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Photo of vegan tofu prawn patia in a black bowl with spoon and cilantro
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5 from 11 votes

Vegan Tofu “Prawn” Patia

Prawn Patia is a classic dish made with shellfish and it comes from India's small but prominent Parsi community. Its incredible mix of flavors--sweet, spicy, salty, tangy and savory--works just as well with tofu in this vegan version.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course/Curry
Cuisine: Parsi (Indian)
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 218kcal
Author: Vaishali · Holy Cow Vegan

Ingredients

  • 16 oz super firm tofu (or extra firm tofu with water pressed out, cut into ½-inch cubes)
  • 2 teaspoon avocado oil or any neutral oil
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric (divided)
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (optional)
  • Salt to taste.
  • 14 oz coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • 2 dry red chillies
  • 1 large onion (finely diced)
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 large tomatoes (finely diced)
  • 1 tablespoon jaggery (can substitute with coconut sugar or regular sugar)
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoon cilantro or mint (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Mix the tofu with ¼ teaspoon turmeric, cayenne, Old Bay, if using, and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Place in an air fryer basket and air fry at 375 degrees for 12 minutes or bake in 400-degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until firm and chewy.
    Tofu for tofu patio in an air fryer basket
  • Blend the coconut milk, cumin seeds, ginger and red chili peppers into a smooth paste. Set aside.
  • Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet or saucepan and add the onions. Saute until they brown at the edges, then add in the ground coriander, ground cumin and remaining turmeric.
    Step by step photos and instructions for tofu patio
  • Stir for a minute and then add the coconut milk mixture. Cook on a slow flame about five minutes or until you see tiny pools of the fat from the coconut milk on top.
    Step by step photos and instructions for tofu patio
  • Stir in the tofu and ½ cup water. Mix well.
    Step by step photos and instructions for tofu patio
  • Add the tomatoes, jaggery and garam masala and stir in.
    Step by step tofu patia
  • Bring to a boil and let the curry simmer for another couple of minutes. You can add a bit more water, around ½ cup, if the sauce is too thick for your liking. Check salt and add more if needed.
    Tofu patia in saucepan with wooden spoon.
  • Serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Potassium: 463mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 558IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 4mg