Gobi masala is a delicious restaurant style cauliflower masala that you can serve with rice or roti.
Vegan, gluten free and ready in 30 minutes, moderately spiced with robust flavors, this masala is a real treat for all gobi or cauliflower lovers. I am sharing both stovetop and instant pot cauliflower masala recipes.
For more curry recipes please check baked cauliflower bites, kadai paneer, cauliflower gravy, paneer do pyaza, veg makhanwala recipes.

Today I am sharing a very simple north Indian cauliflower recipe called gobi masala. It is a very delicious, simple cauliflower curry that tastes good with rice and flatbreads.
To make gobi masala we are not using any special ingredients yet it tastes so delicious just like the restaurant style ones. Just few simple pantry staple ingredients bring in loads of flavor and creaminess to this gobi masala.
About This Recipe
Gobi masala or cauliflower masala is a very flavorful and tasty gravy or curry, side dish for naan or roti or you can serve it with rice too.
This gobi masala recipe is very interesting one, the addition of whole spices, cashew paste and a makes this cauliflower masala curry very rich, flavorful and tasty.
We love cauliflower so much and I often try to make different easy cauliflower recipes as side dish, main meal or snacks. Do check aloo gobi, gobi korma, cauliflower pulao, gobi manchurian, gobi 65,tandoori gobi etc.

To make gobi masala recipe, I have used few baby corn pieces as had them in hand. It is purely optional, you can add capsicum cubes too if you prefer.
Making of this masala with gobi involves some sautéing and grinding absolutely worth the effort. To add some richness to the gravy I have added a splash of almond milk but you can also use coconut milk. If you like you can also add some fresh cream or cooking cream instead plant based milks.
You can vary the spice level of this curry easily by adding more or less spice powders. Instead of red chili powder you can also add cayenne pepper in this recipe. If whole spices are not available you can increase the garam masala by another 1 teaspoon.
Instead of cashew
Along with the base recipe I have also mentioned some variations that you can try.
I hope you will try this easy gobi masala recipe and enjoy! It is
easy to make
made with simple ingredients
vegan and gluten free
delicious and tastes just like north Indian restaurant curries
yummy with rice or roti.
If you are looking for more side dish recipes do check restaurant style peas masala, kadai paneer, sweet corn curry
How To Make Gobi Masala Recipe
Preparation
Break cauliflower into bite size florets. Bring plenty of water to boil in a pot. Add cauliflower florets along with a pinch of turmeric and salt. Let it boil for 5-7 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the drained gobi (cauliflower) florets and saute well in medium flame till the gobi florets turn to slight golden color. Remove the cauliflower florets to a plate and set aside. This is an optional step, you can directly add the blanched florets in curry too.

Soak 15 cashews in warm water and grind to a smooth paste. Set aside.

Making Cauliflower Masala
In the same oil add the whole spices (cumin seeds, bay leaf, black and green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick) and saute well for 4-6 minutes.

Add finely chopped onions and saute well till the color changes slightly.
Add minced ginger and 2 cloves garlic and saute well till the raw smell goes off. Next add slit green chilies and saute well.

Add tomato puree and mix well. Cook for 4-6 minutes. You can also add 1 tablespoon tomato sauce or tomato paste for more color.

Now add the spice powders- 1vteaspoon red chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon coriander powder.

Mix well and cook till the tomato puree thickens and leaves out oil.

Add cashew paste and almond milk. Mix well and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup water, salt to taste and bring the whole curry to a boil.
Once the curry has thickened to desired consistency, add the sautéed cauliflower florets and chopped baby corns( if adding).

Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add crushed kasuri methi chopped coriander leaves, lemon juice and mix well. Remove from flame, serve gobi masala hot with rice or roti.

