Clean-The-Fridge Vegetable Tikka Masala

Here’s a delicious “clean-the-fridge” vegetable tikka masala recipe that you’ll love. Learn how to make a tasty vegetarian tikka masala with just a few ingredients and an easy shortcut. This cauliflower tikka masala is full of flavor and will knock your socks off! 

I love dishes that have a lot of spices. Bland is just not my thing, and my taste buds always scream for more flavor. Dishes like fish curry or curry lentil soup are what we make when we crave a dish with lots of flavor. This veggie tikka masala is a vegetarian dinner recipe that comes in handy when you’re looking for a way to use up your vegetables. 

This post has been sponsored by Patak’s®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Clean-the-fridge vegetable tikka masala

Ever wondered what to do with that carrot left in the fridge or that bit of cauliflower that you got last week? As a cook who hates to waste food, I usually turn those poor unloved veggies into a to-die-for tikka masala using just a few ingredients. You might be surprised, but it doesn’t take long to put this tasty dinner together using a smart shortcut! 

I made this easy and tasty clean-the-fridge vegetable tikka masala using Patak’s® Tikka Masala Sauce, which I got at Kroger. You can shop this recipe here to add it directly to your Kroger shopping cart. 

What goes into vegetable tikka masala?

The basic ingredients to make this veggie tikka masala are:

• Onion 
• Garlic 
• Ginger 
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Cauliflower 
• Tikka masala simmer sauce

I didn’t add any spices to this dish because Patak’s simmer sauce already has enough spices and a great flavor. The vegetables absorb the flavors perfectly, and even the pickiest eaters will devour this dish. It’s a good way to feed your family all the veggies. 

What vegetables go with tikka masala?

Basically any vegetable that won’t get mushy works for this recipe. Our favorite additions are:

• Green peas
• Chickpeas 
• Mushrooms 
• Broccoli
• Bell pepper
• Green beans
• Zucchini 

Make sure to cook these vegetable just enough to be tender and not mushy. Zucchini softens pretty fast, so you would want to add it after you’ve sautéed all the other vegetables to make sure it’ll keep its shape after being cooked in the simmer sauce. 

How to make vegetarian tikka masala

You can make tikka masala on the stove, in the slow cooker, or in a pressure cooker. First of all, wash, dry, and cut all the vegetables. This would make the cooking process quicker and without interruption. 

Stove top tikka masala

• Place onion, garlic, and ginger in a small blender or food processor. Blend until it turns into a paste. 
• Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic paste in the oil for about 5 minutes until it releases its aroma. 
• Add in the carrots and potatoes. Stir well and cook for about 10 minutes. 
• Add the cauliflower and cook for another 10 minutes. 
• Pour in a jar of tikka masala simmer sauce and bring it to a low simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are fully cooked. 

Slow cooker tikka masala 

• Blend onion, garlic and ginger in a food processor to make it into a paste. 
• Place all the vegetables, including the onion-garlic paste, in the slow cooker. 
• Add the simmer sauce and stir well.  
• Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours.

Pressure cooker tikka masala 

• Using a food processor, blend onion, ginger and garlic until they turn into a paste. 
• Heat oil in the pressure cooker using the saute function. 
• Cook the onion paste for a minute. Add the carrots and potatoes and cook for another minute. 
• Add cauliflower florets and give it a stir. 
• Stir in the simmer sauce and lock the lid. 
• Press the pressure cook button and set the timer to 4 minutes. 
• Once the cooking time is done, do a quick release. Stir the tikka masala and serve. 

What to serve this dish with

Tikka masala is usually served with white basmati rice which you can easily make in your pressure cooker using my pressure cooker white rice recipe. You can also serve this curry with pressure cooker brown rice if you prefer. If you’re not a fan of rice, serve this veggie tikka masala with some warm naan or other type of bread. 

What to do with the leftovers?

Store the leftovers in an airtight, preferably glass, container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To reheat, you can either use the microwave or a small sauce pan. I prefer to heat tikka masala on the stove to make sure it’s heated properly. 

Tips to make this easy vegetarian recipe

• Since we are using a simmer sauce, you don’t need to worry about the flavor. All spices you need are in the simmer sauce and there is no need to add heavy cream or coconut milk for the creamy texture as the simmer sauce itself is very creamy. 
• Use a large pan, skillet, or a dutch oven to make this recipe. You’ll want to have enough room to stir the veggies and cook them. 
• This veggie tikka masala freezes very well. After you make the recipe, let it cool completely and then store it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat it in a sauce pan over medium low heat.
• Garnish cauliflower tikka masala with some fresh cilantro right before serving for some freshness and added flavor.  

This is one of our favorite ways to eat vegetables and empty our fridge. I love making this for lunch or dinner because it’s quick and everyone loves it. The flavors are amazing and every bite will make you want to come back for more. The creamy and luscious texture of this vegetable tikka masala is hard to beat, and I bet you won’t even miss the meat! 

Looking for more vegetarian recipes?

• Turmeric red lentil soup
• Potato patties
• Zucchini fritters
• One pot tomato rice