It’s always great to have a curry recipe in your back pocket, and this Vegan Curry with Tofu features gourmet Indian flavors but comes together in about 40 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight but fancy meal.
It’s indulgent yet made with protein-packed tofu, nutrient-dense cauliflower and spinach, and antioxidant-rich spices.
Thanks to a couple of tricks, the tofu has a remarkably chewy texture but is super quick to make. If you’ve got some extra time, you can try the buttermilk breaded pan-fried tofu, but whichever version you make, you’re guaranteed a delicious but nourishing restaurant-quality meal.
Table of Contents
1. Why this recipe works
2. Ingredient notes
3. Step-by-step instructions
4. Crispy tofu option
5. Tips for making this recipe
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. Video: How to make this recipe
8. Recipe Card with Notes
Why this recipe works
Gourmet Indian flavors made easy
Indian cooking can be intimidating, and some dishes like Dal Makhani are a true labor of love. But it is possible to achieve gourmet Indian flavors with less effort and time, and that’s where this Vegan Curry with Tofu comes in.
It’s not an authentic dish (I made it up), but it does have authentic-tasting Indian flavors thanks to the combination of spices + cooking techniques used.
It fuses earthy and warm spices (cumin seeds and turmeric) with pungent spices (curry leaves and mustard seeds) as well as subtly sweet spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), all bloomed in oil to release maximal flavor from the spices.
A trio of ginger, garlic, and green chiles make up the classic aromatic base while keeping the prep and cook time minimal, while tomato sauce stands in the place of fresh tomatoes to add the requisite tang with zero prep time.
The result is a well-balanced, full-flavored curry in a hurry.
Tofu made exciting
This recipe uses two techniques for making tofu exciting without adding tons of additional prep or cook time.
First, I use previously frozen and defrosted tofu. Freezing changes tofu’s molecular structure, making it spongier, bouncier, and more porous. This, in turn, makes the tofu chewier when you cook it.
Second, the tofu is boiled in generously salted water for 2 minutes. This makes the tofu even chewier, while the salt seasons the tofu from within.
Indulgent but nutritious
This vegan curry is a complete meal, particularly when served with rice or flatbread. It’s protein-packed thanks to tofu and fiber-packed from cauliflower and spinach. And the fat from the coconut milk not only gives the curry the luxe creaminess any curry should have, but also helps you stay full.
Plus, it’s chockfull of nutrient-rich spices and aromatics, including curry leaves, turmeric, ginger, and garlic.
Ingredient notes
Extra-firm tofu. Tofu is a great source of protein, and here, it adds a chewy, spongy bite to each spoon of this curry.
Substitute: If you have a soy allergy, use 1 (15-ounce/425g) can of chickpeas. Add it when you add the cauliflower.
Indian aromatics. This recipe starts with the holy trinity of many Indian recipes: garlic, ginger, and green chile peppers.
Substitute: If you can’t find serrano peppers, use jalapeños (slightly less spicy).
Tip: If you have extra time, dice a small or medium yellow onion. Add that after the cumin and mustard seeds and cook until softened and starting to turn golden. Then add the garlic, ginger, and chiles. This will add even more flavor!
Whole and ground spices. Most of my favorite Indian recipes feature an artful layering of both whole and ground spices. Here, the curry starts off with earthy, warm cumin seeds and bouncy, pungent mustard seeds.
Then, a mixture of ground spices and curry leaves are added. This mixture adds so much fantastic flavor to this weeknight curry.
Tip: Check out the FAQ section on where to buy these whole spices.
Flavor boost tip: If you’re going to an Indian grocery store, look for fresh curry leaves, which are even more flavorful than the dried ones (use half the amount of fresh leaves).
Cauliflower & baby spinach. Veggies make this Indian-inspired vegan curry a complete meal! Feel free to sub cauliflower with carrots or leftover cabbage; or swap baby spinach with baby kale.
Tomato sauce. Fresh tomatoes are often added to Indian dishes for tang and acidity. To keep the prep and cook time quick without sacrificing too much flavor, I use tomato sauce instead.
Coconut milk. Full-fat canned coconut milk brings a rich mouthfeel and consistency to this curry.
