Tofu Amritsari Masala. This Amritsari Sauce uses toasted cayenne and spices to make a smoky spicy creamy tomato sauce. Add chickpeas, veggies or veggie meats for variation. Vegan Glutenfree Recipe. Can be Soyfree, Nutfree. Jump to Recipe
Amritsar is a town in the state of Punjab and the cuisine from this city has certain twists to the usual sauces and dishes. This Amritsari sauce which is often served with chikin is a fabulous base for veggies, tofu or chickpeas. The sauce is a creamy onion tomato sauce like the makhani sauce. The spicing is a bit different.
Cayenne and paprika (or kashmiri chili) is roasted/fried well in the beginning(there might be sneezing!), then cumin and coriander and mixed and roasted. The temperature of the pan and oil matter here so that the spices dont burn, but do roast well. Then the onion, garlic and ginger is added and cooked to golden with the smoked spices. A Blended tomato cashew sauce is then added and simmered to make a creamy smoky spicy sauce! Add the baked tofu or some chickpeas or roasted veggies and simmer for a few mins.
This sauce can easily get pretty hot. So use less heat (cayenne, smoked paprika and sub the hot green chile with mild or bell pepper) to preference. If you fry the cayenne in hotter oil, it will also burn out some of the heat. For a quicker recipe, pan fry pressed and cubed tofu and use. Lets get sneezing!
More Indian Entrees
- Butter Tofu- GF
- IP Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce GF
- Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chickin(soycurls). GF – Creamy, Delicious
- Mushroom Matar Masala
- Bombay Potato and Peas
- Tofu Pasanda
- Tofu Matar Masala
- Tofu in Spinach Curry – Saag Tofu
- Vegetable Jalfrezi – Veggies in smoky tangy curry
Step by Step Photos
The spices fried in hot oil is what gives the dish its distinctive flavor. If omitting oil, you want to carefully toast the spices on a dry hot skillet and then add some broth and onion and continue to cook.
Tofu gets marinated in ginger garlic cayenne lemon cornstarch marinade and then baked. Use the same marinade for veggies if using. Or cook the chickpeas or chickpea tofu with it before adding to the sauce.
You can also add the marinade ingredients minus cornstarch to the onion mixture and cook for a minute before adding the tomato puree. Then add veggies or chickpeas with cashew milk and simmer until tender.
Tofu Amritsari Masala - Spicy Smoky Creamy Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
Baked Tofu:
- 14 oz firm tofu pressed for 15 mins then cubed
- 2 tsp minced ginger
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tsp apple cider or white vinegar
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/3 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) ground cumin
- 1/3 tsp (0.33 tsp) cayenne or use paprika for less heat
- 1 tsp oil or spray some later , omit for oilfree
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Sauce:
- 2 tsp oil , see note for oilfree
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cayenne or use scant 1/4 tsp for less heat
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) smoked paprika or Kashmiri chili powder, use regular sweet paprika for less heat
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1/3 cup (53.33 g) finely chopped onion
- 1 green chili , chopped (use 1/4 cup bell pepper for less heat)
- 3 (3 ) large tomatoes pureed , or 15 oz can diced with juices
- 1/4 cup (0.25 cup) water to rinse out the blender
- 1/4 cup (32.38 g) cashews blended with 1 cup water (see note for nutfree), 1/3 cup for creamier
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt , less or more to preference
- 1 tsp sugar or sweetener
- cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Blend the ginger garlic vinegar and lemon, or mince and combine in a bowl. Add to the cubed tofu. Add the spices, salt and oil and mix in. Add cornstarch and toss lightly to coat.
- Spread the cubes on parchment lined sheet. Bake at 400 deg F (205 C) for 20- 25 mins. (For a quicker recipe, skip the spices etc(add some more to the sauce), pan fry pressed and cubed tofu until golden and use.)
- Sauce: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add oil. Once hot (not smoking) add the cayenne and paprika and cook for a few seconds.
- Add cumin and coriander and cook for a few seconds. it should be bubbly and you should smell or sneeze the spices.
- Add ginger, onion, chili and mix in. Add a good pinch of salt. Cook for a minute 2 until the chili is golden
- Add the pureed tomato, salt, and sugar and mix in. Cook until the tomato puree thickens.
