Methi Mushroom – Mushroom and Fenugreek (Methi) Curry

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I always enjoy a good alliteration, especially when I find one as tasty as this Methi Mushroom. This deliciously creamy methi curry is made using button mushrooms, fenugreek leaves, curd, herbs & spices for a lovely vegetarian take on a North Indian classic.

methi mushroom in a white bowl on a yellow napkin.

About This Methi Mushroom

My methi mushroom is a classic adaptation of the famous North Indian chicken dish known as methi murgh masala. The recipe is inspired from Jiggs Kalra’s book “Prashad – Cooking With Indian Masters.”

This finger licking curry is perfect for putting on party menus or for celebrating special occasions. It tastes incredible and is a real crowd pleaser, even for our omnivorous friends! It can also be made vegan friendly by swapping in a plant-based curd.

This restaurant style dish is very easy to make, requiring only patience and time rather than a defined set of kitchen skills. All the same, you should note that this is definitely not a curry in a hurry.

To make this methi curry recipe, the mushrooms are first marinated in yogurt and then cooked in the aromatic masala. The methi (fenugreek leaves) gives a beautiful aroma to the dish.

Instead of fresh methi, you can also make this dish with dry fenugreek leaves (Kasuri methi). The ratios are given in the recipe card below.

This mushroom methi curry goes very well with any kind of flatbread or carb-y side to soak it up; Roti, Naan, Paratha, or even Jeera Rice are all excellent accompaniments that are similarly easy to execute.

So if you’re still a kitchen novice but want to make something really impressive for your loved ones, give this methi mushroom curry a try (and let us know how it turns out in the comments below)!

Step-by-Step Guide

How To Make Methi Mushroom

Marinate Mushrooms

1. Rinse 200 to 250 gram mushrooms under running water to rid them of any mud, then drain the water very well.

rinsing button mushrooms in a colander.

2. Chop the mushrooms into quarters and keep aside.

quartered button mushrooms in a prep bowl.

3. In a bowl, mix together ¼ cup of curd (yogurt) and a pinch of salt; beat the curd till smooth.

NOTE: Please use full fat fresh curd or homemade curd made from whole milk so that it does not split or separate while cooking.

yogurt and salt whisked together in a small white bowl.

4. Add the curd to the chopped mushrooms.

yogurt added to quartered mushrooms.

5. Coat the mushrooms very well with the beaten curd. Cover and marinate for 30 to 40 minutes at room temperature.

mushrooms marinating in yogurt for making methi mushroom masala

Prep Methi

6. Meanwhile, pick the fenugreek leaves from their stems. If using fresh methi leaves, you’ll need around 1 cup, or you can also use 1 to 2 tablespoons of dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi).

fresh methi leaves in a large mug.

7. Soak in water for a minute or so, so that any dirt clinging to the leaves settles down at the bottom.

NOTE: This is not necessary if using kasuri methi.

soaking fresh methi in water.

8. Drain and discard the water.

draining methi above a colander to catch any stray leaves.

9. Soak the methi leaves for a second time.

soaking methi leaves for a second time.

10. Now drain and rinse the methi leaves well under running water till the leaves are clean.

rinsing methi leaves under running water in a colander.

11. Drain them in a colander.

washed and drained methi leaves in a colander.

12. Chop methi leaves finely. Keep aside.

bright green chopped methi leaves in a small white prep bowl.

13. Measure and keep all the ingredients ready.

ingredients for making mushroom methi recipe all measured out into white bowls on a black table.

Make Curry Base

14. Heat 3 tablespoons neutral flavored oil or ghee in a pan or kadai.

oil heating in a kadai.

15. Add the whole garam masala or spices as listed below:

  • 2 to 3 green cardamom pods
  • 1 inch cinnamon
  • 1 black cardamom
  • 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 1 to 2 single strands of mace
whole garam masala added to oil to bloom.

16. Fry the spices on low heat till the oil becomes fragrant and the spices splutter, being careful not to burn them.

tempering the spices in oil

17. Then add ½ cup chopped onions.

finely chopped onion added to whole masala in pan.