Substitute: If allergic to coconut or you can’t have it, I recommend making a homemade cashew cream. This will make it taste even better(!) but does require extra work.
How to sub coconut milk with cashew cream: Soak 3/4 cup (105g) raw cashews overnight, or quick soak: cover with water and boil on the stove for 15 minutes. Drain.
Add cashews to a high-powered blender with 1 cup (240 mL) water, a pinch of salt, and a few squeezes of lemon juice. Blend on high until totally smooth and creamy.
Step-by-step instructions
Make the curry
Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the cumin and black mustard seeds. Shake the pan or stir frequently, 45-60 seconds.
Add the garlic, ginger, and serrano peppers. Cook for 90 seconds, stirring frequently.
Add in the ground spices—turmeric, coriander, paprika, nutmeg, and cinnamon—and curry leaves. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
Pour in the coconut milk, scraping up any browned bits. Add the tomato sauce and sugar.
Stir to combine and rapidly simmer for 3 minutes. Add the cauliflower florets, salt, and pepper, and spoon the curry over the florets. Simmer, covered, for 12-13 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is fork-tender.
Cook the tofu
While the curry is simmering, boil the cubed tofu in a pot of generously salted water for 2 minutes. Drain well.
Note: if you want to make the crispy tofu option, the step-by-step instructions are in the next section.
When the cauliflower is fork-tender, add in the chopped spinach and garam masala to the curry.
Once the spinach is wilted, nestle in the cooked tofu and add cilantro and lemon juice.
Stir to coat the tofu, then take off the heat.
Can I use crispy tofu in this recipe?
Yes! If you have a little extra time and want to take this curry to the next level, make the crispy pan-fried tofu instead of the boiled tofu.
Order of operations: Batter the tofu before starting on the curry. Once you’ve added the cauliflower to the curry, start cooking the tofu.
Stir together the lemon juice and plant milk. Combine the ingredients for the breading in a bowl. Chop your defrosted tofu into 3/4″ (2 cm) cubes.
Pour the buttermilk over the tofu and carefully toss to coat with a spatula.
Working in batches, use a slotted spoon to shake off excess milk from the tofu and transfer it to the breading and coat thoroughly. Set aside the breaded tofu on a large plate.
Repeat this process until all the tofu is coated.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the tofu in a single layer and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping the cubes occasionally, until deeply golden brown.
Add the fried tofu to the finished curry, along with the cilantro and lemon juice, and toss gently.
Tips for making this vegan curry
Use previously frozen and defrosted tofu.
In this recipe, freezing the tofu and then boiling it in salt water makes it almost reminiscent of chicken! Previously frozen tofu is also better able to absorb other flavors, so the tofu takes on more flavor from the curry.
Plus, freezing tofu is super easy. Check out the FAQ section below for instructions on how to freeze tofu.
That said, if the timing doesn’t work out or you forgot to freeze some tofu, it’s still tasty with regular tofu; the texture isn’t as chewy though.
Adjust the spice level to your tolerance.
The curry calls for 1 to 3 serrano peppers. For a mild heat, use just one pepper and remove the membranes. For a moderate heat, use one pepper but keep the seeds in. Want it spicy? Use 2 peppers (or for spicy!, use 3 peppers).
Cut the cauliflower florets small.
This ensures they get tender fairly quickly (12 minutes) and almost melt into the curry.
Multitask.
First, bring the water to a boil for your tofu and prep your curry ingredients. While the curry is simmering, do a couple things: (1) prep the tofu (remove some excess water + slice into cubes), (2) boil the tofu in the salted water, and (3) prep final ingredients (chop spinach and cilantro).
Remove excess buttermilk when breading the tofu.
If you’re making the crispy tofu option, use a slotted spoon to transfer the tofu from the buttermilk to the breading, getting rid of excess milk before adding it to the breading. If you skip this step, the breading can get too wet and crumbly, making it difficult to adhere to the tofu.
Frequently Asked Questions
To freeze tofu: Either (a) stick your block of tofu (still in the packaging) in the freezer for 8 hours, or longer (most convenient); OR (b) unpackage the tofu, and transfer the tofu + its water to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze (best texture).
