veg kofta recipe with step by step photos – delicious and creamy restaurant style mix veg kofta curry recipe.
making any kofta based gravy takes time. first the kofta have to be made and then the gravy or curry. usually i prepare everything in one go. but if short of time, you can either make the curry base or the kofta mixture a day before and refrigerate.
this veg kofta curry recipe is similar to the malai kofta recipe i have shared on blog. it is a rich gravy so best meant for special occasions or for an indulgent weekend lunch or dinner.
you can make the curry first or the kofta first. usually i prepare the curry first and then prepare the kofta. then pour the curry in a serving bowl. place the kofta and then garnish.
veg kofta gravy goes best with chapatis or rotis or naan or rumali roti. you can also serve with matar pulao or jeera rice.
how to make veg kofta recipe
for ease of understanding i have divided this post into 3 main steps:
- step 1 – making kofta mixture
- step 2 – frying veg kofta
- step 3 – making veg kofta curry
lets start with step 1 – making kofta mixture
1. firstly either grate or mince veggies in a food processor or a food chopper or with a grater. you will need 1 small to medium carrot, 1 medium-sized capsicum (bell pepper), 1 small to medium potato, 1.25 cups chopped cauliflower florets and ⅓ cup green peas.
2. make a coarse mince of the veggies. i have used raw green peas and minced it along with the other veggies. if you do not have a food processor or food chopper, then boil or steam peas, potatoes, carrots and cauliflower separately. drain of all the water. then mash very well and add to finely chopped capsicum.
3. take the veggie mixture in a bowl.
4. add ¼ cup grated cheese or paneer. you can use cheddar cheese or processed cheese. you can also skip adding cheese or paneer.
5. then add ¼ teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder, ¼ teaspoon coriander powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder.
6. next add ½ cup besan (gram flour) and salt as per taste.
7. mix very well. if the mixture appears too light and watery, then add some more besan. check the taste and add more spices and salt if required.
8. make small to medium sized balls from this veggie mixture. if you are not able to shape into balls, then add some water and make a pakora batter consistency. then fry the kofta like the way pakoras are fried.
frying kofta
9. heat oil for deep frying in a pan. add a small tiny piece of the veggie ball and see if it breaks in oil or not. if it breaks or bursts in oil, then add more besan. the amount of besan to be added depends on the moisture content in the veggies. if using vegetables with high water content like bottle gourd (lauki), cabbage, zucchini or pumpkin etc, then add some salt in the grated veggies. mix very well and keep aside for 15 to 20 minutes. then squeeze the excess water. keep this water and add later to the gravy.
10. if the veggie ball does not break, then you can easily start frying the kofta. keep the flame to medium and gently slid the kofta in the hot oil.
11. add as much depending on the size and capacity of the kadai or pan. do not overcrowd.
12. turn only when one side is golden or else the kofta can break.
13. turn over a couple of times for even frying. fry till all the kofta are crisp and golden.
14 remove with a slotted spoon and place the fried veg kofta on kitchen paper towels.
15. prepare all veg kofta this way and keep aside.
preparation to make veg kofta curry
1. in a food processor or chopper or blender/grinder jar, take 12 cashews (kaju).
2. add 3 tablespoons water and grind to a smooth paste. you can soak cashews for 20 minutes in hot water also before blending. alternatively you can even make a fine cashew powder instead of paste. remove cashew paste and keep aside.
3. in the same processor or chopper or grinder, take 1.3 cups roughly chopped onions, 1 green chilli, ½ tablespoon roughly chopped garlic and ½ tablespoon roughly chopped ginger.
4. without adding any water, grind to a semi fine or a smooth paste. keep aside.
5. in the same processor or chopper or grinder, take 1 cup tightly packed chopped tomatoes.
6. without adding any water, grind to a semi fine or a smooth puree. remove and keep aside.
making veg kofta curry
7. heat 3 tablespoons oil or ghee in a pan or thick bottomed kadai. add 1 tej patta, 1 inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 1 black cardamom and 2 single strands of mace. sauté for a few seconds till the spices splutter.
8. then add the onion paste.
9. mix and begin to sauté the onion paste on a low to medium flame stirring often.
10. sautéing onion paste takes a lot of time, so add a pinch of salt to quicken the cooking process.
11. sauté till the onion paste turns golden.
12. then add the tomato puree.
13. mix very well.
14. next add the cashew paste.
15. mix again and sauté this masala for 2 to 3 minutes on a low to medium flame stirring often.
16. then add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or ¼ teaspoon regular red chili powder. mix very well.
17. keep the flame to a low and then add 3 tablespoons fresh curd or yogurt.
18. stir briskly and quickly while you are adding the fresh curd. mix very well.
19. now sauté this masala, till you see oil or ghee releasing from the sides. the whole masala will reduce and you can easily see oil releasing from the masala.
