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    Home » Indian Vegan Recipes

    Vegetable Balti

    Published: Jun 2, 2021 by Richa 37 Comments

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe

    This easy Vegetable Balti is a really delicious way to get the family to eat healthy veggies like bell pepper and cauliflower, as the Balti Spices add a fantastic Indian flavor to them. Glutenfree Soyfree and Nutfree!. Serve it with rice.

    overhead shot of two servings of vegetable balti served with rice

    Meet vegetable balti! An easy veggie-forward weeknight dinner made in one casserole!

    What is Vegetable Balti and how is it different from other curries

    Balti translates to “bucket” in Hindi and refers to the style of cooking used for this dish. The food is cooked in an iron pan with two handles that looks a bit like a bucket. This style of cooking is said to have originated in a Pakistani restaurant in Birmingham, back in the 1970s.

    The now-famous balti curry has become a restaurant favorite as it is flavorful yet mild! My Balti spice blend really takes mere moments to make and lends such an incredible depth of flavor to the vegetables. While there are balti spice pastes available, the homemade spice blend is far superior to anything found in bottles or ready-made pastes.


    a bowl of vegetable balti served with rice and sprinkled with fresh parsley
    Think of vegetable balti as a type of stir-fry. We bake this dish in the oven. No burnt spices! If you loved my Vegetable Curry Casserole, you will love this one too!

    What is Balti Flavour?

    Balti sauce is a fragrant Indian sauce based on garlic, onions and ginger and a blend of Indian spices. Fresh whole spices are ground and used for the best flavor. They add umami flavor to the sauce. Balti sauce is generally not creamy but you can easily add coconut milk or cashew milk instead of water.  Balti gosht is eaten in Pakistan and North India, as well as other parts of the world, such as Great Britain.

    a bowl with rice topped with vegetable balti

    More veggie-forward dishes to try

    • Butter Tofu GF
    • IP Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce , with Cauliflower. GF
    • Tofu Amritsari Masala.GF
    • Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chickin(soycurls). GF – Creamy, Delicious
    • Mushroom Matar Masala GF
    • Bombay Potato and Peas GF
    • Tofu in Spinach Curry – Palak Tofu GF

    Print Recipe
    5 from 13 votes

    Vegetable Balti

    This easy Vegetable Balti is a really delicious way to get the family to eat healthy veggies like bell pepper and cauliflower, as the Balti Spices add a fantastic Indian flavor to them. 1 Pan, Baked Balti Casserole. A wonderfully rich and hearty Indian Balti sauce that is packed with veggie vitamins . Glutenfree Soyfree and Nutfree.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time55 mins
    Total Time1 hr 5 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian, Pakistani
    Keyword: baked vegetable curry, vegetable balti
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 128kcal
    Author: Vegan Richa

    Ingredients

    For the spice mix:

    • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds or use ground coriander
    • 1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds or use 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
    • 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds or use ground cumin
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
    • 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek leaves or 1/8 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
    • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne use less for less heat

    For the curry:

    • 2 teaspoons oil
    • 1 cup (160 g) thinly sliced red onions
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1/2 inch (4 g) ginger minced
    • 1 red bell pepper sliced or use a mix of red and green
    • 1 cup (100 g) cauliflower florets
    • 1 cup (140 g) cubed sweet potato or butternut squash
    • 1 cup (96 g) sliced mushrooms
    • 2 tomatoes chopped small
    • 8 ounce (226.8 g) tomato puree canned also called tomato sauce depending on the brand. Use unseasoned
    • 1 cup (250 ml) water
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Grind the spices in a spice grinder or blender with 2 blade, and set aside.
    • In a baking dish, add the oil, onion, garlic, and ginger and the spice mix and mix well, and spread it around.
    • Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 c) for 9-11 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
    • Then add in the veggies, tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, and water and mix well.
    • Then put the dish back in the oven to bake for 35-45 minutes.
    • Cover the dish after the first 20 minutes so that the edges don't burn too much. Check if the cauliflower and sweet potato are cooked to preference at 35 minutes. Otherwise, bake a little bit longer.
    • Remove from the oven. Garnish with cilantro and lime juice and serve with Roti flatbread, naan or rice. Drizzle some non dairy yogurt or vegan cream before serving to tame the spices if needed.
    • To make this on stovetop: Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. combine onion garlic ginger and spices and cook until golden. Add tomatoes and cook for a few mins until tender , add the purée, salt, veggies and 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook until veggies are tender (14-17 mins) . Stir occasionally. Taste and adjust flavor. Add more water or some creamy milk to adjust consistent if needed, bring to a boil then take off heat.

