Veg Kolhapuri recipe with step by step photos – this spicy and tasty mixed vegetable based dish has its origin in Kolhapur, a historical city in south Maharashtra. Kolhapuri cuisine is known for its hot, spicy and pungent flavors. However, not all the food from the Kolhapuri cuisine is spicy & robust.
I have been to Kolhapur many times and have got the opportunity to savor the authentic vegetarian Kolhapuri cuisine. From the spicy vada pav on the roadside to chili pitla (spicy gram flour based dish) and the famous & fiery Kolhapuri misal (sprouted moth beans curry). We have also had Kolhapuri dal and it was a spicy dal. On occasions we even had Kolhapuri thalis there.
Last time, on a visit there, I got the Kolhapuri kanda lasun masala (onion-garlic masala). This spice blend is so good that it simply perks up the flavor of the recipe in which it is added. I have added it many times to vegetables and dal (lentils) dishes.
In Kolhapur, I never came across vegetable Kolhapuri. at least in the restaurants and hotels we stayed and went, there was never a mention of this particular dish. Though, I have seen veg Kolhapuri mentioned in the menu of North Indian restaurants.
This recipe of veg Kolhapuri is inspired from one of the hot dishes from the Kolhapuri cuisine – Tambda rassa. Tambda means ‘red’ and rassa means ‘thin curry or gravy’.
Tambda rassa is actually a non vegetarian dish which make use of the bold and fiery Kolhapuri masala. One of the ingredients of the authentic Kolhapuri masala is red chili powder made from lavangi chilies. these chilies are small, but very hot.
For this veg Kolhapuri recipe, I have toned down the fieriness by not using lavangi mirchi. Instead I have added byadagi chilies, which give a deep color and are low in heat. You can also add Kashmiri red chilies. So depending on the type of red chili added, you can increase or decrease the elements of heat and pungency in this dish.
The Kolhapuri masala is freshly made for the curry. So you don’t need to have ready-made store bought Kolhapuri masala. Though, if you have it, I have mentioned the amount in the notes section of recipe details, towards the end of the post. For the Kolhapuri masala, I referred to some of the cookbooks, which I got from kolhapur.
Add any veggies of your choice. Vegetable Kolhapuri is best served with chapatis, bajra bhakri or jowar bhakri, phulkas and even parathas. We even had it with bread.
The recipe is spicy and has some heat which most Indians can tolerate. But if you do not prefer spicy food, then cut down on the dry red chilies, garlic and ginger. You can also check this Paneer Kolhapuri which is adapted from this recipe and also not made very spicy.
On a side note, Whenever you visit Kolhapur, do make a point to visit the most revered Mahalakshmi temple, which is one of the Shaktipeethas in Maharashtra. You can also visit Siddhagiri or Kaneri math, Kopeshwar (Lord Shiva temple), Narsobawadi (Lord Dattatreya temple on the confluence of rivers Krishna and Panchganga), Jyotiba temple and the Rankala lake. We visited all the places except the Kopeshwar temple.
Please note that some of the pics are taken in tungsten lighting in the kitchen. Hence you will see a yellow hue on some pics.
How to make Veg Kolhapuri
1. Firstly, rinse, peel and cut the vegetables into thick strips or batons. Place them in a steamer pan. I have used the following vegetables:
- 1 medium size potato
- 8 to 10 French beans
- ⅓ cup cup chopped cauliflower florets
- 1 medium carrot or 2 small carrots
- ⅓ cup green peas
- 1 medium yellow/red bell pepper or green capsicum
2. Then steam the veggies in an electric cooker, steamer or pressure cooker.
3. The veggies have to be completely cooked and yet retain their shape.
4. When the veggies are steaming, gather all the ingredients required for making Kolhapuri masala. Listed below all the ingredients for pictorial purpose only.
Please note if you don’t have stone flower (patthar phool) and cobra’s saffron (nagkesar) then its fine. You can also skip poppy seeds (khus khus) as its not available in some countries.
