Tofu Tikka Masala

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2 min read
Summary

If you love Tikka Masala spices in a creamy sauce then this dish is for you. Calcium-rich tofu and beta-carotene-packed spinach carry the healing fragrant spices. Start by baking the tofu if you like it crispy. If you’re looking for simplicity then simply skip the baking step and add the cubed tofu to the slow cooker along with the Tikka Masala sauce. Whichever you choose, you’ll be rewarded with a comforting, hearty Indian dish.

Yields2 ServingsPrep Time15 minsCook Time6 hrsTotal Time6 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients

Spice Blend
 2 tbsp vegetable broth (unsalted, preferably homemade)
 1 tsp garam masala
 1 tsp ground coriander
 1 tsp ground turmeric
 1 tsp ground cumin
 ¼ tsp garlic powder
 ¼ tsp cayenne (optional)
 ¼ tsp salt (optional)
 14 oz organic tofu (firm or extra firm, drained and cut into 1-inch cubes)
Slow Cooker Ingredients
 1 cup yellow onion (coarsely chopped)
 4 medium garlic cloves (coarsely minced)
 2 tbsp fresh ginger (coarsely minced)
 1 tbsp mustard seeds
 2 tsp cumin seeds
 2 tsp coriander seeds
 1 tsp ground turmeric
 ½ tsp salt (optional)
 ¼ tsp ground black pepper (optional)
 1 cup water
 14 oz coconut milk (light, BPA-free canned)
 14 oz organic tomato sauce (BPA-free canned)
 ¼ cup cilantro (optional, chopped)
 2 cups organic brown rice (or black or red, cooked)

Directions

1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2

In a medium bowl, add the vegetable broth and spice blend, down to the salt. Mix well.

3

Add the tofu cubes and stir until completely coated.

4

Spread the tofu cubes out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, flipping the cubes halfway in between.

5

Meanwhile, prepare your slow cooker sauce: Heat a large stovetop pan on medium-high heat or, if you have an Instant Pot, you can save a pan and saute the sauce ingredients in the Instant Pot before blending.

6

Add the onions and continuously stir until translucent (about 2–3 minutes).

7

Add the garlic and ginger, cook for 30–60 seconds.

8

Add the mustard seed, cumin, coriander, turmeric powder, and salt, if using. Cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.

9

Add the water to deglaze the pan for just 15–30 seconds.

10

Transfer the onion, spice, and water mixture to a blender and blend until smooth, about 1–2 minutes.

11

Transfer the mixture to your 4 or 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot.

12

Add the coconut milk, tomato sauce, and baked tofu.

13

Cook on the low heat setting for 6 hours or the high heat setting for 3 hours.

14

Spoon on top of warm brown, red or black rice.

Chef's Notes

Substitutions
Instead of tofu use 1–2 cups of home cooked or BPA-free canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained. You can also season and bake these before adding to the slow cooker or simply add them as is without baking.

In place of yellow onion use white or red onion.

If you don’t have whole spices for the slow cooker ingredients, substitute ground spices, using approximately ⅓ of the amount of ground spices to the whole spice amount.

In place of rice use other gluten-free grains such as quinoa, millet, or buckwheat. Cauliflower rice would also work well.

In place of cilantro use parsley.

For more flavor and spice
Top with crushed red pepper flakes.

Stir in another dash of ground cumin or coriander powder.

Top with sliced green onion.

Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Ingredients

Spice Blend
 2 tbsp vegetable broth (unsalted, preferably homemade)
 1 tsp garam masala
 1 tsp ground coriander
 1 tsp ground turmeric
 1 tsp ground cumin
 ¼ tsp garlic powder
 ¼ tsp cayenne (optional)
 ¼ tsp salt (optional)
 14 oz organic tofu (firm or extra firm, drained and cut into 1-inch cubes)
Slow Cooker Ingredients
 1 cup yellow onion (coarsely chopped)
 4 medium garlic cloves (coarsely minced)
 2 tbsp fresh ginger (coarsely minced)
 1 tbsp mustard seeds
 2 tsp cumin seeds
 2 tsp coriander seeds
 1 tsp ground turmeric
 ½ tsp salt (optional)
 ¼ tsp ground black pepper (optional)
 1 cup water
 14 oz coconut milk (light, BPA-free canned)
 14 oz organic tomato sauce (BPA-free canned)
 ¼ cup cilantro (optional, chopped)
 2 cups organic brown rice (or black or red, cooked)

Directions

1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2

In a medium bowl, add the vegetable broth and spice blend, down to the salt. Mix well.

3

Add the tofu cubes and stir until completely coated.

4

Spread the tofu cubes out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, flipping the cubes halfway in between.

5

Meanwhile, prepare your slow cooker sauce: Heat a large stovetop pan on medium-high heat or, if you have an Instant Pot, you can save a pan and saute the sauce ingredients in the Instant Pot before blending.

6

Add the onions and continuously stir until translucent (about 2–3 minutes).

7

Add the garlic and ginger, cook for 30–60 seconds.

8

Add the mustard seed, cumin, coriander, turmeric powder, and salt, if using. Cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.

9

Add the water to deglaze the pan for just 15–30 seconds.

10

Transfer the onion, spice, and water mixture to a blender and blend until smooth, about 1–2 minutes.

11

Transfer the mixture to your 4 or 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot.

12

Add the coconut milk, tomato sauce, and baked tofu.

13

Cook on the low heat setting for 6 hours or the high heat setting for 3 hours.

14

Spoon on top of warm brown, red or black rice.

Tofu Tikka Masala