use chopped onions. It will taste good but won’t have the creamy taste.
Photo Guide
How to Make Mushroom Curry (Recipe 2)
This is a South Indian home style recipe, very simple to make and has a curry base like the Hyderabadi mirchi ka salan. It takes too good with plain basmati rice, jeera rice, ghee rice, roti, paratha and even with naan.
In this mushroom curry, peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut form the base of the curry. These ingredients are roasted and ground first. Then added to the onion tomato mixture. It tastes extremely delicious with bursting aroma of nuts, seeds and spices.
Ingredients
200 grams sliced white button mushrooms
1 cup capsicums cubed (optional)
¾ cup of chopped onions
¾ cup fine chopped tomatoes or tomato puree
1 sprig curry leaves or bay leaf
1 green chilli slit
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
¾ teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
¾ teaspoon garam masala (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon kasuri methi (optional)
2 tablespoons oil
Salt to taste
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
To roast
2 tablespoons roasted Peanuts
1 tablespoon roasted Sesame seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon desiccated coconut (optional)
Instructions – Preparation
1. On a medium flame, dry roast 2 tablespoons peanuts in a pan until deep golden and aromatic. Then reduce the flame to low and add sesame seeds. Stir them until they begin to splutter. Turn off and add coconut. Saute for some time. Cool all of these and make a powder.
It will turn slightly greasy, lumpy and oily. It’s just fine but the powder must smell nice and nutty. Otherwise roast this for a few more minutes so it smells really good.
2. Pour 1 tablespoon oil to a hot pan. Add 200 grams sliced mushrooms and saute them on a high heat for 2 to 3 mins until a nice aroma comes out. They will let out some moisture but it’s just fine. Remove these to a plate and set aside.
3. To the same pan, add 1 cup diced bell peppers/ capsicum and saute them as well for 2 to 3 mins until partially cooked yet crunchy. This is done to bring out the flavors from the bell peppers. Remove these as well and keep aside.
Make the curry
4. Pour 1 tablespoon oil to the same pan. Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and 1 sprig curry leaves.
5. When the seeds splutter add ¾ cup fine chopped onions and 1 slit green chilli. Saute until the onions turn golden to light brown. Then add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste. Saute until the raw smell goes away.
6. Add ¾ cup tomatoes (chopped or pureed), ½ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon turmeric. Saute until the tomatoes break down and turn mushy. The raw smell of tomatoes should go away by now.
7. Add the roasted peanut powder and ¾ teaspoon red chilli powder. Saute for a minute.
8. Then pour 1¼ to 1½ cups water. Mix well and let the curry simmer until it turns thick. Do not proceed to the next step until your gravy turns thick.
9. Add mushrooms and bell peppers.
10. Add crushed kasuri methi (optional) and garam masala. Let the mushrooms cook only for a while until tender but not soggy. Turn off and cover the pan so the flavors are retained. Stir well and taste test. Add more salt if need.
Cool down the curry a bit and squeeze some lemon juice before serving. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve mushroom curry with roti, paratha, ghee rice or jeera rice.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Mushroom Masala Curry Recipe
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 300 grams (11 ounce) mushrooms stems trimmed & quartered or sliced
- 1 cup (120 grams) onion very fine chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated or use 1½ tsps. ginger garlic paste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic grated/ pressed
- 1¼ cup (280 grams) tomatoes pureed (use ripe sweet tomatoes)
- 20 cashew nuts or 1½ tablespoon nut butter or ⅓ cup cream (read notes)
- 3 tablespoons oil or ghee (divided 2½ tbsp. + ½ tbsp.)
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (reduce for low heat)
- 1¼ teaspoon garam masala or meat masala (more if needed)
- ¾ teaspoon cumin powder
- 1½ teaspoons coriander powder
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (optional, dried fenugreek leaves)
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves to garnish
- whole spices (optional 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 green cardamoms, 2 inch cinnamon piece)
Instructions
How to Make Mushroom Masala Curry
- Heat oil or ghee in a pan and add the whole spices, followed by onions.
- Saute until golden for about 9 to 10 mins. Stir in the ginger garlic. Saute for a minute and pour 2 tablespoons water and deglaze the pan.
- Stir in all the ground spices – red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric, salt and garam masala.
- Add tomato puree and saute until the raw flavor is gone and the masala becomes thick and smells aromatic.
- Pour cashew puree and ¾ cup hot water. Mix well and bring to a rolling boil on a high heat. Reduce heat and cook covered until the onions are soft and the gravy turns thick.
- Add ½ tablespoon ghee to another pan and add the sliced or quartered mushrooms. Saute them until aromatic for 4 to 5 mins and transfer them to the thick masala.
- Mix well. Cook covered until the mushrooms are completely tender to your liking. If the masala is too thick add a splash of water.
