Easy Indian Curry Paste for Restaurant-Style Dishes

Making this Indian curry paste is easy, foolproof and you will always have the most delicious results, guaranteed. The masala paste, which includes a secret ingredient that adds tons of flavor, comes together in a blender with raw ingredients, including onions, tomatoes, garam masala and a few other spices. To make a restaurant-style entree like butter tofu or dal makhani simply heat the spice paste with a bit of oil, let it cook for a few minutes, and add the tofu or lentils or even faux meat with water or stock. The recipe makes enough for two uses, but you can easily multiply the quantity (use the recipe slider in the card to adjust quantities) and freeze for later use. The curry paste is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and it can be nut-free.

Meal-prep this easy curry paste in under 10 minutes in a blender, and you're all set for a couple--or more--of tasty, Indian restaurant style meals in the days to come.

This is a raw paste (unlike the cooked tomato onion masala paste I've shared with you previously). When you are ready to make a recipe you will need to cook the curry paste for a few minutes and then add some protein (or vegetables) to it. When you have it in the refrigerator--or freezer--you can rest confident that you have everything you need for a delicious dinner in minutes, no more chopping required.

Why you'll love this easy curry paste

• It is super easy to make. You need a few basic ingredients and spices on hand and you can put it together in the blender.
• It's foolproof. Follow directions and you can't go wrong.
• It goes with a variety of proteins and vegetables. I use this curry paste with tofu, vegan meat substitutes and with lentils even. You can also add instead vegetables like mushrooms, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, squash and more. The resulting dishes are quite different tasting but delicious, with a restaurant-like flavor.
• You can make as much or as little as you like. The recipe below makes enough for two uses, each to serve about four people. You can make more or less (use the handy slider in the recipe card) and refrigerate or freeze it.

Ingredients for curry paste

• Tomatoes. Use any you have on hand, about three medium sized tomatoes. I used beefsteak tomatoes this time.
• Aromatics: Onions (shallots are even better), garlic and ginger
• Spices: Ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, cayenne, paprika (optional, for color) and garam masala
• Kasoori methi or dry fenugreek leaves.
• Raw cashews (or pumpkin seeds if nut-free). This adds a creamy finish to the dish.

The secret ingredient

When I make ground masala pastes for curries where I want some added meatiness and umami, I add into them a couple of dry mushrooms that I've soaked for a bit. You can even use fresh mushrooms. The mushrooms disappear into the paste, so anyone who hates mushrooms doesn't even have to know they are in there, but they add a delicious depth to the masala and therefore the curry.

How to make the curry paste

• Soak the dry mushrooms in ½ cup of hot water for 15 minutes. Rough-chop tomatoes, onions, ginger and garlic.

• Place the chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger in the blender. Drain the mushrooms (reserve the soaking water to add to any curry or other dish you are making as it's a great stock) and add them to the blender.
• Add cashews, ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, cayenne, paprika if using, garam masala and cashews (or pumpkin seeds) to the blender. (I added the kasoori methi to my curry paste to make things easier but keep in mind you will taste its bitterness a bit more if you blend it. You have the option of leaving out the kasoori methi from the paste. Add it later when you are actually making a curry with the paste.)
• Blend all the ingredients into a smooth paste.
• TIP: Do not add any water to the blender. The moisture from the onions and tomatoes is enough to blend this. This will make it much easier to cook the paste when you make the curry later.

How to make a curry with the curry paste

I made a tofu curry with the curry paste to show you how to use this correctly. You can, as I said above, use a variety of other proteins or vegetables instead but follow the same instructions.

• Heat 1 teaspoon of any vegetable oil (like avocado oil) in a saucepan. Add half the curry paste to it (don't add any water). Saute the paste over low or medium-low heat, about 10 minutes, until most of the water has evaporated and it becomes quite glossy and a few shades darker (there's little fat here so you won't really see any fat express). If you taste the curry paste, it should not taste raw.

• Add the tofu cubes to it (I used air-fried tofu seasoned with salt and pepper, although plain tofu cubes work well too). Add 2 cups of vegetable stock or water. If you didn't add kasoori methi to the curry paste, add a tablespoon of it now (crush it between your palms as you add it to the pot).
• Let the sauce come to a boil and cook for five more minutes, during which it will thicken quite a bit. You can add more water or stock to thin it out.
• Check seasoning and add more salt if needed. Serve hot.

Storage instructions

You can refrigerate the curry paste for up to three days or freeze it for longer storage. Thaw before using.

More Indian masalas for meal-prep

• Basic Tomato Onion Masala Sauce for Quick Curries
• Homemade Tikka Masala Curry Paste
• Garam Masala
• Curry Powder
• Biryani Masala

Related recipes

• Tofu Makhani
• Easy Tofu Curry
• Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chicken with Tofu