- Add cashew milk and bring to a just about a boil. Add the baked tofu and mix in. Simmer for 6 to 8 mins to thicken and for the flavors to develop. Taste and adjust salt and sweet. Remove from heat. Let it sit for another few mins for flavors to meld. Garnish with cilantro and chili.
- The sauce thickens as it sits. Add 1/2 cup of water or non-dairy milk if needed when reheating. Serve with flatbread or rice or add to a bowl.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Linda
Dear Richa, I LOVE your recipes, and can’t wait to try this one! I’ve been following you for some years, and you are my go-to guide for tasty, healthy vegan Indian cooking with recipes that are clear, easy to follow and quite do-able
Thank You for your marvelous work and excellent website!
Vegan Richa Support
you’re too kind. do-able 😉
Jackie
Another delicious recipe. I used coconut milk and added peas. I think I’ll add more veggies next time. Yummy.
Vegan Richa Support
🥕 more veggies!
Nina
Richa, I’ve been binge cooking (is that a thing??) your INDIAN recipes, and all I can say is WOW! So far I’ve had most spices and only had to get a few for a dish I cooked a few days ago. Your instructions are super straightforward, the time recommendations you provide are spot on and I love your photos! I cooked for a friend last time and he loved it too!
I also just made this recipe and the tofu alone is insane – so flavourful! I am a huge fan of baked tofu and will definitely also make the tofu on its own with some simple rice noodles. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your recipes. The pandemic has not always been easy and your recipes brighten my day.
Plus, so far I had a lot of fun browsing my local Indian store for some of the spices I needed! 🙂 Much love from Berlin!!
Vegan Richa Support
it. is a thing now! I’m glad my recipes have brightened your days =). =)
Kate
This dish turned out beautifully. The spiciness is so full-bodied and lovely. I will definitely make it again
Richa
Awesome
Anna
This was so nice! I added chopped carrot to bulk it out a bit, and next time I would reduce the cayenne pepper, but will definitely be making it again!
Vegan Richa Support
yum
Kiara
It would be impossible to overstate how much I love this recipe! My partner and I have made it for lunch meal prep twice now. We reduce the amount of tofu and add cauliflower and carrots to add some veggies. The flavor is perfect – so smoky and creamy!
Vegan Richa Support
Excellent
Colleen
I’ve made this recipe twice now and it was delicious both times! First time I followed the recipe exactly minus the green chili pepper and it was excellent. Second time, I included a jalapeno, used chickpeas instead of tofu, and threw in a chopped green pepper I needed to use up with the chickpeas. Still great! I’ll definitely keep making this recipe because the sauce is so good.
Richa
It definitely is !
Janet
I love this recipe. Definitely comfort food. She has soo many good recipes to try there is not enough time to make them all.
Vegan Richa Support
So glad you enjoyed this! Thank you for the great review! 🙂
Agnes
Made it yesterday and it was so yummy!
Vegan Richa Support
awesome!
Melody U
You can but why? Just as easy to cook the sauce on the stove and it won’t crisp up the tofu. An air fryer might be a good bet instead of the oven for the tofu though.
Melody U
Made this today. LOVED the flavor and I’m thinking of making it without the tofu, sprinkling in a little cornstarch for the thickening if needed since the cornstarch covered tofu will be missing. I did not care for the inner custardy’texture’ of the tofu at all. Next time I will freeze it, thaw, squeeze the water out well and cut or tear into bite sized pieces. I do this for my vegie chili and it has more the texture of meat. Or maybe I will use tempeh or chickpeas. The flavor of the ‘sauce’ alone would be good over rice. Outstanding!
H
The recipe looks fantastic! Do you think it’s possible to make in an instant pot?
Richa
you probably can, see my ip vegan butter chicken recipe for instant pot sauce instructions. the totfu will need to be baked, or use soy curls like in the butter chicken
Payal Patel
sooo good
Rachel R.
That sauce is the stuff of dreams! My husband and I made it a few nights ago, and it immediately went into the “will make again” folder.
Richa
awesome
Maneesha
Soo delicious and creamy! I made it for the family, and nobody could tell it was vegan!
Richa
yay!
Zach
This was delicious. I had some leftover ingredients from Thanksgiving that I used to make some modifications that worked well. I added chopped mushrooms and about a half cup of canned pumpkin puree when I added the chili pepper and I used coconut milk instead of blended cashews.
