A gobi masala or cauliflower masala made with a few simple spices. A stunningly attractive dish to bring to the dinner table with dal and rice.

Gobi or cauliflower is widely used in Indian cuisine in restaurant-style sides like Aloo Gobi and this creamy cauliflower curry, also called Malai Gobi, and in more homely dishes like Gobi Paratha. Here's one more delicious way to eat this versatile veggie: Gobi Masala.
This Gobi Masala makes a really great dinner in a hurry when served alongside a simple tomato dal and white rice or jeera rice.
Cauliflower florets are sauteed with tomatoes, onions and a few powdered spices.
It is simple Indian food at its best and a certain winner for weeknights.
More vegan Indian cauliflower recipes
- Cauliflower Biryani
- Cauliflower Sabzi
- Cauliflower Wild Rice Pilaf
- Cauliflower Bezule
- Sheet Pan Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes
Gobi Masala
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower (separated into florets)
- 1 large onion (sliced into half-moons)
- 2 medium tomatoes (diced)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne (use less cayenne or sub with paprika for less heat)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 2 teaspoon garam masala
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Boil water in a pot and drop the cauliflower florets into it. Bring back to a boil and let the cauliflower cook for about three minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the oil. Add the cumin seeds and, when they sputter, add the onions and a little salt. Saute until the onions turn translucent, about five minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and the powdered spices. Stir and let the tomatoes cook until they break down and start to express the oil.
- Add the cauliflower florets and stir well. Cover and cook a few more minutes or until the cauliflower is al dente. You don't want it to turn soft and mushy. Add salt as needed. Season with some fresh chopped cilantro.
Nina in CLE
Hi this is Nina from Cleveland. I love your writing and your recipes, which I just skimmed through but still impressed me, are wonderfuI and nutritious and -only a firengi would say this- totally authentic. I'm a vegetarian, not vegan (yet) so not every recipe appeals but for the most part they look great. I'm just now cutting up the onion for this lovely Gobi Masala and realized (for me, at least) there was something missing..No GARLIC, and no ginger either...I'm totally appreciating the less prep time and the very concise ingredient list- don't get me wrong! But...would a few cloves of garlic, minced or smashed, be okay to slip in here or would t change the balance of tastes in the recipe> I have NO IDEA if you'll see my note here as this is coming to you after 9 1/2 YEARS have lapsed since publishing it, but maybe...Anyway, I've always believed I had a half-Hindu (half-Indian) soul (masquerading as a Jewish American one) and your blog reaches that side of me, I'll definitely want to subscribe. So I'll go now and finish the recipe. tomorrow I'll report back how it went. Whether you're out ther listening or not. Thanks for the Gobi masala recipe!!
Vaishali
Hi Nina, yes, add about a tablespoon of ginger-garlic crushed together into a paste! Thanks for the kind words. 🙂 And no worries I'd miss your message--I read each one that comes in, no matter how old the post!
mary
Hi Vaishali.
I just made this dish, and it is so easy and deelish. I am on a super tight vegan budget diet. twenty five dollars a week cheap. It is nice to have a tasty dish for when cauliflower goes on sale. I had a pot of chick peas on the stove while I was preparing this so I thought "what the heck" and tosses some in. yum. Thank you so much for this. Green peas would be nice in this too!
Vaishali
Mary, adding chickpeas sounds like a great idea, and delicious. So glad you tried the recipe. 🙂
sk
ONION IS TOXIC TO CATS! Please read up on the vegetables you feed your cats
Vaishali
sk, relax! No one's feeding their cats onions. This dish is meant for humans, not cats.
Gauri Radha गौरी राधा
What a colorful and appetizing photo 🙂
Vaishali
Vidya, That's really interesting. My dogs don't eat a vegan diet, and they really do like eggs. Thanks very much for the tip.
V
Hi Vaishali, We used to feed our dog with eggs but no meat of any kind. To the ragi ambli, we used to mix one egg and serve it. Our dog used to gulp it down. Along with that, probably once a year or so, we used to feed her some vitamin suplements. Not too many. She was quite healthy. But I am not sure if you would like eggs for your pets.
-Vidya
Amrita
Dear Vaishali, just read this article "Vegan diet for dogs: A question of thriving vs. surviving". Thought of you and wanted to share.
Vaishali
Lita, thanks for the tips, and yes, I'd love the info if you can email me at myveganworld@gmail.com.
V, thanks! Had never thought of ragi for dogs. Do they like it? I am concerned it may not be nutritionally complete for them...
V
As much as I wish your pet speedy recovery, I wish you also to have all the mental strength required to go through this.
i dont know if it helps you, but we used to feed our dog homemade food like "Ragi Ambli". Its just a fluid ragi ball.