Making Kolhapuri masala
5. Heat a pan and dry roast the spices first – cinnamon, cloves, black peppers, coriander, cumin, stone flower, tej patta, nagkesar (cobra’s saffron), red chilies, nutmeg powder, green cardamoms and black cardamom seeds.
6. Once the spices become fragrant, then add poppy seeds, sesame seeds and desiccated coconut.
7. Stir continuously and dry roast till the coconut gets golden.
8. Once the spices mixture cools, then take them in a dry grinder or coffee grinder.
9. Grind to a fine powder. A slight semi fine powder is also fine. The sesame seeds and coconut will release oil while grinding. So you have to scrape the sides of the masala and grind. If difficult to grind, then add some water and make a fine paste.
Making veg Kolhapuri
10. Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onions.
11. Saute the onions stirring often till they are light golden or golden.
12. Add ginger and garlic paste.
13. Stir and then add chopped coriander leaves. Stir and saute till the raw aroma of the ginger garlic goes away.
14. Next add chopped tomatoes. Saute till the tomatoes soften and you see oil leaving the sides.
15. Then add turmeric powder, red chili powder and asafoetida (hing).
16. Stir and then add chopped bell pepper/caspiscum. You can also skip capsicum if you prefer.
17. Stir and saute till the capsicum is about cooked and yet having a slight crunch.
18. Add the ground Kolhapuri masala.
19. Stir and then add water. Season with salt according to taste.
20. Bring the curry to a simmer.
21. When you see some oil floating on top, add the steamed veggies.
22. Stir and simmer for two minutes. The consistency of the curry is slightly thin. Check the taste and add more salt if required. If there is less salt, the flavor and taste of the spices do not come through.
23. Lastly add chopped coriander leaves and give a final stir. You can also garnish with the chopped coriander leaves.
24. Serve veg Kolhapuri hot with soft phulkas or parathas or bhakris. You can also serve this spicy curry with bread and steamed rice or jeera rice.
More Veg curry recipes
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Veg Kolhapuri
Ingredients
for kolhapuri masala
- 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds (safed til)
- ½ teaspoon poppy seeds (khus khus)
- 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut
- 4 to 5 whole black pepper
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 2 cloves
- 2 single strands of mace (javitri)
- 4 to 5 fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
- 1 pinch grated nutmeg (jaiphal)
- 1 small stone flower (patthar phool or dagad phool) – optional
- 1 cobra saffron (nagkesar) – optional
- 1 green cardamom
- seeds of 1 black cardamom
- 3 dried red chilies byadgi or bedgi or Kashmiri red chilies
- 1 medium bay leaf (tej patta)
other ingredients for veg kolhapuri
- ½ cup potato sticks or batons or 1 medium size potato
- ¼ cup French beans batons or 8 to 10 French beans
- ⅓ cup chopped cauliflower florets
- ⅓ cup green peas
- ⅓ cup carrot sticks or batons – about 2 small carrots or 1 medium carrot
- ⅓ cup chopped bell pepper about 1 medium green capsicum or red or yellow bell pepper
- 1 medium tomato or ¼ cup finely chopped tomatoes
- 1 large onion or ½ cup finely chopped onions
- 5 garlic + 1 inch ginger – crushed to paste in a mortar-pestle, about ¾ tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
- 1 to 1.25 cups water or about 250 ml to 275 ml water
- 2 to 2.5 tablespoon oil
- some coriander leaves for garnishing
- salt as required
Instructions
preparation
- First, rinse, peel and cut the vegetables into thick strips or batons. Place them in a steamer pan.
- Then steam the vegetables in an electric cooker, steamer or pressure cooker.
- The vegetables have to be completely cooked and yet retain their shape.