20. now add 1.5 cups water or add as required. for a thicker gravy, you can add 1 to 1.25 cups water. if serving veg kofta gravy with chapatis or rotis, then keep the gravy slightly thick. if serving veg kofta gravy with rice, then keep the gravy slightly thin or with medium consistency.
21. season with salt.
22. bring the veg kofta curry to a simmer on low to medium flame for 6 to 7 minutes. once the kofta curry is done, it will be reduced slightly and you will see specks of oil floating on top.
23. add ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder, ¼ teaspoon kasuri methi (crushed) and 2 tablespoons low fat cream. mix very well. cream is optional and can be skipped.
24. switch off the flame and add 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves. mix again. do not add kofta in the hot curry or gravy as they break.
25. now take the curry in a serving bowl or dish.
26. place the kofta on the curry. garnish veg kofta curry with some chopped coriander leaves, grated paneer or cheese and cream. serve veg kofta curry with chapatis, naan or jeera rice or plain paratha.
more curry recipes
veg kofta recipe
INGREDIENTS
for cashew paste
- 12 cashews (kaju)
- 3 tablespoons water, for grinding cashews
for onion paste
- 180 grams onions OR 2 large onions or 1.3 cups roughly chopped onions
- 1 green chilli (hari mirch)
- 5 grams garlic (lahsun) OR 3 to 4 medium size garlic cloves or 1/2 tablespoon roughly chopped garlic
- 5 grams ginger (adrak) OR 1 inch ginger or 1/2 tablespoon roughly chopped ginger
for tomato puree
- 125 grams tomatoes OR 1 large tomato or 1 cup tightly packed chopped tomatoes
for making kofta
- 70 grams carrot (gajar) OR 1 small to medium carrot
- 85 grams capsicum OR 1 medium sized capsicum (bell pepper or shimla mirch)
- 75 grams potato OR 1 small to medium potato
- 115 grams cauliflower (phool gobi) OR 1.25 cups chopped cauliflower florets
- 1/3 cup green peas (matar)
- ¼ cup grated processed cheese or grated paneer - (OPTIONAL)
- ¼ teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon coriander powder (dhania powder)
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder (kali mirch powder)
- ½ cup besan or add as required
- salt as required
- oil for deep frying, as required
ingredients for veg kofta curry
- 3 tablespoons oil or ghee
- 1 tej patta (indian bay leaf)
- 1 inch cinnamon (dalchini)
- 2 green cardamoms (chotti elaichi)
- 1 black cardamom (badi elaichi)
- 2 single strands of mace (javitri)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
- ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or 1/4 teaspoon regular red chili powder
- 3 tablespoons fresh curd (dahi or yogurt)
- 1.5 cups water or add as required
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
- 2 tablespoons low fat cream - 25% to 35% fat
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (dhania patta)
- salt as required
garnish
- some chopped coriander leaves
- 1 tablespoon low fat cream
- some grated cheese or paneer
INSTRUCTIONS
making kofta mixture
- firstly either grate or mince veggies in a food processor or a food chopper or with a grater.
- make a coarse mince of the veggies. i have used raw green peas and minced it along with the other veggies. if you do not have a food processor or chopper, then boil or steam peas, potatoes and cauliflower separately. drain of all the water. then mash very well and add to finely chopped capsicum.
- if using vegetables with high water content like bottle gourd (lauki), cabbage, zucchini or pumpkin etc, then add some salt in the grated veggies. mix very well and keep aside for 15 to 20 minutes. then squeeze the excess water. keep this water and add later to the gravy.
- take the veggie mixture in a bowl.
- add ¼ cup grated cheese or paneer. you can use cheddar cheese or processed cheese. you can also skip adding cheese or paneer.
- then add ¼ teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder, ¼ teaspoon coriander powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder, ½ cup besan and salt as per taste.
- mix very well. if the mixture appears too light and watery, then add some more besan. check the taste and add more spices and salt if required.
- make small to medium sized balls from this veggie mixture. if you are not able to shape into balls, then add some water and make a pakora batter consistency. then fry the koftas like the way pakoras are fried.
frying veg kofta
- heat oil for deep frying in a pan. add a small tiny piece of the veggie ball and see if it breaks in oil or not. if it breaks or bursts in oil, then add more besan. the amount of besan to be added depends on the moisture content in the veggies.
- if the veggie ball does not break, then you can easily start frying the kofta. keep the flame to medium and gently slid the kofta in the hot oil. add as much depending on the size and capacity of the kadai or pan. do not over crowd.
- turn only when one side is golden or else the kofta can break.
- turn over a couple of times for even frying. fry till all the veg kofta are crisp and golden.
