Aloo Gobi / Potato Cauliflower Curry

Aloo gobi recipe with step-by-step photos.

About this recipe

Aloo gobi (potato cauliflower curry) is a classic vegetarian Indian dish and one of the most common dish on the Indian restaurant menu as part of main courses. This popular Indian dish is made with potato (aloo), cauliflower (gobi), and spices. This potato cauliflower curry recipe can be made in different ways. Both the vegetables soak up the flavors really well, resulting in a very delicious curry.

There are several ways of making Punjabi aloo gobi, the most common one being cooking them in an onion-tomato masala base. It can also be made without onion, or without using onion or tomatoes. In my simple recipe here, I am making it in an onion-tomato base.

I also like to pan-fry the potatoes and cauliflower before adding them to the masala. This will not only enhance the taste of the final dish, but it will also make sure the vegetables do not turn mushy and retain their texture (especially the cauliflower).

Serve this hearty and comforting curry with plain basmati, and pulao, or pair it with roti and dal fry. Add a side dish of plain yogurt, vegetable raita, or kachumber for a delicious meal. Made with simple ingredients and very basic spice powders, this comforting dish is perfect for weekday meals and lunch boxes.

Read on for ingredients, tips, and serving suggestions for this delicious aloo gobi. Find my full collection of Indian potato recipes here.

Ingredients

Cauliflower and potatoes: These are the main ingredients of this dish. Choose cauliflower that has a firm and tight head. Keep the size of the florets even so that they can cook evenly. Cut the potatoes into medium-sized cubes.

Onion and tomato: They form the base of the curry. Either red or yellow onion can be used. I use tomatoes in two forms - fresh tomatoes and pureed tomatoes. Using pureed tomatoes is optional but it adds a nice color to the curry.

Spices: The whole spice I use is cumin seeds. The powdered spices I use are chili powder, ground turmeric, amchur (dry mango powder), ground coriander, and garam masala.

Ginger, garlic, and green chili: Do not cut down on ginger and garlic as they make the curry very flavourful. Adjust the green chili as per your preference.

Green peas: Although green peas are an optional ingredient, I highly recommend adding them. It adds taste and texture, as well as is a good source of vegetarian protein to this dish.

Step-by-step instructions

Heat a large pan or kadhai and add 1 tablespoon oil. Add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (step 1).

Add the potato cubes and lightly fry on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, until they are light brown. Set them aside in a small bowl (step 2).

Now in the same pan, add 1 teaspoon oil and ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder. Add cauliflower florets to hot oil and fry on medium high heat until they are light brown. Set them aside (step 3).

In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Next, add onion and fry until lightly golden (step 4).

Add ginger, garlic, and green chilli. Fry for 1-2 minutes until the raw smell goes (steps 5, 6).

Now add tomatoes and tomato puree. Add red chili powder, coriander powder, amchur, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, and salt. Let it cook on medium heat until the tomatoes are soft and mushy, and the oil begins to separate (steps 7, 8).

Scrape the sides of the pan. Add 2 cups of water and fried potatoes. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are half cooked (step 9). Adding hot water will save cooking time.

Add cauliflower and peas. Simmer on low flame until the potato, cauliflower, and peas are done (steps 10, 11).

Add garam masala powder and cilantro. Mix well and serve hot (step 12).

Instant Pot Instructions

You can also follow this recipe to make alu gobi in an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker.

1. Cut the potatoes into small cubes and the cauliflower into medium-sized florets.
2. Set the Instant Pot in saute mode and add oil.
3. Shallow-fry potatoes and cauliflower as described above. Set them aside.
4. Follow the above steps to make the masala base.
5. Add one cup of water and deglaze the pot. If you want a dry curry, add 4 tablespoon of water instead.
6. Add the potatoes, cauliflower, and peas.
7. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook mode on Low pressure for 3 minutes.
8. Do a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then do a quick release.
9. Top with garam masala powder and cilantro.

Useful tips

Lightly fry the potatoes and cauliflower. This step of shallow or deep frying is optional but I highly recommend not skipping it. Frying them will help cook them perfectly without making them mushy and also enhance the taste of the dish. Also, adding little turmeric while frying helps give them a nice golden color.