18. Mix very well and begin to sauté the onions on a low heat.

onions are becoming tender and translucent as they cook.

19. Stir at intervals as needed. Be patient as onions take time to get browned.

wooden spoon stirring the onions as they continue to cook.

20. Sauté until the onions begin to turn golden.

onions are now a deep golden color.

21. Immediately add 1 to 2 chopped green chilies or about 1 teaspoon chopped green chillies and ½ tablespoon ginger-garlic paste.

chiles and ginger garlic paste added to pan with onions and masala.

22. Mix very well and sauté for a minute.

stirring in the new additions.

23. Then add 3 medium-sized chopped tomatoes or about 1.25 to 1.5 cups chopped tomatoes.

tomatoes added to pan.

24. Mix well and sauté till the tomatoes become soft and mushy.

tomatoes are starting to break down and look slightly more orange in color.

25. Keep on stirring the masala.

tomatoes are well broken down at this point.

26. Add all the dry spice powders as listed below

  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder (ground coriander)
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder
dry spices added to the mix.

27. Stir and mix very well.

stirring in the new additions with a wooden spoon.

28. Sauté the tomatoes until they soften and oil leaves the sides of the chunky masala mixture.

tomato onion masala is well cooked, with oil releasing from the sides.

Make Mushroom Methi Curry

29. Lower the heat and add the marinated mushrooms with the yogurt.

yogurt marinated mushrooms added to the masala.

30. Next add the chopped methi leaves (or dry methi leaves).

methi leaves added on top of the mushrooms.

31. Mix well.

mushrooms and methi are well stirred into the masala.

32. Add about ¼ to ½ cup of water.

adding water.

33. Also add salt to taste, keeping in mind that some salt has been added during the marination process.

adding salt.

34. Stir and mix well.

stirring mushroom methi to combine.

35. Cover the pan or kadai and simmer till the mushrooms are cooked. This can take about 8 to 10 minutes on a low to medium-low heat.

lid on methi mushroom pan.

36. Check occasionally; if the consistency looks dry then add some more water.

stirring mushroom methi recipe to check water level.

37. Once the mushrooms are cooked and the curry has a medium consistency, then check the taste and season as needed.

mushroom methi recipe is bubbling on the stove and looks well cooked.

38. Garnish methi mushroom with some coriander leaves.

fresh coriander leaves added to complete mushroom methi recipe.

39. Serve methi mushroom hot with any Indian flatbread of your choice, or cumin rice if you are gluten-free.

methi mushroom in a white bowl on a yellow napkin.

FAQs

Can I use different types of mushrooms?

Absolutely! Button mushrooms are widely available, but feel free to substitute quartered baby bella/cremini mushrooms, shiitakes, or portobellos. Please note that some varieties of mushrooms should have their stems removed before chopping, as they are stiff and woody.

Can I use canned tomatoes?

Absolutely. Use either drained diced tomatoes, or use whole tomatoes that you chop yourself.

How long do the mushrooms take to cook?

You can tell that the mushrooms are done when you see oil specks floating on the top of the gravy; this takes about 8 to 10 minutes after adding the mushrooms to the masala base.

How do I keep the curd from splitting when I add it to the masala base?

When adding yogurt or curd to any dish, be sure to lower the flame and stir briskly while adding. Also, be sure that you are using fresh, full-fat curd – if the yogurt is a bit old or is a low-fat variety, it is more likely to split.

Can I add peas to the methi mushroom?

Sure! I suggest steaming the peas separately and stirring them in at the end, as peas and mushrooms cook at different rates.

My fenugreek leaves taste super bitter. Is this normal?

Sometimes methi can be bitter, but where I live this is not the norm. Next time you make the recipe, sprinkle some salt on the methi leaves and let them sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. After letting them rest, squeeze the leaves and the bitterness will be released.

If I use kasuri methi (dried fenugreek), do I still need to soak the leaves?

Nope! Simply skip that step and proceed with the recipe as written.

