Vegetarian Tikka Masala

This Vegetarian Tikka Masala is loaded with veggies, chickpeas, and an amazing seasoning blend. Serve it over rice with a spoonful of Greek yogurt, a quick snap pea topping, and lots of warmed naan!

Try some of our other favorite vegetarian meals like this chickpea curry, vegetarian sushi bowls, or vegetarian enchiladas.

Vegetarian Tikka Masala

This vegetarian dish is full of great veggies — we’ve got onions, carrots, a sweet bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, and sweet peas. And then to add some filling plant-based protein, we also throw in some chickpeas! They make sure this meatless dish is just as filling as the meat-filled version: this delicious Chicken Tikka Masala.

Since the chicken version is one of my family’s favorites, I decided to make a vegetarian version, and honestly, the kiddos like this one even more! In fact, my 7-year-old requested this very meal for his birthday dinner this year — ha! 

My kids love this recipe, even though it’s a bit on the spicy side (they can handle some spice!). I’ll share some ways to tone down (or bring up) the heat in this vegetarian tikka masala.

Ingredient Notes

• Coconut oil: Used for cooking veggies, it gives a sweet taste and handles the medium-high heat we’re cooking with.
• Onion, carrot, and red pepper: Sautéing them until crisp-tender releases extra flavor. 
• Garlic and ginger: Mince them finely to spread their flavors evenly throughout the dish. I highly recommend using fresh but jarred or paste will work.
• Spices: This recipe calls for quite a few spices, but if you cook many Indian dishes, you likely already have them in your cabinet.
• Tomato paste and fire-roasted crushed tomatoes: This type of tomato is charred over a flame before being crushed and canned, in a pinch regular crushed tomatoes will work.
• Chickpeas: Canned chickpeas provide vegetarian protein for the dish. Remember to rinse them well before use.
• Coconut milk: Typically, tikka masala uses heavy cream, but for a lighter version, this recipe uses coconut milk. You’re welcome to use heavy cream in place of the coconut milk if you’d prefer.
• Sweet peas and fresh cilantro: Adding these at the end of cooking keeps their bright color and fresh flavor. You can leave these out or swap the cilantro for parsley.

How To Make Vegetarian Tikka Masala

1. Cook veggies: Heat coconut oil in a pot and cook the veggies until they’re soft. 
2. Add garlic, ginger, and spices. stirring often helps mix the flavors well.
3. Mix in tomato paste and tomatoes and cook to make it tasty. Scraping the pot’s bottom as you stir helps mix in all the flavorful bits into the sauce.
4. Add chickpeas and coconut milk and cook it all together. Simmering on low heat makes the sauce thick and flavorful.
5. Stir in peas and cilantro at the end. Adding these last keeps them fresh and colorful.
6. Serve: Have it with rice, Greek yogurt, and warm naan. Greek yogurt cools down the spice and makes it creamy.

Vegetarian Tikka Masala Tips

• Make ahead: This dish improves with time, so it’s perfect for preparing in advance, especially if you’re expecting guests. It makes things stress-free!
• Dice the veggies: Make sure to cut the carrot, onion, and bell pepper into tiny, even pieces so they cook well. For a faster way, you can chop these veggies quickly in a food processor!
• Adjust the spice: For a spicier dish, add cayenne pepper or more red pepper flakes little by little to suit your taste. If it’s too spicy, use less red pepper flakes and have some Greek yogurt with the meal to make it milder.
• Build the flavors step by step: It might feel slow to add and cook ingredients one bit at a time, but this makes the meal tastier. Cooking spices with the veggies, adding tomatoes for sweetness, and making the chickpeas tender all add layers of flavor.

More Vegetarian Recipes

• Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie with a mashed potato topping
• Pinto Bean Tacos with quick pickled onions
• Vegetable Curry with cauliflower and sweet potatoes
• Black Bean Bowls with a cashew-cilantro sauce
• Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps with a green onion vinaigrette

SaveSaved Pin Print

5 from 4 votes

Vegetarian Tikka Masala

By Chelsea Lords

This Vegetarian Tikka Masala is packed with veggies, chickpeas, and bold spices. Serve it over rice with a dollop of Greek yogurt, snap peas, and plenty of naan for a flavorful meal!

Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

• Large cast-iron pot

Ingredients 

USMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• ▢ 1-1/2 cups finely diced yellow onion 1 large onion
• ▢ 1-1/2 cups diced carrot 4 large carrots
• ▢ 1 cup diced red pepper 1 pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic 4 to 5 cloves
• ▢ 2 tablespoons peeled and finely minced ginger 1-1/2 inch piece
• ▢ 2-1/2 teaspoons garam masala
• ▢ 1-1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• ▢ 1-1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• ▢ 1-1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• ▢ 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ▢ 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ▢ 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
• ▢ 2 (15.5-ounce) cans chickpeas also called garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• ▢ 1 (13.66-ounce) can coconut milk
• ▢ 1 cup frozen sweet peas
• ▢ 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• ▢ Serving suggestions see note 1

Optional Snap Pea Topping

• ▢ 1 cup snap peas thinly sliced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 teaspoon lime juice
• ▢ Salt and pepper

Instructions 

• In a large cast-iron pot, heat coconut oil over medium-high. Sauté onion, carrot, and red pepper 8–10 minutes until crisp-tender. Add ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in seasonings and tomato paste, then cook 4 minutes until aromatic; reduce heat if necessary to prevent burning.
• Add crushed tomatoes and sauté for 1 minute, scraping the pot’s bottom. Add drained chickpeas and sauté another minute. Pour in coconut milk and stir to combine.
• Simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens (10–20 minutes). Add peas, cilantro, and lime juice. Adjust seasoning, adding sugar if needed to balance acidity.
• While simmering, prepare sides. For optional snap pea topping, mix sliced snap peas, lime juice, oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl; set aside. Warm naan (see note 2), cook rice (see note 3), and set out Greek yogurt.
• Serve rice topped with Vegetarian Tikka Masala, snap pea topping, Greek yogurt, and cilantro sprigs. Enjoy with warm naan.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Here are some serving suggestions: Basmati rice, warmed naan, plain Greek yogurt, and additional cilantro.

Note 2: I recommend warming the naan before serving. Here are some options:

• To char naan, spray both sides with olive oil and grill over stovetop flame until slightly charred, then cover with a kitchen towel.
• Microwave naan covered with a damp paper towel for 10–15 seconds, then cover with a kitchen towel.
• Alternatively, buy toaster-sized mini naan (like Stonefire®).

Note 3: This is how I like cooking basmati rice:

• Rinse basmati rice under clear water using a fine-mesh sieve.
• Soak rice in water 5–10 minutes.
• Boil water in a large pot.
• Add drained rice to boiling water and cook 5 minutes without reducing heat.
• Drain and fluff rice with a fork.
• Only use this method for basmati rice, not for other rice types.

Nutrition Note: Nutritional information is for the Vegetarian Tikka Masala, not the basmati rice or snap pea topping.

Storage: Let Vegetarian Tikka Masala cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To freeze, add it to a gallon-size bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy again, thaw it in the fridge, then warm it up slowly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 763mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 7360IU | Vitamin C: 108mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!