Indian Cauliflower Recipes (Indian Gobi Recipes)

If you are struggling to find new and exciting ways to cook with cauliflower, then you have come to the right place.

A lot of people think that cauliflower is a bland vegetable, but they are just cooking it in the wrong way! Cauliflower is actually very versatile and tasty. 

In Indian cuisine, cauliflower is called ‘Gobi’. There are lots of amazing Indian recipes that really make the most out of cauliflower and are used to create exciting dishes that will be a real treat for your tastebuds.

Keep reading to find out more. 

Our Fave Indian Cauliflower Recipes 

Here are some of the most delicious Indian recipes for cooking with cauliflower that you can try at home. 

1. Aloo Gobi 

Aloo Gobi is a potato and cauliflower curry. It is known for its golden yellow color, which comes from the use of turmeric as a main ingredient. It also contains tomatoes, onions, and various spices, which makes it a flavorsome dish. Some variations of the recipe use black cumin seeds and curry leaves. 

Indian restaurants that cater to Western customers will often offer Aloo Gobi as a side dish, but it is traditionally eaten as a main course with rice or bread on the side. Aloo Gobi originates in Punjab cuisine but is enjoyed all over India. 

Here’s our version of a vegan Aloo Gobi for you to try at home:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 green chilies, slit
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Fresh cilantro for garnish
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a large pan and add cumin seeds. Let them sizzle.
2. Add onions, garlic, and ginger, and sauté until onions are golden.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, green chilies, and spices. Cook until the tomatoes soften.
4. Add the potatoes and cauliflower, stirring to coat in the spice mixture.
5. Add 1/2 cup of water, cover, and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
6. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or roti.

2. Gobi Manchurian 

Manchurian is a type of Indian-Chinese fusion cuisine. The ingredients are roughly chopped and deep fried before being tossed in a sweet and sour savory sauce.

It can be made with meat like chicken or beef, with cheese such as paneer, or even with vegetables like cauliflower. It tends to be served as an appetizer. 

The batter for gobi manchurian is usually made using corn flour. The sauce tends to be made with soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and chili.

The cauliflower is crispy on the outside but tender in the middle. If you want to make the recipe a little healthier, you can bake the cauliflower chunks instead of frying them. You could also use an air fryer. 

Here’s our vegan take on this tasty dish:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• ½ cup chickpea flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 small bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Water as needed
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Mix chickpea flour, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt with water to make a thick batter. Coat cauliflower florets in the batter.
2. Fry or bake the cauliflower until crispy.
3. Heat oil in a pan and sauté ginger, garlic, chilies, onion, and bell pepper.
4. Add soy sauce, ketchup, hot sauce, and vinegar. Stir well.
5. Toss in the crispy cauliflower, mix until coated, and serve hot.

3. Achari Gobi 

Achari is a very popular Punjabi curry from North India. It means ‘pickle,’ and the spice mix is made by pickling spices, which gives it a unique flavor.

You can make achari with any filling – chicken is a popular option but achari gobi is just as delicious and is ideal for vegetarians. It has a tasty, tangy note, which balances with the sweet nuttiness of the cauliflower to create a well-balanced dish.

You can make achari gobi as a side dish or serve it with rice and bread as a main dish with some chutney on the side.

Here’s our vegan version if you’d like to make achari gobi at home: 

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Fresh cilantro for garnish
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, fennel seeds, and cumin seeds until they splutter.
2. Add onion, sauté until golden, and then add tomatoes and spices. Cook until the tomatoes soften.
3. Stir in cauliflower florets, cover, and cook until tender (10-15 minutes).
4. Finish with lemon juice and garnish with cilantro. Serve with rice or flatbread.

4. Tandoori Gobi 

A tandoor is a large clay oven used in traditional Indian cooking. ‘Tandoori’ is used to describe the meat that has been cooked in the oven, but it is also used to describe the combination of seasonings added to the meat –  chili, cumin, garlic, coriander, ginger, etc.

You can use these seasonings to roast cauliflower in your own oven if you want to make tandoori gobi. 

Cauliflower doesn’t have as much natural flavor as meat, so the recipes tend to add additional seasonings like turmeric, garam masala, and curry powder.

This creates a lovely, spiced cauliflower dish that is roasted in the oven for a smoky and savory flavor. It is also a very healthy meal and can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. 