Richa
awesome!
Davol
This sauce is indescribably delicious!!!!
Thank you Richa for your incredible talent 🙂
Lesa
Amazing flavor. Worth every step. I prepped and cubed the tofu the night before to save a little time. Another fabulous recipe. Thanks Richa!
Richa
awesome!
Jovana
I honestly eat this with some joy! Every mouthful is just a “mmmm, wow” moment. I use beans instead of tofu since we usually have loads of beans pre-cooked in the fridge and it makes this a super easy meal if you used canned tomatoes! 🙂
While I’m making the sauce, we steam a bunch of veggies (broccoli, zucchini and potato) and then just use this delicious sauce to make the veggies even nommier.
My two omni friends are coming tomorrow so going to make the tofu version and serve it with rice instead!
This has become a regular in our kitchen! Thank you!
Richa
yay! awesome!
MaryV
I made this a couple of weeks ago. My normally not very responsive family ate it without comment. My only evidence it was good was the lack of leftovers. BUT my husband is leaving for the store this morning and specifically asked what I needed to make “that delicious Indian masala-y thing with the tomatoes and tofu that you made.” SO, that’s about the biggest compliment the cooking can get around here (and I’m not a mediocre cook!) There ya go: it’s delicious!
Richa
yay!!! so awesome!! you did the cooking so a lot of credit to you!!
Robert
Delicious spicy yummy!
Richa
Thanks!
Rebecca
I had to make the sauce twice this week, because my family loved it so much. My five year old has requested it with quinoa for breakfast the last two days, and she says it’s her new favorite food 🙂
Richa
thats so awesome!
Dunni
I’m using canned tomatoes. Is it 15oz can or three 15oz cans?
Richa
1 15 oz can, or 3 fresh tomatoes.
Luisa
Fabulous as ever💕
Richa
Thanks!
Deborah Reeves
This is wonderful! The closest I’ve ever come to making a restaurant style tomato-y masala at home. I made it with coconut milk and it was delicious. I will try it with cashew cream next time, as I’m sure I’ll be making this again and again.
Richa
awesome!
Hannah
Great recipe, and I love the flexibility. I added 1 bag of defrosted mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots this time) with the baked tofu and a few handfuls of baby spinach at the end for a little more heft, and it turned out perfectly. The sauce is so flavorful! Thank you, Richa!
Richa
yay!!
Liv
I just made it! It requires quite some work, but it’s all worth it. It’s delicious and it’ll surely stay on our menu for some time 🙂 Thank you very much for sharing!
Christine
I made this (for my packed work lunch) and it did not stretch for the week – because I could not stop eating it straight out the saucepan! It is absolutely delicious and love the creaminess the cashew milk adds to the tomato base. A definite winner with me. I have an abundance of eggplant in my garden at the moment (I am in Australia) so cut a large one in into wedges and roasted them in the oven and then added it into the sauce with the tofu. YUM YUM YUM. Guess what is for lunch again next week!
Richa
awesome!
Kelly Higgins
Made this tonight. Very good!
Richa
awesome!
Cassie Autumn Tran
I want to try this recipe SUPER badly. It looks perfect! Thank you so much for incorporating a nut free and oil free option. Full fat coconut milk is easier and cheaper for me to use, so I’d definitely integrate that substitution!
Fiona Manoon
It looks very yummy.
Wayne
Hi,
Looking forward to trying this recipe! I’m trying to eat as many vegetables as possible, can you recommend some that would go well in this?
Richa
cauliflower, potato, zucchini, sweet potato
Wayne
Tried this recipe, absolutely love it! I did use the coconut milk in place of cashew milk since I dont have a good blender yet. Do you know if it will taste much different between cashew milk and coconut milk?
Richa
just slightly and either should work
Robert @rarewolfe
Thanks for sharing. We are going to make this today.
Teresa
Wow! New addition to my comfort food recipes, especially on a cold Colorado night! I used the coconut milk option and it was delish. I did add a bit of tamarind paste to balance flavors. It comes together in the time it takes to cook a pot of brown rice, and the house will smell splendid the whole evening long! Thank you!
Richa
awesome!
Tiffany
Made this today. I really enjoyed the hot nature of it.
Richa
Awesome!