- Add kasuri methi and more salt or garam masala as needed. If your gravy is too tart, add little sugar or maple syrup. (If you use heavy cream stir in here)
- Sprinkle lemon juice at the time of serving and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve mushroom masala over rice or with flatbreads – roti, chapati, plain paratha or naan.
Notes
- This recipe makes a slightly chunky masala since chopped onions are used but it is creamy. If you want a smooth masala, simply add the sautéed onions to the tomatoes and puree. But avoid using red onions if you want to puree them.
- I prefer to minimize heavy cream in my everyday cooking so I prefer cashews. However to make it nut-free, use heavy cream or coconut cream or coconut milk for some creaminess.
- If you want you may add 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 green cardamoms and 2 inch cinnamon stick to the tempering before adding onions.
Video
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
This mushroom masala is top-notch and is a staple in my home. We have made it with coconut milk a few times but love the cashew/ almond cream. Sweating the mushrooms and cooking the sauce longer makes it the best. Thank you for the amazing recipes.
So happy to read that Tom. Thank you for sharing back!
Thank you Swasthi. This is another hit in my home. I use button mushrooms and they shrink a lot. So threw in some paneer and green peas. A complete delicious meal!
You are welcome Smitha. Appreciate your time to share back
I tried this five star mushroom recipe. It turned out very well. This is now the new favorite recipe in my home
Thank you
So glad to read that Leena. Thank you so much
Turned out classy. Served over your jeera rice and it was a delicious meal
Thanks Bill
Extremely delicious. Thank you so much for this great recipe. My folks looooved it.
So glad to know Lena. Thanks for sharing back
I hate to ask this, because I know it is optimal to use the Kasmiri chili powder, but what can I sub in for this spice? Half the amount in cayenne? Hot paprika?
Yes Connie, feel free to replace it with cayenne
Haven’t yet made this but recipe looks great. Wondering if it’s possible to substitute canned whole tomatoes? If so, how so?
Awesome recipe. I was apprehensive about grinding the onion but it turned out great.
I keep coming back to this recipe. I love how easy it is. Sometimes I also make the tikkas using your mushroom tikka recipe and add them to this masala. Both ways it turns out delicious.
Thank you for sharing how it went for you. Glad and love the idea of using the grilled tikkas in this recipe. Sounds so great Savi.
Another amazing vegan dinner! Thank you so much for sharing your delicious recipes, Swasthi. You’ve enriched my life so much ?
Thank you so much Vanessa. That’s a great compliment!
🙂
Tried this recipe today.
It was fantastic 5 Stars
Thank you for sharing .
Just to mention also tried some of your other recipes
They are amazing easy to make and flavoursome
Thank you so much Raj
Glad to know the food turned out good
The recipe looks delicious and I want to try it as soon as possible! Excuse me, for how many portions (1 recipe) is it meant?
Hi, It serves 3 and is mentioned in the recipe card towards the end of the page.
I followed the second recipe. Added almond meal and it turned out delicious. It is also easy to make
Jyothi glad you like it. Thank you
Hi Swasthi
I tried Recipe 2 and it turned out delicious. As an adjustment I only added 4 mild dry red chillies and chopped the mushroom into small bits. Thank you so much… My kids are wary of mushrooms and this was an excellent way to get mushrooms consumed
Hello!
That’s awesome! Glad your kids ate it. Thank you!
🙂
Thanks for this! I combined the two recipes a bit – I followed the first recipe but left the almonds out of the onion/garlic-ginger masala. Instead I ground roasted almonds, dessicated coconut and sesame seeds and added at the end for a bit of crunch, and it turned out really well. It also passed the mom test – she approved, and she is an amazing cook. But the ultimate approval came from my son who, although American born, loves Indian food.
Excellent flavour! Best mushroom curry recipe I have tried
Do we need to remove all the black inside the mushrooms when washing. This takes a lot of time so is there an easy way out.
Thanks for sharing your recipes, almost all of them can be made by anybody who likes to cook. I have tried quite a few and it has never let me down. Thanks a lot!
Hi Beulah
No, just rinse them under running water and slice. Glad to know the recipes are helpful. Thank you!
🙂
My family Loved the mushroom masala.. bet tasty. Tastes like restaurant quality. Very less oil used. So tasty and healthy.
Glad to know Manju
Thank you!
Swasthi Mushroom masala recipe is very very tasty and easy to make. I made mushroom for the first time and due to her details with picture, I could make it easily.
I have tried few more recipes and I as well as my family loved each and every recipe of Swasthi.
Glad to know Priti
Thank you so much for leaving a comment.
🙂
Hi. Planning to try this recipe.. Cud you please tell me how much 1-1/2 cups mushrooms would be in grams. Thanks
Hi Rupa,
You can use about 180 to 200 grams
Thanks
Tried the first recipe today and it was so delicious and flavorful.Loved it.
Thanks Winnie