Here’s our version, which is 100% plant-based:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• ½ cup plant-based yogurt
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Mix yogurt, spices, lemon juice, oil, and salt to create a marinade.
2. Coat cauliflower florets in the marinade and let sit for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and roast cauliflower for 25-30 minutes until golden and slightly crispy.
4. Serve hot with rice or naan.

5. Gobi Paratha 

Paratha is a type of Asian unleavened flatbread that is cooked in a stone frying pan. It is made out of whole wheat flour, salt, water, and clarified butter (ghee). You can get plain paratha, or you can get it with various fillings, including cauliflower. 

Gobi paratha is often eaten as a breakfast dish but can also be enjoyed as a snack or a side dish. The cauliflower is flavored with spices and then grated to create the filling. 

We’ve taken an authentic recipe and made it vegan:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, grated
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Water as needed
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Make dough by mixing whole wheat flour with water and a pinch of salt. Knead and let rest.
2. In a pan, heat oil and sauté cumin seeds, spices, and grated cauliflower until cooked.
3. Divide dough into balls, roll out, and place cauliflower filling in the center. Fold and roll out again.
4. Cook on a hot griddle, flipping and cooking both sides until golden brown.

6. Gobi Tikka Masala 

Tikka masala is a type of curry sauce that was created by Indian chefs living in Westernized countries. It was designed to be a mild curry for the Western palate and has now become very popular.

The sauce has a creamy base – usually made with double cream or yogurt – and is flavored with ginger, turmeric, coriander, garam masala, cumin, and a bit of chili powder. 

You can make any type of tikka masala that you want – chicken, beef, vegetable – but cauliflower works really well for a vegetarian meal that is high in nutrients. The mild flavor of the curry doesn’t overpower the flavor of the cauliflower. 

We’ve created a delicious vegan version:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 tomatoes, puréed
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Fresh cilantro for garnish
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté onions, garlic, and ginger until soft.
2. Add the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes, then stir in the tomato purée.
3. Add cauliflower florets and coconut milk, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or flatbread.

7. Gobi Pakora 

A pakora is an Indian fritter that is often served as a street food or an appetizer at a restaurant. You can make anything into a pakora – meat, cheese, potato, onion – or cauliflower.

The flour for the batter is seasoned with garam masala and sometimes other spices, which gives the fritter a delicious and savory flavor. 

Gobi pakoras are crunchy on the outside and tender in the middle.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into small florets
• 1 cup chickpea flour
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• ½ teaspoon red chili powder
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Water as needed
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

Method:

1. Make a batter with chickpea flour, spices, cilantro, water, and salt.
2. Coat cauliflower florets in the batter and deep fry until golden brown.
3. Serve with chutney or a squeeze of lemon.

8. Gobi Upma 

Upma is an Indian dish that is thought to have originated in Kerala. Dry roasted semolina or coarse rice flour is cooked in a thick porridge-type consistency that is usually eaten for breakfast.

There are two ways to make gobi Upma – you can use the cauliflower instead of the starch, or you can make it as normal and add extra vegetables. 

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, grated
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green chili, chopped
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Fresh cilantro for garnish
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard and cumin seeds and let them splutter.
2. Add onions and green chilies, and sauté until soft.
3. Stir in grated cauliflower and turmeric, cooking until tender.
4. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

9. Gobi Poha 

Poha is an Indian rice dish that is often eaten for breakfast. Poha is rice that has been parboiled and then flattened or beaten. This type of rice is sold in Asian grocery stores, and it is popular because it cooks quickly.

The poha rice is then used to make a dish called Poha, which is mixed with spices, curry leaves, potatoes, and onions. Some variations also include freshly grated coconut. 

Here’s our vegan take on this dish:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower, grated (for cauliflower rice)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 potato, cubed
• 1 green chili, chopped
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Fresh cilantro for garnish
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, and let them sputter.
2. Add onion, green chili, and potato. Cook until potatoes are tender.
3. Add grated cauliflower and turmeric, and cook for 5-7 minutes.
4. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Final Thoughts 

Cauliflower is often overlooked, but it’s a powerhouse of nutrition and incredibly versatile in the kitchen.

Its mild flavor allows it to soak up the bold, vibrant spices commonly used in Indian cuisine, making it the perfect ingredient for a variety of delicious, flavorful dishes.

Whether roasted, curried, or transformed into crispy fritters, cauliflower is a fantastic addition to any meal.

With its ability to pair so well with spices like cumin, turmeric, and garam masala, you’ll find endless ways to enjoy this nutritious vegetable in Indian-inspired recipes.