    Notes

    To make this creamy, you can use 1 cup of full fat coconut milk instead of water.
    You can also add in protein like cubed tofu or chickpeas. Replace some of the veggies with the chickpea volume so you have enough sauce

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegetable Balti
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 128 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Sodium 489mg21%
    Potassium 819mg23%
    Carbohydrates 24g8%
    Fiber 6g25%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 6682IU134%
    Vitamin C 70mg85%
    Calcium 61mg6%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Ingredients:

    • the Balti spice mix is a blend of coriander, nigella seeds, cumin, cardamom, fenugreek, cinnamon, pepper, paprika, and cayenne
    • just like with most of my vegan Indian curries I use red onions, garlic, and minced ginger to form the base of the vegetable dish
    • sliced bell pepper add some color and natural sweetness
    • cauliflower florets for some bite
    • sweet potato or butternut squash add a nice creamy texture
    • mushrooms up the umami of this vegetable balti
    • for that savory balti gravy, we use a blend of fresh tomatoes and tomato puree (canned) also called tomato sauce

    Tips & Variations:

    • To make this a creamy veggie curry, you can use 1 cup of full-fat coconut milk instead of water.
    • You can also add in protein like cubed tofu or chickpeas. Replace some of the veggies with the chickpea volume so you have enough sauce.
    • This is a dish that tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had a chance to sit together and meld.
    ingredients needed for making vegetable balti

    How to make Vegetable Balti:

    Prep: Grind the spices in a spice grinder and set them aside.
    onions, garlic and ginger in a casserole dish
    In a baking dish, add the oil, onion, garlic, and ginger and the spice mix and mix well, and spread it around.
    onion, garlic and ginger tossed and baked with spices and oil to make balti
    Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit(205 c) for 9-11 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
    Then add in the veggies, tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, and water and mix well.
    healthy vegetables assembled in a casserole dish to make balti vegetables
    Then put the dish back in the oven to bake for 35-45 minutes.
    vegetables being mixed with balti spices and tomato puree to make balti
    Cover the dish after the first 20 minutes so that the edges don’t burn too much. Check if the cauliflower and sweet potato are cooked to preference. Otherwise, bake a little bit longer.
    freshly baked Indian vegetable balti in a white casserole dish
    Remove from the oven. Garnish with cilantro and lime juice and serve.
    two bowls of healthy vegetable balti with rice

    How do you eat Balti?

    The traditional way to eat a Balti is to scoop it up with naan, or any other flatbread. But I also like to serve it over rice. 

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    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online! I love hearing from you all! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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    1. Mary

      September 13, 2022 at 2:21 pm

      Hi Richa,

      Was just wondering if this is suitable for freezing. Also if you can suggest other recipes for freezing, as I am making care packages for friends and family who are going through a difficult time.
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        September 13, 2022 at 2:51 pm

        Yes and yes – here are some great recipes for freezing: https://www.veganricha.com/?s=freezer+friendly How kind of you.

        Reply
        • Richa

          September 13, 2022 at 7:11 pm

          Here’s the freezer friendly category https://www.veganricha.com/category/freezer-friendly/

          Reply
    2. Vanessa

      March 15, 2022 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      First time I’ve tried this having recently switched back to plant based. Delicious, did the stove top version but really like that’s it low oil which is sometimes hard to find the balance between depth. Love the spice mix. Will certainly do again, also like that it was super quick. Balti winner!

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        March 16, 2022 at 1:43 pm

        Welcome back! thank you

        Reply
    3. K U

      October 27, 2021 at 1:14 pm

      Looks amazing! Do you know the best way to reheat? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        October 29, 2021 at 12:26 pm

        i prefer stovetop to microwave. (medium-high heat)

        Reply
    4. celia

      October 26, 2021 at 10:43 pm

      5 stars
      I agree with Jane: This is soooo good, so deliciously good!

      I will definitely make this dish again. Come to think of it; There are not many of Vegan Richa’s creations that I have not made more than once.

      Thank you so much for sharing these delicious recipes!