Make sure the tomatoes and spices are cooked well before adding water and potatoes. The tomatoes should become soft and pulpy, and the oil should separate.

Do not add the potato and cauliflower at the same time as the cooking time is different for both vegetables and cauliflower cooks much faster. Add cauliflower when the potatoes are half done.

Although green peas are an optional ingredient, I highly recommend adding them. It adds taste and texture, as well as is a good source of vegetarian protein to this dish.

You may choose to make this dish either dry or with gravy. Adjust the amount of water depending on your preference.

Optional ingredients and substitutes

1. Add kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) along with cilantro.
2. Drizzle lemon juice or lime juice into the finished curry for a nice tang.
3. Use Kashmiri red chilli powder along with other Indian spices for a deep red color.
4. Whole spices (cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaf), mustard seeds, and nigella seeds can be added along with whole cumin seeds.
5. Use ginger-garlic paste instead of fresh ginger and garlic cloves if they are not available.
6. You can also add some fresh curry leaves along with onions to add more flavor.
7. Skip green chilies to make a mild curry.
8. Replace the ground spices with curry powder.

You may also like:

1. Restaurant style paneer butter masala.
2. Indian-spiced potatoes.
3. Potato and spinach sabzi.

FAQs

Bonus

This cauliflower potato is:
- vegan and gluten-free,
- good with both rice and roti/naan,
- very comforting.

If you liked my recipe, please don't forget to give a 5 star rating.

Recipe card

Aloo Gobi / Potato Cauliflower Curry

Aloo gobi is an easy vegan curry made with potatoes and cauliflower as the main ingredients. This Punjabi curry is easy to make, hearty, and packed with flavors. Made with simple ingredients, this comforting dish is perfect for a weekday meal.

5 from 39 votes

Print Pin Rate

Author: Shilpa

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 medium cauliflower
• 4 medium potatoes
• ¼ cup peas
• 3 tablespoon oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 medium tomatoes chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 inch ginger grated or ½ teaspoon ginger paste
• 2 cloves garlic grated or ¼ teaspoon garlic paste
• 2 green chili (or serrano pepper) finely chopped (or as per taste)
• 2 tablespoon tomato puree
• 2 tablespoon cilantro

Spices

• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon chili powder or cayenne
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder) - optional
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt to taste

Instructions

Prep:

• Cut the cauliflower into medium florets and rinse thoroughly.
• Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut them into medium-sized cubes.
• Chop the onion and tomatoes, and grate the ginger and garlic.

Pan fry potatoes and cauliflower (optional step):

• Heat a frying pan or kadhai and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder.
• Add the potato cubes and lightly fry until they are light brown. Set them aside.
• Now in the same pan, add 1 tablespoon oil and ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder.
• Add cauliflower florets and fry until they are light brown. Set them aside.

Making the curry:

• In the same pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
• Add onion and fry until they begin to turn brown.
• Add ginger, garlic, and green chili. Fry for 1-2 minutes.
• Now add tomatoes and tomato puree. Mix well.
• Add chili powder, ground coriander, amchur, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, and salt. Mix well and cover.
• Let it cook until the tomatoes are soft and mushy, and the oil begins to separate.
• Add 2 cups of water.
• Add the fried potato and mix well. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are half cooked.
• Add the fried cauliflower. Mix well and adjust consistency.
• Add peas. Bring to a boil.
• Simmer until the potato, cauliflower, and peas are done. Cauliflowers should have some bite and should not be mushy.
• Add garam masala and coriander leaves.
• Mix well. Serve hot.

Notes

See the tips section above for useful tips to make this dish.

Nutrition Facts

Aloo Gobi / Potato Cauliflower Curry

Amount per Serving

Calories

230

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

8

g

12

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Trans Fat

 

0.03

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

2

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

5

g

Sodium

 

98

mg

4

%

Potassium

 

1076

mg

31

%

Carbohydrates

 

37

g

12

%

Fiber

 

7

g

29

%

Sugar

 

6

g

7

%

Protein

 

6

g

12

%

Vitamin A

 

484

IU

10

%

Vitamin C

 

85

mg

103

%

Calcium

 

58

mg

6

%

Iron

 

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.