Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oil in a wide pan and fry the cumin seeds until they sizzle.
- Add the onion, ginger and chilli and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the potatoes, turmeric, coriander, chilli powder and salt. Stir, cover and cook on low for 8 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower and tomato, stir gently, cover and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until both vegetables are tender. Stir only occasionally so the florets stay whole.
- Uncover, raise the heat for a couple of minutes to dry it out, then sprinkle over garam masala, amchur and coriander.
The spices that matter
The most common first spice in a tadka: crackle the seeds in hot oil or ghee before adding onions, dal or vegetables. Roasted and ground, it goes int…
No cumin? Caraway or shahi jeera are the closest whole-seed swaps. For ground cumin, use a little extra ground coriander with a pinch of chilli.
A pinch goes into almost every dal, sabzi and curry, usually with the onions or straight into the dal as it boils. Fresh turmeric root is pickled in …
No turmeric? There is no real substitute for flavour. For colour only, a tiny pinch of saffron or Kashmiri chilli changes the shade, but not the taste.
Ground coriander is the bulk of most curry bases, often used in larger quantities than any other spice. Whole seeds are roasted for sambar, rasam and…
No coriander seed? A mix of a little cumin and a pinch of fennel gives a similar warmth. Fresh coriander leaves are a different flavour and not a substitute.
Adds heat to curries, dals, marinades and snacks. Most kitchens keep a hot powder for heat and Kashmiri chilli for colour.
No red chilli powder? Cayenne pepper is the closest swap. Mix with Kashmiri chilli or paprika to get colour with less heat.
Nice to have
The blend to use
Garam masala (Punjabi style): The best-known Indian spice mix: warm, aromatic and only mildly hot. Every household has its own version; this one is a classic Punjabi-sty…
Salt, oil or ghee, onions, ginger, garlic and fresh herbs are assumed. See how to make a tadka for the order to add whole spices.
Dishes with similar spices
Frequently asked questions
How long does aloo gobi take to make?
About 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
What spices are in aloo gobi?
The essentials are cumin, turmeric, coriander seed, red chilli powder. Nice to have: dry mango powder, dried fenugreek leaves.
Tips from travellers
Use Aloo gobi differently at home? Share your tip. The first good one goes right here.