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    Home » main course:India

    Vegan Navratan Korma (Vegetables with luscious White Korma Sauce)

    Published: Feb 8, 2022 · Modified: Feb 24, 2022 by Richa 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe

    Restaurant-Style Baked Vegan Navratan Korma made in the oven using just one dish! Tofu and veggies in rich cashew cream sauce served with chopped nuts and raisins! Serve with rice or naan. Glutenfree , options for Soyfree and nutfree

    a bowl of vegan navratan korma served with pita bread

    Continuing with amazingly delicious Indian recipes and converting them to casseroles! Navratan korma:  This saucy nutty multi texture dish is a personal favorite of mine and perfect for festive occasions. It usually takes multiple steps and pans. But With this 1 casserole version, it is much easier to make on a weekday.

    In the Hindi language, ‘Nav’ means nine and ‘ratan’ means a jewel. So the English translation of navratan korma is nine jewels, which in the dish mean nine main ingredients(not including spices :)). Korma or kurma (South Indian version) comes with various sauces and textures and is a dish that is traditionally made with cream or yogurt, nuts, and seeds. Navratan Korma also has pineapple and pomegranate. Kurmas are lighter and often feature coconut, poppy seeds and other ingredients.

    This thick and creamy white Korma is preferred in Indian restaurants in India and some more traditional/authentic restaurants outside of India. Indian restaurants anywhere else in the world can serve either the cream version or a tomato cream version.

    chopped nuts and chili flaked being sprinkled over creamy Navratan Korma

    I use tofu and veggies in this Korma. It gets baked, not cooked so it is super hands-off. The baked version reduces the steps and the pans needed significantly. We bake the veggies and the sauce ingredients together in one casserole dish and then add the cream base ingredients and mix it in and bake again and done! When making this on a stovetop, you’d have to toast the spices, make the sauce separately, cook the veggies separately, and then mix everything and cook again, then toast nuts in another pan for garnish.

    I add a touch of tomato purée to add a hint of color and to cut the overall heavy creamy flavor with a bit of tang. Read the recipe notes for most substitution questions.

    This recipe is adapted from the white Navratan Korma from my Indian kitchen cookbook. 

    a bowl with creamy Indian Navratan Korma sprinkled with chili flakes

    Why you will love this vegan Navratan Korma!

    • all the authentic flavor and less work
    • It’s baked in 1 Dish! When made on stovetop, you’d have to toast the spices, make the sauce separately, cook the veggies separately, and then mix everything and that means several pans
    • Its rich and decadent and perfect to serve for special occasions
    • its not spicy hot. It’s a creamy sweet curry
    • Serve it with my stuffed Naan for a memorable meal
    • You can add more tomato purée for a creamy Tomato korma
    • Change up the veggies for variation. Use chickpeas to make soyfree
    • You can make it without nuts! See recipe notes
    • You can make it without onion and garlic , see recipe notes

    Navratan Korma served in a bowl with some pita bread and sprinkled with nuts

    MORE INDIAN COMFORT FOOD

    • Baked tofu makhani 
    • Baked Madras curry Tofu
    • Baked vegetable Curry Casserole
    • Baked Balti Veggies
    • Butter Tofu
    • IP Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce
    • Tofu in Spinach Curry
    • Vegetable Jalfrezi

    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Baked Navratan Korma

    Restaurant-Style Baked Vegan Navratan Korma made in the oven using just one dish! Tofu and veggies in rich cashew cream sauce served with chopped nuts and raisins! Serve with rice or naan. Glutenfree, options for Soyfree and Nutfree
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time55 mins
    Total Time1 hr 20 mins
    Course: dinner
    Cuisine: Indian
    Keyword: baked korma, Navratan Korma
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 176kcal
    Author: Vegan Richa

    Ingredients

    For the onion mixture:

    • 3 teaspoons oil
    • 4 whole cloves
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 3 green cardamom pods , partially opened
    • 1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves
    • 1 cinnamon stick optional
    • 2 cups (320 g) chopped white onion
    • 1 inch ginger finely chopped
    • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt

    For the vegetables:

    • 1 1/2 cups (150 g) cauliflower Small florets
    • 1 cup (210 g) potatoes cubed small
    • 1/2 cup (55 g) chopped green beans
    • 1/2 cup (64 g) chopped carrots
    • 1/2-1 cup (62 g) vegetables such as zucchini, peas, squash etc
    • 1 cup (8.75 oz) of pressed and cubed firm or extra firm tofu or use more veggies or chickpeas

    For the spices:

    • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
    • 1/4 teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) cayenne or Indian red chili powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt

    For the sauce:

    • 2 1/2 cups (591.47 ml) water
    • 1/2 cup (2.28 oz) cashews (raw, unroasted unsalted) see notes for Nutfree
    • 1 teaspoon flour or use tapioca/cornstarch for Glutenfree
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
    • 1 cup (236.59 ml) non-dairy milk

