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A bowl of tofu matar is on the plate with rice and spoon.
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5 from 20 votes

Vegan Matar Paneer With Tofu

This Tofu Matar Masala or Tofu and Green Peas curry is a vegan version of the classic and very famous Indian dish - "Matar Paneer"
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Vegan
Allergen: Dairy free, Gluten free
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 5
Calories: 180kcal

Ingredients

  • 16 oz firm tofu
  • 1 cup green peas frozen
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ¼ cup cashew nuts
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi
  • 3 teaspoon chopped cilantro
  • salt to tatse
  • 4 teaspoon oil

Instructions

  • Place the cubed tofu inside the air fryer basket. Spray some oil and air fry at 400 F for 10 minutes or until crisp and golden brown in color.
    16 oz firm tofu
  • If you don't have an air fryer, heat some oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the tofu until crisp and golden from all sides. Set it aside. (check above for step-by-step pictures)

Prepare the masala

  • While the tofu is frying, start the masala by heating two teaspoons of oil in a pan over medium heat.
  • Once the pan is hot, add ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds and let them fry for a few seconds.
    ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • Add chopped garlic and ginger and fry for a minute.
    1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • Add chopped onions and fry until they are light brown in color.
    1 onion chopped
  • Add tomato paste and three tablespoons of water. Mix well and cook for a couple of minutes.
    2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • Now add the cashew nuts and mix well. Switch off the heat and let it cool before blending. (check above for step-by-step pictures)
    ¼ cup cashew nuts
  • Blend the onion-tomato mixture with ½ cup of water into the smooth paste.
  • Place the same pan over the medium flame, and add three teaspoons of oil.
    As the oil heats up, add the blended masala, salt, and spice powder together with frozen green peas.
    1 cup green peas, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon garam masala powder, ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder, salt to tatse
  • Add ¾ cup of water and cook for five minutes or until the gravy comes to a boil.
  • Now add the fried tofu and mix gently. Cook for another two minutes. (check above for step-by-step pictures)
  • Add Kasuri methi and chopped cilantro leaves. Mix well and cook for a minute.
    1 teaspoon kasuri methi, 3 teaspoon chopped cilantro
  • Serve Vegan Mutter paneer Masala hot with steamed rice, jeera rice, besan roti, or naan bread. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Use fresh tomatoes for a more flavorful curry.
  • Soak cashew nuts in hot water for 15 minutes before blending to get a smooth gravy.
  • If you don't like coriander leaves, you can use chopped scallions or green chilies for garnish.
  • If you don't have an air fryer, you can use pan-fried tofu cubes.
  • Be sure to drain the water entirely from the tofu before using it in the recipe.
  • To make it Jain-friendly, you can make the tofu matar recipe without onions and garlic. Instead, add a pinch of asafoetida and ½ cup of grated carrots as you saute the tomatoes and onions.

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 2mg