Instant Pot Gobi Masala
You can prepare the same recipe in lesser time using an instant pot. Here are the instructions for making this easy cauliflower in Indian spices recipes using an instant pot.
Blanch 2 cups cauliflower florets in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain and set aside. You can saute the florets as mentioned in the above method but it is optional. Also prepare cashew paste as mentioned in the recipe.
Place the steel insert inside the instant pot and switch it on. Press saute button. Once it displays hot, add oil and fry the spices.
Add chopped onion, minced green chilies and ginger garlic paste. or minced ginger and garlic cloves. Saute well. Add the tomato puree followed by spice powders- 1 tsp garam masala powder, 1 tsp red chilli powder .
Mix well and cook in high for a minute. Add 1.5 cups water, cashew paste and almond milk. Add salt to taste.
Cancel saute, close the instant pot and press manual or pressure cooker mode. Set pressure valve to seal. Set timer for 4 minutes.
Once the IP beeps, release pressure gently and open it. Press saute again. Add the blanched or sautéed gobi to the prepared curry recipe or masala. Mix gently and let cook for 2 minutes, keeping the instant pot open.
Once done, add lemon juice, chopped coriander leaves and crushed kasuri methi. Mix well. Serve gobi masala hot.
Recipe Variations
Aloo gobi masala
You can add 1 cup boiled and cubed potatoes or aloo along with cauliflower to the same recipe. You can also saute the potatoes if you like just like gobi. While making in instant pot add peeled and cubed potatoes along with tomato puree and set timer for 6 minutes.
Paneer cauliflower masala
You can add 1 cup cubed paneer to this curry. Keep the cubed paneer in warm water and add along with cauliflower. To keep the recipe vegan itself you can add pressed cubed tofu.
Peas gobi masala
1.5 cups of blanched green peas can be added along with cauliflower florets in this gobi masala recipe. You can also add chopped baby corn as I did here or even chopped bell peppers when you make cauliflower masala.
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Gobi Masala Recipe

Gobi Masala – Cauliflower Masala
1 CUP = 250 ml
Ingredients
- 2 cups cauliflower florets separated.
- 3/4 cup medium onion finely chopped
- 4 tomatoes pureed, 2 cups puree
- 15 cashews ground to fine paste with 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/4 cup almond milk or coconut milk optional
- salt
- 2 tablespoons oil
Whole spices:
- 2-3 cloves
- small cinnamon stick
- 1 black cardamom
- 2 green cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin or fennel seeds
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Break cauliflower into bite size florets. Bring plenty of water to boil in a pot. Add cauliflower florets along with a pinch of turmeric and salt. Let it boil for 5-7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add the drained gobi (cauliflower) florets and saute well in medium flame till the gobi florets turn to slight golden color. Remove the cauliflower florets to a plate and set aside. This is an optional step, you can directly add the blanched florets in curry too.
- Soak 15 cashews in warm water and grind to a smooth paste. Set aside.
- In the same oil add the whole spices (cumin seeds, bay leaf, black and green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick) and saute well for 4-6 minutes.
- Add finely chopped onions and saute well till the color changes slightly.
- Add minced ginger and 2 cloves garlic and saute well till the raw smell goes off. Add slit green chilies and saute well.
- Add tomato puree and mix well. Cook for 4-6 minutes. You can also add 1 tablespoon tomato sauce or tomato paste for more color.
- Now add the spice powders- 1vteaspoon red chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon coriander powder.
- Mix well and cook till the tomato puree thickens and leaves out oil.
- Add cashew paste and almond milk. Mix well and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add 1/2 cup water, salt to taste and bring the whole curry to a boil.Once the curry has thickened to desired consistency, add the sautéed cauliflower florets and chopped baby corns( if adding).
- Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add crushed kasuri methi chopped coriander leaves, lemon juice and mix well. Remove from flame, serve gobi masala hot with rice or roti.
Notes
2.Do not boil for long time after adding cream
Meera says
This looks so lovely. the color is so deep and tempting. I love your recipes. Can I use any other vegetable in place of gobi?