- While the vegetables are steaming, gather all the ingredients required for making Kolhapuri masala.
making kolhapuri masala
- Heat a pan on low heat and dry roast the spices – cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, stone flower, mace strands, pinch of nutmeg powder, bay leaf, cobra saffron, red chilies, green cardamoms and black cardamom seeds. Skip stone flower, cobra saffron and poppy seeds, if you don't have these.
- Once the spices become fragrant, then add poppy seeds, sesame seeds and desiccated coconut.
- Stir continuously and dry roast till the desiccated coconut turns golden.
- Once the spice mixture cools, then take them in a dry grinder or coffee grinder.
- Grind to a fine powder. A slight semi fine powder is also fine. The sesame seeds and coconut will release oil while grinding. Make sure to keep scraping the sides of the grinder jar and grind further. If you are finding it difficult to grind, add some water to make a fine paste.
making veg kolhapuri
- Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onions.
- Sauté the onions till they turn light golden or golden.
- Add ginger-garlic paste.
- Stir and then add chopped coriander leaves. Stir and sauté till the raw aroma of the ginger-garlic goes away.
- Next, add chopped tomatoes.
- Sauté till the tomatoes soften and you see oil leaving the sides of the pan.
- Add turmeric powder, red chili powder and asafoetida.
- Stir and then add chopped bell pepper/capsicum. You can also skip capsicum if you prefer.
- Stir and sauté till the bell pepper is half cooked and yet have a slight crunch. About 5 to 6 minutes on a low heat.
- Add the ground Kolhapuri masala.
- Stir and sauté for some seconds.
- Then add water. Season with salt as per taste.
- Bring the curry to a simmer.
- When you see some oil floating on top, add the steamed vegetables.
- Stir and simmer the gravy for about 2 minutes.
- Lastly, add chopped coriander leaves and give a final stir. You can also garnish with the coriander leaves.
- Serve Veg Kolhapuri hot with soft chapatis, phulkas or parathas. You can also serve this spicy curry with bread and steamed rice.
Notes
- If you have readymade Kolhapuri kanda-lasun masala or the Kolhapuri masala, then add about 2 to 2½ tablespoons of it.
- The elements of heat and pungency in this Veg Kolhapuri can be increased or decreased depending on the type of red chili added.
- Any vegetables of your choice can be added in this dish. The vegetables should be cooked completely, yet retain their shape.
- In case you don’t have stone flower, cobra saffron or poppy seeds, you can skip using them.
This Veg Kolhapuri post from the blog archives first published in November 2014 has been updated and republished on December 2022.
I have used many recipes from your website and every time I feel so good that out of so many again I choose your website. Whatever I tried till date from your website was always a hit. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much and happy to know. Glad to read your comment. Most welcome!
It’s healthy and tasty veg dish !
Easy to make also
Thank you 🙏
Nice, superb. It should be delicious as well as nutritious. Thanks.
thanks. yes, veg kolhapuri is very delicious and nutritious too.
Hi Desena
I used several recipes from your website. Each and every one came out good. My husband loves your website. This is 3rd time I am going to make kolhapuri veg. I have no words to thank you. For me it is blessing to have your website.
Vina
thank you vina. glad to read your review on the recipes as well as veg kolhapuri. wish you all the best and thanks again.
I love this recipe, thank you very much for sharing it!
thanks for the feedback and rating. welcome.
If we have Kanda Lahsun masala
What are the ingredients to skip from your list ..
Thanking you
skip the entire kolhapuri masala preparation and just add the kanda lasun masala. you can add 2 to 2.5 tablespoon of it.
Very nice and tasty
thank you jaafer 🙂
I tried dis recipe n d outcome was amazing. But der was a ting of bitterness in d aftertaste. I tried eliminating it by adding 1/2 cup of milk n simmering it for more mins.
thanks. tinge of bitterness could be due sesame seeds or poppy seeds which are no longer fresh or on have gone past their shelf life. but adding milk idea was good one and has saved the recipe.
Made it today.it turned yummy, just added lil extra water so gravy became thin. Otherwise taste was good.