    For the garnish:

    • 3 tablespoons nuts such as cashews and pistachios (I love pistachios in the Korma)
    • 2 tablespoons raisins
    • 1/2 teaspoon oil
    • Optional: add in 3 or 4 strands of saffron
    • Optional add in :3 tablespoons tomato purée

    Instructions

    • In a large baking dish, 10 by 14 inches or similar size, add 1 tsp oil and spread evenly. To half of the baking dish, add the onion , ginger, garlic . To half of that onion ginger garlic mixture, add in the whole spices and fenugreek leaves.
    • To the rest of the baking dish, add the vegetables and tofu. Then in a small bowl, mix your ground spices. The coriander, cumin, cardamom, cayenne and salt and then sprinkle it all over the vegetables.
    • Drizzle oil all over the vegetables as well as the onion mixture. Toss the veggies well and spread them evenly. Add in sprinkles of water to help the spices stick to the veggies if needed.
    • Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (206 degrees Celsius ) for 25-30 minutes or until the onions starts to turn golden. Stir once in between
    • Remove pan from the oven, transfer half of the onion mixture into a blender. (Transfer the half which does not have the whole spices. Whole spices don’t get blended. Leave that onion mix in the pan. Remove bay leaves etc just before serving)
    • Blend the sauce: Then add the water, cashews, salt, sugar and blend until the mixture is incredibly smooth. ( I usually blend it for a minute then let it sit for 5 mins then blend again for two to three cycles. So that the cashews are blended into the water really well.)
    • Then add that sauce to the baking dish. Optionally add  3 tbsp tomato purée or 1 tbsp tomato paste , and mix everything really well.
    • Put it back in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are cooked to preference.
    • The sauce might thicken too much so you can add 1/2 - 1 cup or more of non-dairy milk while it's still baking in the last five minutes or so, or add when you just take the pan out of the oven. Taste and adjust salt and flavor( depending on the type and amount of veggies, I usually add another 1/4 tsp salt)
    • Variations: You can also add in a few strands of saffron to 1/4 cup of warm milk and then add that to the baking dish for even more flavor.
      Usually there's also 2-3 tablespoons of chopped pineapple added to it. I don't particularly like pineapple in the Korma so I don't add it. You can add it if you like.
      You can also garnish the korma with some fresh pomegranate seeds and some pepper flakes.
    • Toast the nuts and raisins in the oil in a small skillet over medium heat until the nuts are golden. Then add half of them to the Korma and mix in and use the other half for garnishing.
    • Store refrigerated for upto 3 days. Freeze for upto a month. Reheat in a skillet with additional non dairy milk as needed 
      Serve the Korma with Naan (regular or glutenfree) tandoori roti, roti or flatbread or rice. 

    Notes

    • To make this nut-free, use 3/4 cup of silken tofu and blend it with 2 cups of water instead of 1/2 a cup of cashews and two and a half cups of water. You can also use 3/4 cup of non-dairy yogurt instead. Or use a mix of seeds (pumpkin, hemp and melon seeds)
    • To make this Soyfree- use 15 oz can chickpeas or just more vegetables instead of tofu
    • To make this Onion garlic free: Omit the onion and garlic. Add 1 cup peeled and thinly sliced zucchini instead. Add 1/8 pinch asafetida and increase fenugreek leaves to 1.5 teaspoons 
    • For a tomato cream Korma : add 10-14 oz tomato purée along with cashew cream. 

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Baked Navratan Korma
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 176 Calories from Fat 81
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 9g14%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Sodium 512mg22%
    Potassium 410mg12%
    Carbohydrates 20g7%
    Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 4g4%
    Protein 8g16%
    Vitamin A 1425IU29%
    Vitamin C 21mg25%
    Calcium 116mg12%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Ingredients:

    • Cloves, bay leaves, cardamom pods, fenugreek leaves, cinnamon stick, are the whole spices
    • Finely chopped ginger garlic and chopped onion make the volume of the sauce
    • vegetables: cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, carrots, zucchini, peas
    •  firm or extra-firm tofu adds some protein. or use more veggies or chickpeas
    • For the ground spices: ground coriander, cumin, cardamom, cayenne or Indian red chili powder
    • the sauce is a mix of water, cooked onion ginger garlic, and cashews and is thickened with a bit of flour
    •  salt and sugar for the perfect balance of flavors
    • we add nuts such as cashews and pistachios as well as raisins

    Tips:

    • Usually, there’s also 2-3 tablespoons of chopped pineapple added to korma. I don’t particularly like pineapple in the Korma so I don’t add it. You can add it if you like.
    • You can also garnish the korma with some fresh pomegranate seeds and some pepper flakes.
    • To make this nut-free, use 3/4 cup of silken tofu and blend it with two cups of water instead of half a cup of cashews and two and a half cups of water. You can also use 3/4 cup of non-dairy yogurt instead. Or use a mix of seeds (pumpkin, hemp and melon seeds)
    • To make this Soyfree– use 15 oz can chickpeas or just more vegetables instead of tofu

    ingredients on a marble countertop

    How to make Indian Navratan Korma:

    a casserole dish with ginger, garlic and chopped veg as well as tofu in a white casserole dish

    In a large baking dish, 10 by 14 inches or similar size, add 1 tsp oil and spread evenly. To one half of the baking dish, add the onion ginger garlic mixture. To half of that onion ginger mixture, add in the whole spices and fenugreek leaves and mix in.

