Veg Kolhapuri Recipe | Mixed Veg Curry

A restaurant created dish

You heard that right! Veg Kolhapuri is not a traditional recipe from Kolhapuri cuisine. It's a restaurant creation heavily influenced by the spices used in this cuisine.

It's prepared with a variety of veggies that are cooked in a fiery, hot gravy. The specially ground masala blends well with the veggies giving it a pungent and tangy taste. 

I feel it's one of the most aromatic and delicious ways to include a variety of vegetables in one curry. It's also one of those Indian vegetable curry recipes that's naturally vegan.

Every home has its own way of making this spicy mixed veg curry recipe. The spices used could also vary. But no matter how you make it, it's delicious!

You can find this dish on the menu card of most Indian restaurants. People who order this dish expect a certain level of hotness in the curry.

The next time you are at an Indian restaurant, order this dish and see how you like it. Otherwise, you can always make it at home by following my recipe!

Kolhapuri cuisine

The specialty of any Indian gravy is its aromatic spices and the curry paste in which it's cooked. This recipe is influenced by the Kolhapuri cuisine ( a city in Maharashtra, India).

This cuisine is known for many dishes and some of the popular ones are known for being hot and spicy. Being a spice lover myself, these dishes are my favorite.

I had been to Kolhapur once when I was a kid. It is a beautiful historical city. The city also boasts of a beautiful temple of the goddess Mahalakshmi.

The ancient temple has some beautiful architecture which is really worth seeing. If you ever get a chance then do visit this city and also try the local food.

Why make this

The ingredients and the prep work would appear to be a lot but trust me, it's all worth it in the end. Plus, once you have everything ready, making veg Kolhapuri is pretty easy.

• It's naturally vegan and gluten-free
• A spicy mixed veg curry recipe
• Packed with flavors
• Made with basic pantry ingredients
• Restaurant-style curry at home

To prep the veggies

This spicy mixed veg curry recipe is very customizable. You can use any veggies of your choice.

I have used potatoes, bell peppers, onions, cauliflower, green peas, carrots, and green beans.

Some other veggies that you can add to veg Kolhapuri are mushrooms, baby corn, sweetcorn, paneer, tofu, spinach, etc.

To prepare the tomato paste

Juicy ripe tomatoes and tomato puree give this spicy curry a tangy flavor. Instead of tomato puree, you can also add tomato paste. Both homemade or store-bought is fine.

Kashmiri red chilly powder is added just for color. It is not spicy. You can find this in any Indian grocery store or on Amazon.

Tahini - This gives the tomato paste a nutty creamy flavor. Instead of tahini, you can also add soaked cashews or cashew cream.

To prepare the ground masala

Spices - Cumin seeds, peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, poppy seeds (khus khus), coriander seeds, and dried red chillies give this vegan gravy an aromatic earthy flavor.

Coconut - Normally dry (Kopra) or freshly grated coconut is added. But if it's unavailable to you, add frozen or unsweetened shredded or desiccated coconut.

To prepare the curry

Spices - cumin seeds, bay leaf, ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric powder, garam masala, and Kasoori methi are the basic ingredients you would need to make this curry.

Vegetables and herbs - will need an onion, lemon juice, and cilantro.

To prep the veggies

• Peel and cut potatoes in wedges. Fry in oil till they turn light golden. Transfer to a plate.
• Similarly, add oil and saute onions and bell pepper for 1-2 minutes. Do not over cook them. They still need to be crispy. Transfer to a plate.
• Parboil the other veggies (carrots, green peas, green beans, and cauliflower) and keep it aside. They need to be 80% cooked and still hold their shape.
  • To save time, use frozen and thawed mixed vegetables.

To prepare the tomato paste

• Add chopped tomatoes, Kashmiri chilly powder, tomato puree and tahini to a blender jar and grind to a smooth paste. There is no need to add water while grinding.
• Set this aside for now.

To prepare the ground masala

• Add oil to a pan. Fry cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns, dried red chillies, poppy seeds, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds for a minute.
  • Then add the coconut and saute till it turns light golden. Be careful to not burn it.
• Transfer to a plate. Grind it to a smooth paste after it cools down. Add half a cup of water when grinding. Some like to even make it like a dry masala without adding water.
• Set this aside for now.

To prepare the curry

• Heat oil in a pan. Temper cumin seeds and once they crackle, add the bay leaf, ginger paste, garlic paste and chopped onions. Saute till onions turn translucent.
• Then add the ground coconut paste. Saute for 5 minutes on medium flame. Keep a cup of water on the side and add it gradually to prevent the masala from sticking to the pan.
• Now add the tomato paste along with a cup of water. Continue to saute for another 3-4 minutes.
• Add the spices like turmeric, chilly powder and garam masala. Mix and cook for a minute.
• Next, add the parboiled veggies along with stir fried potatoes, onions and bell pepper. Add salt and one cup water. Mix and cook for 5-6 minutes. Keep stirring regularly.
• Garnish with cilantro, Kasoori methi and lemon juice. Take it off the flame.

Serving suggestions

You can decide how to serve veg Kolhapuri depending upon the final consistency of the gravy. If it's too thin, it pairs well with plain rice, Jeera rice, other alternate grains, or cauliflower rice.

If you make this spicy mixed veg curry recipe thick and creamy, serve it with any Indian bread, bhakri, paratha, or puri.

Eat it with raita or buttermilk on the side to help you cool down. You can also pair veg Kolhapuri with a delicious Cherub Tomatoes Crouton Salad or Koshimbir.

Tips, recommendations, and suggestions

Do not overcook the veggies. They need to hold their shape and have a bite. If overcooked, this spicy mixed veg curry recipe will resemble a lumpy mess.

To save time, you can prepare the ground masala ahead of time. You can even prep the veggies ahead of time. Use cashews or almonds instead of coconut if need be.

In place of tahini, you can add soaked cashews. If not adding tahini, add white sesame seeds when making the coconut paste.

Juicy ripe tomatoes and tomato puree give this spicy curry a tangy flavor. Instead of tomato puree, you can also add tomato paste. Both homemade or store-bought is fine

Normally there is no cream added to this Indian vegetable curry, but if you want, you can add milk instead of water while making the gravy. It gives it a certain richness.

While it's advisable that you use all the spices mentioned in this Indian vegetable curry recipe to get the exact flavor, skip the ones you don't have.

Tone down the spice levels if you're intolerant to spicy food or if making it for children. For a Satvik meal, skip adding garlic and onions.

You can also use store-bought Kolhapuri masala instead of making the coconut paste at home.

This mixed vegetable gravy stays well in the fridge for 5-6 days. That's why it's a great recipe to be made ahead of time and stored. It also freezes well.

This Indian vegetable curry will thicken up as it cools. Reheat it and add some warm water to get the desired consistency.

More Maharashtrian recipes

• Masale Bhath
• Koshimbir
• Besan Pitla
• Kokum Amti Dal
• Cauliflower Tomato Rassa (vegan curry recipe)
• Sabudana Khichdi
• Bharli Vangi (vegan curry recipe)
• Kobichi Vadi
• Thecha Butter
• Dill Jowar Bhakhri
• Bajra Jowar Bhakhri
• Matki Usal (vegan curry recipe)
• Tendli Masala Bhath

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