To defrost tofu, you have a few options:
1) Leave it in the fridge. It will take 1-2 days to defrost, depending on how long you froze the tofu.
2) Defrost on the countertop for up to 2 hours, then return to the fridge to continue thawing. When thawing on the countertop, you can also leave the tofu in a bowl or pan of warm water to speed things up.
3) Defrost in the microwave (if short on time). Run the tofu under water until you can slide it out of its packaging. Then place it in a shallow bowl and microwave on high in 1- or 2-minute intervals until thawed (might take 8-12 minutes).
Both versions are delicious, but the crispy-pan fried tofu makes this curry even better. It adds more textural dimension, as well as additional flavor from its spiced breading. But, it takes an extra 25ish minutes, so for most weeknight dinners, I’d make the boiled tofu version.
If it’s the weekend or you have some extra time, give the crispy pan-fried version a try (photo below). 
Rice! Traditionally, Indian curries are served over white basmati rice, but it’s also great over brown rice. This would also go great with some vegan naan if you have extra time.
If the curry is spicy for you, serve with a dollop of vegan yogurt on top.
Sure! You can increase the amount of baby spinach and/or sauté a couple carrots after toasting the cumin and mustard seeds.
The mustard seeds and curry leaves really make this dish. They release an exquisite aroma and flavor when briefly toasted in oil.
You can find both at Indian grocery stores, spice shops, and online at Amazon or Kalyustan’s. Both will stay good in your pantry for quite awhile.
If you can’t get curry leaves, just omit them because there’s no flavor substitute. You could, however, add a teaspoon of Madras curry powder for extra flavor.
Yes, as long as you make the boiled tofu option.
The crispy tofu option contains panko bread crumbs, though you can replace them with gluten-free panko. Or, you can use a crunchy cereal like crispy rice cereal or corn flakes and crush them in a food processor or by hand.
Once cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
This curry, like many curries, thickens after resting. I like to reheat it in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a few splashes of plant-based milk to thin it out a bit and stirring until warmed through. Any unsweetened plant-based milk is fine.
You can freeze this curry, though the texture will be a little different. When reheating, add a few splashes of plant-based milk to add more moisture and finish with some fresh lemon juice.
More Delicious Indian-Inspired Recipes
- Red Lentil Curry
- Tandoori Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Braised Indian Chickpea Stew
- Pumpkin Curry with Tofu
Video: How to make tofu curry
Tofu Curry, my go-to weeknight dinner
If you love this Vegan Curry with Tofu, please give it a rating and review below! And of course, tag me with your remakes on Instagram!
Vegan Curry with Tofu
Ingredients
Curry
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or neutral-flavored oil of choice
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoons black mustard seeds (can sub brown mustard seeds)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2- inch piece fresh ginger, minced or grated
- 1 to 3 serrano peppers, diced*
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon sweet or hot paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated (or ground) nutmeg
- 15 to 20 dried curry leaves**
- 1 (13.5-ounce/400 mL) can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 (8-ounce/227g) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon organic cane sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 small cauliflower head, cut into small florets (450 to 500g florets)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 (14-ounce/400g) block of extra-firm tofu, previously frozen and defrosted****
- 2 teaspoons sea salt (or 4 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt)
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 3 cups (45g) baby spinach, chopped
- ½ to 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup (16g) cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped
For Serving
- Cooked white or brown rice, or flatbread of choice
Instructions
- Make the curry. Heat the oil in a 12-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the cumin and mustard seeds and cook until popping and cumin seeds start to turn golden, 45 to 60 seconds. Add the garlic, ginger, and serrano peppers, and cook for 90 seconds, stirring frequently*. Add the turmeric, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg and curry leaves and cook for 30 seconds.*Note: If using a stainless steel pan, this might stick, so arm power and stir almost constantly; add a splash or two of water as needed.