    To the rest of the baking dish, add the vegetables and tofu. Then in a small bowl, mix your ground spices. The coriander, cumin, cardamom, cayenne and salt and then sprinkle it all over the vegetables.

    tofu cubes, veggies and minced ginger and garlic in a white casserole dish

    Drizzle oil all over the vegetables as well as the onion mixture. Toss well and spread the vegetables evenly. Add in sprinkles of water to help the spices stick to the veggies if needed.

    spices being sprinkled on top of veggies in a white casserole dish

    veggies and minced garlic and ginger in a white casserole dish

    Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (206 degrees Celsius ) for 25-30 minutes or until the onions starts to turn golden. Stir once in between. Remove the pan from the oven, transfer half of the onion mixture into a blender. Transfer the half which does Not have the whole spices.


    minced ginger and garlic in a white casserole dish

    Add the water, cashews, salt, sugar, and blend until the mixture is incredibly smooth. I usually blend it for a minute then let it sit then blend again for two to three cycles. So that the cashews are blended into the water really well.

    soaked cashews next to a sheet pan with toasted tofu and veggies

    creamy cashew sauce being added to roasted veggies in a casserole dish

    creamy cashew sauce being poured on top of roasted veggies

    baked Navratan Korma curry in a casserole dish

    Then add that blended sauce to the pan. Optionally add  3 tbsp tomato purée or 1 tbsp paste, and mix everything really well.

    Put it back in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are cooked to preference.

    Navratan Korma in a white casserole dish

    The sauce might thicken too much so you can add 1/2 to 1 cup more of non-dairy milk while it’s still baking in the last five minutes or so, or add when you just take the pan out of the oven and mix in. Taste and adjust salt and flavor.

    Baked Vegan Navratan Korma in a white casserole dish
    You can also add in a few strands of saffron to a quarter cup of warm milk and then add that to the dish for even more flavor.

    milk being added to tofu and veggies in a white casserole dish

     

    a black skillet with toasted nuts

    Toast the nuts and raisins in the oil in a small skillet over medium heat until the nuts are golden. Then add half of them to the Korma and mix in and use the other half for garnishing.

    creamy Indian Navratan Korma curry in a white casserole dish sprinkled with nuts and chili flakes

    How to store navratan Korma

    Store refrigerated for upto 3 days. Freeze for upto a month. Reheat in a skillet with additional non dairy milk as needed

    What to serve with Navratan Korma

    Serve the Korma with Naan (regular or glutenfree) tandoori roti, roti or flatbread or rice.

    a bowl of Baked Vegan Navratan Korma topped with chopped nuts and red chili flakes

     

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    1. Kath

      February 14, 2022 at 12:03 am

      Hi is it one standard cup measurement as in 250ml of milk or is it 600ml of milk? This is a big difference!

      Reply
      • Richa

        February 14, 2022 at 1:15 pm

        It’s 240 ml. The widget was erroring out. Some weights of veggies weren’t even showing. I updated the plugin and it seems to be picking all values correctly now . Thanks for catching it!

        Reply
    2. Kimberly

      February 12, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      I’m excited to try this but can you clarify for me… the half of the onion mixture that has the whole spices in it… does that get discarded or do you leave it in the pan?

      Reply
      • Richa

        February 12, 2022 at 9:01 pm

        It stays in the pan. The whole spices don’t get blended. You can remove the bay leaves etc after all the baking

        Reply
    3. Janita

      February 11, 2022 at 9:54 pm

      5 stars
      The Korma was delicious! Even more so the next day! It felt like a special
      Meal from an upscale restaurant

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        February 13, 2022 at 6:18 pm

        no need to dine out, thanks

        Reply
    4. Emily

      February 08, 2022 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      Making this for dinner ! It smells amazing!!

      Reply
      • Richa

        February 08, 2022 at 11:26 am

        Awesome

        Reply
    5. Maneesha

      February 08, 2022 at 8:11 am

      Oh em gee! I can’t wait to try this, Richa! I love your Indian recipes! Please do keep ’em coming!

      Reply
      • Richa

        February 08, 2022 at 11:26 am

        Try this one!!

        Reply

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