Indian Butter Spiced Potatoes and Cauliflower (Printer-Friendly)

Tender vegetables in rich buttery tomato sauce infused with aromatic Indian spices

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 small green chili, finely chopped (optional)

→ Sauce & Dairy

07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
09 - 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
10 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
11 - 1/4 cup water

→ Spices

12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
13 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
14 - 1 teaspoon garam masala
15 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
16 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
17 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
18 - 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
19 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

20 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
21 - Lemon wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and golden, about 5 minutes.
02 - Stir in the garlic, ginger, and green chili. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Toast the spices for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
04 - Pour in the crushed tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, letting the sauce thicken slightly.
05 - Add the potatoes and cauliflower. Stir well to coat the vegetables in the sauce.
06 - Add water, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes and cauliflower are tender.
07 - Lower the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to become rich and creamy.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with lemon wedges, basmati rice, or naan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce achieves that perfect restaurant quality richness without needing any fancy techniques or hard to find ingredients
  • Its incredibly forgiving and actually tastes better the next day as the spices continue to develop
  • You get all the warming satisfaction of butter chicken but in a completely vegetarian package that everyone will love
02 -
  • Letting the spices toast in the hot oil before adding any liquid is what transforms them from dusty powder into something vibrant and alive
  • The cream should be added at the very end and never brought to a rolling boil or it might separate and ruin that silky texture
03 -
  • Use room temperature cream and stir it in slowly rather than dumping it all at once to prevent any separation issues
  • Make a double batch of the spice blend and store it in a jar for next time, you'll be glad you did