- remove with a slotted spoon and place the fried veg kofta on kitchen paper towels. keep aside.
preparing cashew paste for kofta curry
- in a food processor or chopper or blender/grinder jar, take 12 cashews (kaju). add 3 tablespoons water and grind to a smooth paste. remove cashew paste and keep aside.
preparing onion paste for kofta curry
- in the same processor or chopper or grinder, take 1.3 cups roughly chopped onions, 1 green chilli (chopped), ½ tablespoon roughly chopped garlic and ½ tablespoon roughly chopped ginger.
- without adding any water, grind to a semi fine or a smooth paste. keep aside.
preparing tomato puree for kofta curry
- in the same processor or chopper or grinder, take 1 cup tightly packed chopped tomatoes.
- without adding any water, grind to a semi fine or a smooth puree. remove and keep aside.
making veg kofta curry
- heat 3 tablespoons oil or ghee in a pan or thick bottomed kadai. add 1 tej patta, 1 inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 1 black cardamom and 2 single strands of mace. sauté for a few seconds till the spices splutter.
- then add the onion paste.
- mix and begin to sauté the onion paste on a low to medium flame stirring often.
- sautéing onion paste takes a lot of time, so add a pinch of salt to quicken the cooking process.
- sauté till the onion paste turns golden.
- then add the tomato puree and mix very well.
- next add the cashew paste.
- mix again and sauté this masala for 2 to 3 minutes on a low to medium flame stirring often.
- then add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or ¼ teaspoon regular red chili powder. mix very well.
- keep the flame to a low and then add 3 tablespoons fresh curd or yogurt.
- stir briskly and quickly while you are adding the fresh curd. mix very well.
- now sauté this masala, till you see oil or ghee releasing from the sides. the whole masala will reduce and you can easily see oil releasing from the masala.
- now add 1.5 cups water or add as required. for a thicker veg kofta gravy, you can add 1 to 1.25 cups water.
- season with salt.
- bring the veg kofta gravy to a simmer on low to medium flame for 6 to 7 minutes. once the gravy is done, it will be reduced slightly and you will see specks of oil floating on top.
- add ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder, ¼ teaspoon kasuri methi (crushed) and 2 tablespoons low fat cream. mix very well. cream is optional and can be skipped.
- switch off the flame and add 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves. mix again. do not add koftas in the hot curry as they break.
serving veg kofta curry
- now take the kofta curry in a serving bowl or dish.
- place the kofta on the curry. garnish with some chopped coriander leaves, grated paneer or cheese and cream.
- serve veg kofta curry with chapatis, naan or jeera rice.
Should we boil the veggies before grinding them?
no need to boil the vegetables. in the recipe, they are minced or grated raw in a food chopper or food processor. but if you do not have a food chopper of food processor, then you can then boil or steam peas, carrots, potatoes and cauliflower separately. drain all the water. then mash and add to finely chopped capsicum.
Hello Dassana!
This koftacurry is so wonderful.Actually I did not do the koftas so I bought vegetarian meatballs. I have a question here: Do you have a mixer to recommend that really fit indian cooking? My mixer pretty strong Wilfa is difficult to mix for example onions without water…it get’s stuck.
Regards from Eva Stockholm
Fantastic koftacurry! Do you have any suggestions on a really good mixer for indian cooking. I have a strong wilfa bu5 it does not tolerate to mix certain things without any liquid like the chopped onions…
Grateful for your point of wiew!
Eva Stockholm Sweden
thanks eva for the rating as well as feedback on veg kofta recipe. i am using preethi mixer grinder blue leaf brand (750 watts). i am using this one for about 5 to 6 years now. i do all the heavy grinding like making idli or dosa batter, grinding spices, coconut etc with this mixer grinder. you will find it on amazon. read the reviews also before buying.
Can egg be used for binding of the koftas (prior to frying or baking) to make them less likely to break in the curry?
yes egg can be used for binding.
Can v use anything else instead besan as some of my family members should not eat besan
prasanna, you can use maida (all purpose flour) or a mix of both maida and corn flour. you can even add rice flour, maida, corn starch in equal proportions. bread crumbs can also be added. you can even wet a few bread slices in water. then squeeze all the water from the slices and then add them. basically some binding is required. otherwise the kofta will break while frying in oil.
Hi,
looks amazing. is it possible to bake the kofta instead of frying? if yes, could you please let me know the procedure?
you can easily bake koftas instead of frying. bake in prehated oven at 180 degrees celsiis till the top becomes golden. brush some oil on the koftas before baking. you can check this method with step by step pics where i have baked veg kababs. recipe link here – https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/veg-kabab-recipe/
this came out well. I recently had koftas in spinach gravy… can u try to add that?
thanks shilpa. will add this version also.
It is taking a long time to download a recipe.
you mean on the app or in the website?
Woha,,,, what a lovely dish.. i have tried from other method and it didn’t came out well.
I will surely gonna try this.. so yummmm,,,
Pinks, do try the recipe. I am sure you will like it.