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        October 29, 2021 at 12:15 pm

        wow! a repeat customer =)

        Reply
    5. Jane

      August 07, 2021 at 3:22 pm

      5 stars
      This was soooo good. We couldn’t stop eating.

      Reply
      • Richa

        August 08, 2021 at 1:59 pm

        ❤️❤️

        Reply
    6. Emily

      July 02, 2021 at 10:49 pm

      5 stars
      I love how hands-off this is. Oven baked dishes are so great because once it’s in there with a timer I don’t have to pay attention! Would love to see more casserole or tray bake recipes like this!

      Reply
      • Richa

        July 02, 2021 at 11:04 pm

        Thanks! Yes more on the way after summer!

        Reply
    7. Keren

      June 14, 2021 at 3:22 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and easy to make!

      Reply
      • Richa

        June 14, 2021 at 6:14 pm

        ❤️❤️

        Reply
        • Rochelle

          January 11, 2022 at 9:39 pm

          Hi Richa, I don’t have any cauliflower and wondering if brocolli can be used as a substitute.

          Reply
          • Richa

            January 12, 2022 at 5:25 am

            Yup

            Reply
    8. Monica

      June 10, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      Made this on the stovetop. Absolutely delicious. Added a few squeezes of lime to brighten it up. Will make again.

      Reply
      • Monica

        June 10, 2021 at 7:39 pm

        5 stars
        Also eliminated the oil since I’m trying to be WFPB Whole Foods Plant Based. Didn’t need it for my taste.

        Reply
        • Richa

          June 11, 2021 at 3:15 pm

          Awesome !!

          Reply
      • Richa

        June 11, 2021 at 3:16 pm

        Yay

        Reply
    9. Jane

      June 07, 2021 at 10:29 am

      So good. Iadded some red lentils, extra water and a cup of coconut milk. Went down a storm! Thanks Richa!

      Reply
    10. Laura

      June 06, 2021 at 6:32 am

      5 stars
      This is delicious! We make a variety of Indian dishes regular, and this is my new favorite! My husband made it and said it was very easy. It tasted complex. I LOVED it!
      Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Richa

        June 06, 2021 at 9:58 am

        Yay!!

        Reply
    11. Emily

      June 05, 2021 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      Another winner! The sauce is so flavorful! I added a mix of veggies and some garden. Drizzled some coconut yogurt before serving!

      Reply
      • Richa

        June 05, 2021 at 10:55 pm

        Awesome!!

        Reply
    12. Maneesha

      June 03, 2021 at 10:18 am

      Hi Richa! this looks incredible, and I cannot wait to try it in the oven! Is it possible to make this recipe stovetop?

      Reply
      • Richa

        June 03, 2021 at 12:18 pm

        Yep. Cook over medium. Once the onion and spice mixture is nicely golden, add the tomatoes and cook for 4-5 mins until tomatoes are tender then add the purée and veggies and salt. You won’t water. Just cover and cook . Once the veggies are tender you can add in a bit of water or non dairy milk for sauce consistency if needed and bring to a boil and done

        Reply
        • Maneesha

          June 03, 2021 at 4:49 pm

          Thanks Richa!

          Reply
          • Maneesha

            June 10, 2021 at 9:47 am

            5 stars
            This was delicious! I made it stovetop and added coconut milk for creaminess, and it was a HIT! Thank you so much Richa for your 100% success recipes!

            Reply
            • Richa

              June 10, 2021 at 5:59 pm

              Yay!

    13. Trina

      June 02, 2021 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      This was a quick and tasty meal. I made it with water and doubled the seasoning as I knew I was tossing all of the lone veggies in the fridge. Versatile recipe.
      Thank you,
      Trina

      Reply
      • Richa

        June 03, 2021 at 4:59 am

        Awesome!!

        Reply
      • Peter Nielsen

        June 06, 2021 at 1:42 pm

        Do I use the same amount of ground spices as whole spices?

        Reply
        • Vegan Richa Support

          June 07, 2021 at 11:16 am

          yes

          Reply
    14. Jessi Summers

      June 02, 2021 at 6:11 am

      I love how straightforward and delicious this sounds, can’t wait to try it! Will probably swap cauliflower for chickpeas.

      Reply
      • Richa

        June 02, 2021 at 8:50 pm

        Yes chickpeas work great!

        Reply

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