- Deglaze the pan by pouring in the coconut milk, scraping up any browned bits with a spatula. Add the tomato sauce and sugar and bring to a rapid simmer. Stir occasionally and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower, salt, and pepper, and spoon the curry over the cauliflower. Cover the pan with a lid and adjust the heat to maintain a decent simmer. Cook for 12 to 13 minutes, opening the pan to stir occasionally, until thickened a bit and the cauliflower is fork-tender.
- While the cauliflower is simmering, prep the tofu. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drain the defrosted tofu. Holding it over the sink, squeeze out as much excess water as you can without squishing or breaking it apart. You may want to wrap it in a dish towel, as it can get cold. Slice tofu vertically into 4 slabs. Take a few paper towels or clean dish towel and gently press down on the tofu slabs to remove more water. Slice each slab in half, lengthwise, so you have 8 vertical slabs. From there, chop the tofu into ¾-inch cubes (about 48 cubes for a 14-ounce block).
- Boil the tofu. Once the water is boiling, add 2 teaspoons sea salt (or 4 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt). Use a slotted spoon or spider tool to lower the tofu into the boiling water. Once the water comes back to a boil, boil the tofu for 2 minutes. Scoop out the tofu using the slotted spoon and drain well.
- Assemble. When the cauliflower is tender, add the garam masala and spinach to the curry. Stir and briefly cook until the spinach is wilted. Nestle the boiled tofu into the curry and toss to combine. Turn off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and cilantro, and season to taste with salt as needed. Serve over rice or with flatbread (but keep leftovers separate from rice, or the rice will eat up all the sauce).
Notes
Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce/400g) block of extra-firm tofu, previously frozen and defrosted*
- 1/2 cup (120 mL) plant-based milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup (30g) arrowroot powder**
- 1/4 cup (17g) panko bread crumbs***
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or neutral-flavored oil of choice
Instructions
- Drain the defrosted tofu and press it for 10-15 minutes. You can use a tofu press, or wrap the tofu in towels and weigh it down with something heavy (cast iron skillet, your heaviest cookbook with a few cans of beans on top, etc.). Once pressed, slice tofu vertically into 4 slabs, then slice each slab in half, lengthwise, so you have 8 slabs. From there, chop the tofu into ¾-inch cubes (about 48 cubes for a 14-ounce block).
- In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the plant milk and lemon juice. In a shallow bowl, combine arrowroot, panko, nutritional yeast, onion powder, turmeric, cayenne, salt, and several cracks of black. Set an empty large plate next to these bowls.
- Pour the milk over the tofu and carefully toss to coat with a spatula. Working in batches, use a slotted spoon to shake off excess milk from the tofu**** and transfer the tofu to the breading and coat thoroughly. Set aside the breaded tofu on the large plate.
- Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Wait a few minutes for the oil to get hot. Then arrange the tofu in a single layer as much as you can. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping every few minutes, or until deeply golden brown on both sides.
- Follow Step 6 in the above recipe card "Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu", except use this crispy tofu instead of the boiled tofu.
Notes
This was phenomenal, especially the crispy-pan fried tofu! I think I’ll be making that tofu often even just to top salads. I followed the recipe to a T with the exception of the nutmeg which I was out of, but it was still wonderful. Excited to try it with the nutmeg next time! Thanks for another homerun recipe, Nisha!
Amber, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!
This was delicious! I do have a question though, when/why did you start adding nutrition information? I only found your site a couple months and was very moved and happy to read your explanation as to why you don’t include calories on the recipes…
Hi there Laura, we are glad to hear you loved the curry! We started adding nutrition information to the blog for SEO purposes. In order to reach a larger audience, this was one of the improvements we decided to make. We tried to add the nutrition facts in a more inconspicuous place, so people who didn’t go looking for it wouldn’t automatically be confronted with them.
Incredible! I tried this with the crispy tofu and can’t stop thinking about how delicious this turned out. Thank you for another amazing recipe that makes me feel chef-y!
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Megan!
This recipe, like all of your recipes, is absolutely amazing! I made the crispy tofu to add to the curry and it was unbelievable! Nisha, your recipes always hit it out of the park. Your website is my go-to for vegan recipes. Keep up the awesome work!!
Paige, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!
There are no Serrano peppers or curry leaves around here and I don’t have a freezer but it was yummy anyway. It reminded me of the curry sauce in British chippys (a quality one). I would’ve never thought to boil tofu but it worked.
