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    Home > Global Vegan Recipes > Malaysian

    Malaysian Mushroom Korma

    Posted: Jun 10, 2019 ยท Updated: Oct 1, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Malaysian Mushroom Korma is a beautiful curry, full of rich flavor, and it works for either a weeknight dinner or a special meal with family or friends.

    Top shot of Vegan Malaysian Mushroom Korma in a white bowl in silver serving dish with a green napkin.

    I've been making this Malaysian Mushroom Korma for many years now, and I had shared it with you almost a decade ago. But like many old recipes on the blog, it was in need of some refreshing, so this time, when I made it, I got some new photographs for you.

    This is a creamy curry that coats your tongue with a myriad of complex flavors. Malaysian cuisine is often described as a melange of influences from China, Indonesia and India, and in this curry, the contribution of the nation's Indian residents is quite obvious.ย  The flavor profile reminds me, in fact, of a mutton curry my father would make for us when we were children.

    Ingredients for Malaysian Mushroom Korma:

    • Mushrooms, of course. If you are a lover of mushrooms, you will be delighted by the possibilities. You can use just about any wild mushroom in here, dry or fresh. If using dry, be sure to reconstitute them first in hot water. I typically use shiitakes, portobellos or criminis. Oysters work great too. This time, criminis were all I had on hand.
    • Onions
    • Ginger
    • Garlic
    • Garam Masala
    • Coconut Milk
    • Yogurt. I use a tangy homemade cultured cashew yogurt, and it contributes to both the creaminess and the complexity of the flavors in this korma. You can go with a storebought yogurt too.
    • Potatoes. These are optional, but I really like the balance they bring to this spicy curry.
    • Peppercorns
    • Fennel seeds
    • Cumin seeds
    • Coriander seeds
    • Cayenne
    Front shot of Vegan Malaysian Mushroom Korma in a white bowl.

    How to make a delicious Mushroom Korma:

    There are no special skills needed, but make sure you have all of the ingredients, because each contributes to the unique flavor profile.

    Also, make sure that you give the korma enough time on the stove, because the blended raw spices need to cook. Rushing things is just not a great idea. This curry takes under 45 minutes from start to finish, so you don't really need to rush.

    What to serve with the Korma:

    You can serve the korma with any sort of bread -- a flatbread like a naan or roti is great, but even a crusty French or Italian bread would not be amiss for dunking into this curry and scooping it into your mouth. Or drizzle it over rice or quinoa.

    Serve with fresh salad or, better still, a vegan cucumber raita on the side.

    The korma tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had time to work themselves into tasty harmony, so this is definitely a dish you can make ahead. It freezes well too -- thaw and warm before use.

    Looking for more Indian mushroom recipes?

    • My Dad's "Not Mutton" Mushroom Curry
    • Mushroom Matar, Mushrooms and Peas in a Creamy Sauce
    • Mushroom Masala Curry
    • Mushroom Biryani
    • Mushroom Paratha
    • Railway Mushroom Curry

    Malaysian Mushroom Korma Recipe

    Overhead shot of Malaysian Mushroom Korma in a white bowl.

    Malaysian Mushroom Korma

    Malaysian Mushroom Korma is a beautiful curry, full of rich flavor, and it works for either a weeknight dinner or a special meal with family or friends.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Curry
    Cuisine: Malaysian, Soy-free
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Malaysian mushroom korma
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 30 mins
    Total Time: 45 mins
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 134kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 large onion (thinly sliced)
    • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
    • 2 tablespoon cilantro (optional)
    • 1 ยฝ teaspoon garam masala
    • ยฝ cup vegan yogurt
    • ยผ cup coconut milk
    • 24 oz mushrooms (shiitake, portabella, crimini, oysters are all wonderful. Chop or slice the mushrooms according to your preference. If you use dry wild mushrooms, be sure to reconstitute them in hot water and reserve the stock to use in the curry)
    • 2 medium potatoes (cubed)
    • Juice of 1 lemon

    Spice paste:

    • 4 shallots (or 1 medium red onion, chopped)
    • 6 cloves garlic (chopped)
    • 1 inch piece ginger (chopped)
    • 1 tablespoon peppercorns
    • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
    • 1-2 teaspoon cayenne (optional -- if you can't tolerate too much heat, leave this out because the peppercorns and the garam masala will add some heat)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Place the ingredients for the spice paste in a blender and using just as much water as is necessary, process to a thick, smooth paste.
    • Heat oil in a large saucepan.
    • Add the onions, cilantro if using, ginger and garlic and a pinch of salt. Saute until the onions turn translucent.
    • Add the garam masala and stir to mix.
    • Add the spice paste and stir well. Cook, on medium-low heat, stirring frequently to keep the paste from sticking to the bottom. Cook about 10 minutes or until the paste is quite fragrant.
    • Add the yogurt, potatoes and mushrooms. Mix well. Don't add water at this point even if you think the curry looks dry because the mushrooms will express water, especially if you're using fresh mushrooms. If using dry mushrooms, add ยฝ to 1 cup of the mushroom stock -- the water remaining after you reconstitute the mushrooms.
    • Cover and let the korma cook another 10 minutes. Check after five minutes to make sure there is enough liquid in the pot. If necessary, add some water or vegetable stock to thin out the korma to the consistency you like.
    • Add the coconut milk and warm through before turning off the heat.
    • Serve hot or warm. The korma tastes even better the next day!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Vitamin C: 11.5mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 3.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rea

      August 04, 2019 at 11:28 am

      Hi, at what point do you put the lemon juice in? Thank you for a lovely recipe which I am cooking right now, smells delicious ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        August 04, 2019 at 12:03 pm

        Stir it in at the end!