More Tasty Curry Recipes

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methi mushroom in a white bowl on a yellow napkin

Methi Mushroom | Mushroom Methi Curry

Methi mushroom is a delicious vegetarian curry made with button mushrooms, fenugreek leaves, curd, aromatics, tomatoes, herbs and spices. Serve with roti, rice or naan for a hearty meal.
4.94 from 31 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cuisine North Indian, Punjabi
Course Main Course
Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 4
Units

Ingredients

Main ingredients

  • 200 to 250 grams button mushrooms
  • ¼ cup Curd (yogurt), fresh and full-fat or made with whole milk
  • 1 cup fenugreek leaves (methi leaves) or 1 to 2 tablespoons dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
  • 3 tablespoons oil or ghee
  • ½ cup chopped onions or 1 medium-sized onion
  • 1 or 2 green chili – sliced or chopped or 1 teaspoon chopped
  • ½ tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
  • 3 tomatoes – medium-sized, chopped or 1.25 to 1.5 cups chopped tomatoes
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder (ground coriander)
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
  • salt as required
  • ¼ to ½ cup water or add as required

Whole spices

  • 2 to 3 green cardamoms
  • 1 inch cinnamon
  • 1 black cardamom
  • 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 1 to 2 single strands of mace – optional

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Rinse the mushrooms in running water a few times and get rid of the mud from them. Drain all the water very well. 
  • Chop them and keep aside.
  • In a bowl take ¼ cup curd and a pinch of salt to it. Beat the curd with a small wired whisk till smooth. Use full fat fresh curd so that the curd does not split while cooking.
  • Add the mushrooms to the curd and marinate for 30 to 40 minutes.
  • Meanwhile pluck the fenugreek leaves from their stems.
  • In a bowl soak the leaves in water for 4 to 5 minutes so that the mud etc from the leaves settles down at the bottom.
  • Throw the water and again soak the leaves for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Now rinse the methi leaves well under running water till the leaves are clean and the mud particles are not there.
  • Drain them in a colander. Chop the methi leaves finely.

Making methi mushroom

  • Heat oil or ghee in a pan or kadai (wok).
  • Add the whole spices – black cardamom, cinnamon, green cardamoms, cloves, tej patta and mace.
  • Fry the spices till the oil becomes fragrant and the spices splutter. Don't burn them. Fry spices on a low heat.
  • Add onions and stirring often sauté them on low to medium-low heat till they begin to get golden.
  • Be patient as onions do take time to get browned. Keep stirring the onions in between.
  • Once the onions begin to get golden brown, add chopped green chilies and ginger-garlic paste. Sauté for a minute on low heat.
  • Now add the tomatoes. Sauté them on low to medium-low heat till they become soft and mushy. Keep on stirring the masala base.
  • Add all the dry spice powders – turmeric, coriander and red chili powder. Mix well. 
  • Then sauté stirring often till oil leaves from the sides of the whole masala mixture.
  • Lower the heat and add the marinated mushrooms.
  • Also add the chopped methi leaves or dry methi leaves (kasuri methi). Mix again. 
  • Add about ¼ to ½ cup of water. Also add salt as per taste. Do keep in mind that some salt has been added to the marination. 
  • Stir, cover the pan or kadai and simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes on low heat till the mushrooms are tender and cooked.
  • Do check in between and if the consistency looks dry then add some more water.
  • Once the mushrooms are cooked and the curry has a medium consistency then check the taste and add salt if required. 
  • Garnish methi mushroom with some chopped coriander leaves.
  • Serve methi mushroom hot or warm with roti or naan.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Methi Mushroom | Mushroom Methi Curry
Amount Per Serving
Calories 186 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 424mg18%
Potassium 463mg13%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 864IU17%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 20mg24%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 5mg33%
Vitamin K 9µg9%
Calcium 46mg5%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 28µg7%
Iron 2mg11%
Magnesium 24mg6%
Phosphorus 120mg12%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This Methi Mushroom post from the blog archives first published in August 2012 has been republished and updated on 21 January 2022.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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