Zesty vegetables meet with spicy onion and tomato gravy to make an absolute luscious Indian side dish called Vegetable Jalfrezi. This recipe is simple and straightforward. And absolutely, ready to serve in less than 30 minutes. Learn how to make this Indian style mixed vegetable stir fry in a rich tomato curry.
Thinking of making this dish for the party? This side dish is the first to get a vanished in the middle of the crowd — a naturally guilt-free side dish that will be appreciated by everyone. Once you taste a bite, I'm sure that you're going to love this forever.
This is fabulously easy to make. If you have cooked Indian food before, trust me making this vegetable jalfrezi is like a breeze. Ideal to make at any time from busy weeknight dinners to hassle-free weekend dinners.
The new year has started but I'm still in the crazy holiday mood. Holidays are not only for meeting family and friends but also relishing them with lots of food.
Since everyone is in the holiday mood and my family is after me to make a creamy and delicious side dish. However, I wanted to make something healthy. This Vegetable Jalfrezi, the side dish is acknowledged by both of us since it is super-rich, tasty gravy at the same time it is loaded with vegetables and protein-rich Paneer.
This vegetable sidekick is deliciously creamy and healthy. Cannot think of any other food which is delightful with heaps of veggies that tastes extremely good. Seriously I cannot stop myself gobbling them.
This recipe is highly flexible as you may add your favorite veggies and the main protein source. There is more room for customization to enhance your requirements. Let's join together to make Splendid and appealing vegetable and paneer jalfrezi together.
What is vegetable jalfrezi?
Jalfrezi is believed to be originated from Eastern India. And the word Jalfrezi refers to the spicy food. This dish is usually made with leftover vegetables with rich gravy. It can be made with any combination of veggies and one main protein-rich ingredient.
Other curry recipes you may like,
- Madras lentils
- Mung bean curry
- Lima bean curry
- Indian cauliflower curry
- Capsicum curry
- Instant pot potato curry
- Curry recipes
How to make Vegetable Jalfrezi?
The Ingredients
Let's prepare the elements with a simple list of vegetables. Feel free to add or adjust your favorite vegetables and start exploring other dimensions of this side dish.
Paneer. This is the protein-rich ingredient in this recipe. Another name of paneer is the cottage cheese, a most common component of India. If the paneer is not available to you, then you may substitute with Farmer's cheese or Ricotta Salata, which are the closest substitute for Paneer available in the United States. Unlike other cheeses, Paneer does retain its shape even after it's gets cooked.
Veggies. I used a mix of colored bell peppers like green, red, and yellow. How to cut vegetables? Well, slice to the size of the pinky finger, this is the authentic style of chopping for making Vegetable Jalfrezi curry. You may add veggies like broccoli, green beans, beets, carrots, potatoes.
Onion. Onion thickens the gravy and gives an excellent texture to the side dish. You may use red, yellow, or white onion. Mostly I use yellow onions as I feel a hint of sweetness which makes the gravy delicious. This is my personal choice, and you can use any variety of onion.
Tomato puree. I used plum tomatoes as it gives neutral taste and at the same time, it thickens the Vegetable Jalfrezi curry well. Roma tomatoes add a little bit more sourness. I always make tomato puree with fresh tomatoes. This step is not a time-consuming task, but still, you may use canned diced tomatoes if you need it.
Kitchen King Masala. I would suggest using this store-bought masala which is available in Indian stores with different brands. This gives a whole new twist to the dish. Without this I feel, this dish cannot get completed. If you don't have it handy, you may substitute with Kasuri methi.
Otherwise, you may also substitute with garam masala, but the product will be completely different from the earlier. But this one too still tastes good.
The spice powders. We need red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder for making this recipe. Though you make find these are the long list of ingredients, but these are the staple in every other Indian home. These ingredients are basic and give an authentic taste to this Vegetable Jalfrezi.
Some of you find red chili powder as super-hot, you may substitute with cayenne pepper or paprika depending on the spice level you prefer.
The recipe directions
Roast the vegetables. Heat a tablespoon of cooking oil and add cauliflower florets, red peppers, green pepper, and yellow pepper.
Roast them until it changes its color slightly. And keep aside.
The veggies need not be cooked thoroughly. Just half done does taste great and adds crisp texture to the Vegetable Jalfrezi.
Adding spices. Heat 4 tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan, stir in ginger garlic paste. Sauté in simmer flame for 2 minutes or until it changes its color slightly.
Then had finely chopped onion and Sautee until the onions become soft and tender. Then add freshly pureed tomato. And sauté until the oil separates.
Then add red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt and sauté mild flame for a minute.
Make the gravy. Do not burn otherwise the gravy will be bitter. Then add a cup of water and bring it to boil. Cook until the gravy thickens.
Add paneer. Now add the paneer and combine gently. Finally, add a tablespoon of kitchen King masala and stir for a minute.
Remove it from the flame and serve hot with Indian flatbreads or with rice.
How does this taste like?
The sauce is rich spicy with the mild flavors of onion and tomatoes and garam masala. Furthermore, it's a bundle of the taste of vegetables with the creamy paneer.
What do you serve?
This is best to be served with rice or Indian flatbreads like roti, naan bread, kulcha.
Naan bread, vegetable jalfrezi, and a simple garden salad would make an excellent menu. Each one of these dishes compliments well in this list. Trust me; this is an excellent heartwarming Indian dinner wholesome for the family and friends.
The pairing dishes
Vegetable Jalfrezi variations
Running out of time or planning to make this recipe at the last minute? No worries and cool! Here are some of the tips that can cut down the cooking time instantaneously.
- Use canned diced tomatoes instead of the fresh pureed tomato.
- You may make the gravy ahead of time and mix the vegetables at once needed.
- Make the gravy and sauté the vegetables simultaneously.
Adopting to the diets
- If you are vegan, skip the paneer. Instead, you may add tofu or chickpea for the protein content in this Vegetable Jalfrezi recipe.
- This is naturally gluten-free and a nutritious vegetarian dish.
- Meat lovers, You may use this same recipe for making meat version of jalfrezi. Substitute paneer with chicken or shrimp or lamb.
Vegetable jalfrezi
Ingredients
For roasting the vegetables
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup cauliflower florets
- ¼ cup red peppers sliced
- ¼ cup green peppers sliced
- ¼ cup yellow peppers sliced
For the curry
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- ½ cup tomato fresh puree
- 1 tablespoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tsp salt
For cooking
- 2 cup water
- 1 cup paneer sliced lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon kitchen King masala /Garam masala
Instructions
For roasting the vegetables
- Over medium heat, in a pan add vegetable oil, cauliflower florets, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper.
- And pan roast for 4-5 minutes in medium flame or until the veggies are half cooked.
- And keep aside.
For seasoning
- In the pan add 3 tablespoon of vegetable oil and finely chopped onion.
- In medium heat, sauté until the onions changes turns soft and pink.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and saute until fragrant but without burning them.
- Add tomato puree and sauté until the oil separates.
- Now add red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt.
- Now sauté for a minute in simmer flame.
For cooking
- Add water and bring it to boil for 10 minutes in medium flame or until the gravy thickens.
- Add paneer, roasted vegetables, and kitchen King masala and combine them until paneer is coated well with the masala.
- Serve hot with Naan or rice.
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