Lita and the boys in Melbourne
Hi Vaishy,
I stumbled across your blog a short while ago and the mix of delicious food and love of animals has kept me checking in every so often. Re feeding our pets, i am a total advocate of raw feeding for both cats and dogs. A good place to start is Dr Richard Pirtcairn's website and book and the site Raw Fed Cats.
Don't forget cat's are carnivore's so they must have meat or they will go blind. There are probably supplements to cover the nutritional requirements they have if you were set on feeding them vegetarian. My 15 year old cat has been on raw food and supplements since he was 5, my 3 & 1 yr old cats have always had raw and actually walk away from tinned foods. They are a bit partial to dry though...Innova Evo and Felidae - both of these have no carbs, cats don't need them. Anyway, if you want, I could email you a list of links and info. Commiserations for Freddie and I'd start feeding your cat Essiac supplements and apricot kernels, don't worry about the cyanide propaganda, it doesn't eventuate if there's no cancer to counter. All the best.
Vaishali
Divya, Latha, Thanks.
Manasi, thanks-- I will.
Sharmilee, Sireesha, Thanks.
Richa, thanks for sharing this. It's shocking and unfortunately very believable. It's a good thing for all pet parents to be warned.
Priya, thanks!
Sarah, thanks for sharing your cat food recipe. It sounds very healthy and delicious enough that I want to eat it! 🙂
Linda, thanks for your kind words and for sharing your tips. I should check with my vet about raw food-- I've heard about others who do it and say their pets become really healthy. Your cat sounds adorable. 🙂
SS: Thanks!
Jurema, thanks for your kind words, and for the feedback on the cinnamon rolls. 🙂
Smitha, Thanks for the tip. I too have often heard that cats must eat meat, but as Sarah points out above, they can get used to vegan diets. I am not sure I can get Pubm used to a new, vegan diet at this point where she is refusing to eat almost anything, but I do believe that overall it is possible to make cats accept a meat-free diet, and perhaps it's healthier for them too, just like for humans.
Kitchen Flavors, Thanks.
Kitchen Flavours
Very vibrant looking curry....love the flavours...
Anonymous
Hi cats are purely carnivorous. If you want to cook at home please see
jugalbandi blog where bee has written about her cat delta.I think it'll help you.
smitha
Jurema
Just to thank you very much for the awsome recipes!! they´re helping me a lot. I made the Cinamom Rols this weekend and everybody at home loved!!
xoxo
Jurema (from Porto, Portugal)
SS blogs here
Hey Vaishali.. visiting after a long time. Very sorry to hear about Freddie and your other pets. I never thought much about pet food (I don't have pets). But your point about store-bought pet food standards sounds shocking and alarming. 🙁 🙁 Its just too bad sometimes. Best wishes for your furry family.
Linda
I was very sorry to read about Freddie. I've been lurking here for awhile And want you to know that you are inspiring me to change my diet, so thank you.
As for cats, mine always loved veggies such as sweet potato and yam! She also had a thing for pineapple. She was finicky about her own oet food, not real food. Maaybe was unusual. Lately, I've benn reading about feeding pets raw foods, made at home, but its always recommended that this is done under a vets guidance.
Sarah
Hi, only been reading your blog for a few weeks now. I'm feeding my cat a vegan diet, all homemade, and she loves it. It took her only a few days to get used to it (I suspect mostly because she was living solely on dried biscuits for so long before I got her that wet food was strange to her). Cats are more difficult nutritionally as not everything can be provided from plant sources but I use VegeCat supplements - a powder that you mix in to the food. They include recipes with their products that are based on lentils, chickpeas, rice, seitan, tofu, etc.
Just thought I'd share my experience that it is possible and my cat loves the food.
Priya
Very vibrant colour,my favourite gobi masala..yummy..
Richa
Vaishali, the gobi masala looks refreshing!
As for the commercial pet foods, I recently posted about it on my pet blog
Some articles and research about all the crap that goes in commercial food, and the homecooked food that I feed my dogs. I dont have any idea about cats..
Hope you all are holding up well and i hope things turn out good with Pubm. Sending you all love and prayers.
Sireesha
Lovely Gobi Curry! Looks awesome:)
Sharmilee! :)
My fav anytime..looks super yumm
Manasi
Love the curry, such a vibrant color.
For cat food, take a peek at Jugalbandi, they have info on what the feed Delta. Hope it helps.
Latha
Lovely Gobi Curry! Hope everything goes well with your kids Vaishali.
divya
Wow...looks very colorful and awesome...