Thank you for sharing another yummy recipe! Made this today and will defintely be making this again : )
sure tanusha thankyou so much 🙂
this looks yum!
i am abt to prepare it tomm.
one question: can i use black poppy seeds? i do not have wite ones.
Thank you.
yes you can use black poppy seeds. the color of the gravy will change though.
Perfect 🙂
thankyou pratikshya 🙂
Hi it is very very good recipe and clear I like it
thankyou kamal 🙂
Hi ,this recipe is perfect. Made it yesterday for 30 people.Everyone loved it. Since my friends wanted pander in it, I added some to it. Your presentation and step wise description is awesome. Thanks for the lovely recipe. God bless you.
welcome sonali. thanks for sharing positive feedback.
Was always looking for restaurant style vegetables. this was awesome. Getting the spices is a task though. Is it ok if the dry spices are made in bulk and kept in the fridge, so that the dry roasting is not necessary the next time around?
thanks vinay. you can keep the roasted dry spices in the fridge. but in this recipe i would suggest to stick to the proportion. because if you double or triple the spices then the taste and balance will get affected.
Hi DASSANA
I have become an avid reader of ur recipes recently. I have almost tried making most of ur vegetarian dishes as I am a vegetarian especially the north Indian and Punjabi dishes published by u an. Almost all the dishes turned out to be yummy. My family members enjoyed it
thanks to u
whatever dishes we used to eat in the restaurant, now I can make it. I feel delighted
even the picturesque representation along with every steps makes it user friendly.
thanks a ton for the recipes
God Bless
welcome shreeja. glad to know this. thanks for sharing your positive feedback on recipes and for your prayers.
Very nice veg
Made this recipe tonight and it was so yummy. Really like the complex spice mixture, where everything is in harmony and no one flavor leaps out on the taste buds. The only change I made was to use chick peas (instead of the green beans) for a protein boost. Excellent directions and photos… thanks.
welcome Cj. nice to know that you liked the flavors in the recipe.
Hi
Tried your recipe today. It came out really great. Very hot and spicy. Just like how we get in the restaurant.
I have tried your gobi masala too. It became my husband’s favorite curry. Very tasty.
Thanks for sharing so easy to follow pictorial recipes.
welcome swati. thanks for sharing positive feedback. yes, it is a spicy dish. kolhapur is known for its spicy food.
Hi,
I am very curious to try this recipe tomorrow for lunch. Sounds really mouthwatering so just wish me luck
all the best. happy cooking 🙂
Tried it and it was a definite success. Will be trying out few more of your recipes in the coming weeks.
thanks sonal
Hi dasana, I made this today. It was very tasty n restaurant like.. Every one in my family loved this. Thx.
,
welcome sneha
What a recipe!! Mouthwatering and yummy.
I made this recipe for dinner yesterday, served with bhakhari and … guess what ?? Everybody in the family liked it too much…..Thanks Dassana ….Keep on doing the good work
thanks krupali for sharing the feedback and your experience. glad to know 🙂
Hi Dassana, Great recipe as usual ! Is the kolhapuri masala similar to goda masala ? In which case can goda masala substitute kohapuri masala ??
thanks radhika. both are different in terms of aroma and flavor. the kolhapuri masala is very spicy and hot. goda masala has sweet tones and even smells sweet. usually fried onions, garlic and coriander leaves are added to the basic kolhapuri masala and this is called the kanda lasun masala (onion garlic masala). goda masala is a actually a satvik no onion no garlic masala, that the marathi brahmins prepare. from what i have read, its origin is in pune. if you go outside of pune, then the kanda lasun masala is mostly prepared. in this recipe though, you can use goda masala. since i have not added onions, garlic & coriander leaves to the masala powder. i have added them to the gravy. so for this recipe, goda masala would work.
Thanks Dassana. I will definitely make this recipe and let you know how it turns out ! 🙂
welcome radhika.