Lyndsay, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!
This was absolutely delicious and easy to make! Great depth of flavor, and the boiled tofu is such a great texture! Thank you!!
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Madison!
This was so delicious! Never tried boiling my tofu before but it was so yummy. Thanks!
Awesome, Amy. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
This recipe was absolutely amazing! I made this for Sunday dinner and both my husband and I LOVED it. I went for the crispy pan-fried tofu option, and while it definitely took some time to make, it was absolutely worth it! Thanks for another wonderful, flavor-packed recipe!
Awesome, Brenda. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
Thank you for another fantastic recipe! Made this for dinner tonight (with crispy baked tofu) and both my boyfriend and I loved it.
Marcin, So glad to hear you two loved this recipe!
Just made this with crispy pan-fried tofu. So delicious. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Awesome, Lily. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
Hey Nisha, this recipe sounds amazing! I want to make this and bought most of the ingredients but am having a hard time finding the dried curry leaves. I checked at two different Asian grocers near me as well as a spice shop and have had no luck. Any chance those can be replaced with curry powder, or would that give a totally different flavor?
Hi Bethany, you can also find them online at either Amazon or Kalyustan’s. If you can’t get them, just omit them because there’s no flavor substitute for curry leaves. You could, however, add a teaspoon of Madras curry powder for extra flavor. Enjoy!
Curry (aka sweet Neem) is easy to grow if you can get your hands on a seedling. It’s marvelous fresh. You might inquire at your local Indian grocery or maybe on Facebook.
Hello, Nisha! One question – do you need to drain the defrosted tofu if you’re going to boil it right afterwards?
Hi Klara, you do want to drain it, yes. I provide instructions for pressing it afterwards since the tofu still has a good amount of water in it, but you can probably skip the full pressing step and just squeeze the tofu gently with some towels to get rid of some water and then proceed to cut it and boil it.
Hi Klara, you’ll want to drain it before slicing so you can get even cubes! Plus, draining it helps make room for the salted boiling water to absorb into it, which gives it more flavor :)
OMG Nisha….. this is SO good!!!! The complexity of the flavor, the tofu using the thawing process… wow! This is my new favorite dish I can cook. Thank you as always!!!!
Yoav, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!
Phenomenon!! This is super tasty. Many thanks.
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Chris!
This was delicious, but I hesitated on the “1 tablespoon” of salt… I can’t remember the last time I saw a recipe call for that much salt. I ended up doing about 2/3 of a tablespoon, and still felt it was a little bit over-salted. Any chance that was meant to be 1 teaspoon?
Hi Jak, most of the salt doesn’t permeate the tofu and ends up getting drained off (it’s kind of like heavily salting your pasta water), but thanks for letting us know. We will double check our notes :)
Loved this! Flavors were on point (as usual with a Nisha recipe) and I love that it’s healthy and quick too. We have extra leftover so it will probably be lunch tomorrow. Thanks, Nisha!!
Awesome, Madison. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
I love the idea with boiling thawed tofu! So many possibilities! I wonder if it will work in the Indian spinach dish with the white cheese cubes that I miss since I’ve become vegan.
Hi Dorota, yes! We have the recipe for vegan palak paneer here: https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-palak-paneer-with-tofu/, we hope you get to try it!
Wow, this is really, really good and well rounded! Switched the vegetables to zucchini and eggplant, very tasty.
I love your spice mixes in general. The recipes I‘ve tried so far are absolutely perfect and give me new ideas how to combine spices to get to these superdelicious meals. Thank you!
Can we sub something else for coconut milk which is a HIGHLY saturated fat?
Not into eating that but your recipe looks terrific.
Hi there, I include an option for replacing the coconut milk in the frequently asked questions section!
I don’t consume any type of sugar or sweetener, or any flour-like products. Can these recipes be made without the sugars and flours?
Hi Deb, the sugar is there to balance the spicy and acidic flavors, but you could probably omit it. The original recipe with the boiled tofu option does not contain any flour-like products (only the crispy baked tofu option has flour-like products).