        Reply
        • Tamara McAllister

          August 18, 2020 at 2:29 pm

          5 stars
          I had the same question. Can you add the instruction for the lemon for the next person who reads? I had printed out your recipe, but luckily I had access to my computer while cooking to figure out what to do with the lemon juice. The korma is on the stove and is smelling good.
          Our of curiosity, why do you call this particular korma "Malaysian"? My Punjabi Malaysian husband has been stopping past the stove and enjoying the aroma of the korma as it cooks.
          Thanks for sharing!

          Reply
    2. Barry Knight

      June 23, 2019 at 8:20 am

      Sounds dee-lish VV!
      Will definitely be trying this one!
      Thank you SO MUCH for sharing these yummy recipes!
      Barry (Yorkshire, England) x

      Reply
    3. Jane

      June 20, 2019 at 1:04 pm

      5 stars
      The perfect storm occurred to lead me to make this delicious recipe a few days ago. First, button mushrooms were on sale at a ridiculously low price. I had a large package of shiitakes in the pantry, but needed more. Went to a store I donโ€™t often shop at to find crimini mushrooms at half price. Passed the โ€œexpiring soonโ€ shelf at bakery section to find naan there. I had been wanting to try this recipe, and now it was an easy choice. I cut down on the pepper and garlic, and added a bit more coconut milk, but otherwise followed the recipe. Served with brown basmati (cooked with 1/4 cup chopped
      carrots and peas and a cinnamon stick) and green salad. What a feast!!! Even my non-vegan husband enjoyed the meal Thank you, Vaishali.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 21, 2019 at 9:07 am

        Sounds like a delicious meal, Jane. So happy you tried the korma! ?

        Reply
    4. Honey

      June 12, 2019 at 3:18 am

      Looks delicious! Hopefully Iโ€™ll remember to give it a try soon! I live in Malaysia and while the different cultures definitely influence eachothersโ€™ foods, there is also a very distinct separation. Meaning you can get Indian food, or Chinese food, or Malay food, or a few foods that have kind of been blended from the different backgrounds and are really โ€œMalaysianโ€ like nasi lemak, roti canai, etc.
      But the only place you would find any sort of korma is a definite Indian restaurant. Most Indian restaurants here are Southern India influenced and it s extremely rare to find a korma there. In some of the fancier Indian restaurants you can find korma. But my mother-in-law makes lovely vegetable korma and I like to make it once in awhile too!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 12, 2019 at 8:01 am

        Hi Honey, that's interesting to know. I learned this recipe long, long ago from a Malaysian cookbook, I think, or perhaps it was someone on TV, and it's always stuck with me as a Malaysian Korma. ๐Ÿ™‚ I think it was originally a muttton or lamb korma and I adapted it for mushrooms.

        Reply
        • Honey

          June 16, 2019 at 1:11 pm

          5 stars
          I cooked it tonight for my husband as a bit of a Fatherโ€™s Day treat and served it with brown rice and roasted spicy cauliflower. He enjoyed it and suggested I make it next tine his parents visit! Yay! I couldnโ€™t eat much as I found it quite spicy with all that black pepper. I think Iโ€™ll reduce it just a bit next time ๐Ÿ˜‰
          Thanks for a great recipe!

          Reply
          • Vaishali

            June 16, 2019 at 9:54 pm

            Hi Honey, so happy you tried it. ๐Ÿ™‚ The pepper can make this a bit spicy so certainly feel free to adjust it down to suit your taste.

            Reply
    5. Dan

      September 21, 2017 at 10:55 am

      5 stars
      This mushroom korma is the bomb. I tried it yesterday for dinner and we all were licking our fingers. Thanks for another great recipe.

      Reply
    6. veganverve

      October 29, 2008 at 9:17 pm

      Your naan looks absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    7. Divya Vikram

      October 27, 2008 at 5:31 pm

      The naan looks just out of the world..And kurma looks rich n creamy..

      Reply
    8. Cham

      October 27, 2008 at 3:47 pm

      The nan is simply beautiful, I tasted malaysian egg kurma, the mushr kurma sounds very interesting too ๐Ÿ™‚
      Wishing you and your family a Happy Diwali

      Reply
    9. Sireesha

      October 27, 2008 at 3:11 pm

      WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY & PROSPEROUS DIWALI VAISHALI......

      Naan and Korma looks excellent...

      Reply
    10. Curry Leaf

      October 27, 2008 at 2:26 pm

      Liked your new header.Korma is the one for me.I love naans,but shaping and rolling always gives me problems.But I am determined to try yours.As u said,perfect and comforting on chilly nights

      WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY DIWALI

      Reply
    11. Bex

      October 27, 2008 at 3:56 am

      I love mushrooms, thanks for this recipe. I have yet to make naan but I will for sure.

      Reply

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

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