Vegan Mushroom Masala With Silken Tofu Cream

Mushroom Masala with a creamy silken tofu base – made with oven-grilled Masala Mushrooms cooked in savory creamy silken tofu and tomato sauce

Mushroom Masala is an all-time favorite and the best crowd-pleaser at a dinner party. Anyone who loves mushrooms will love mushrooms in a creamy sauce made with tomatoes, onions, aromatics, and spices. This recipe makes the creamy sauce 10x creamier with the addition of silken tofu sauce as a base along with the tomato-onion sauce. You can savor this dish with rice, roti, onion naan, or other Indian bread varieties.

Mushroom Masala With Silken Tofu Cream follows the traditional gravy recipe but instead of cream, I have used blended Silken Tofu as it has a smooth texture and neutral flavor. It can mimic the creaminess of dairy without the saturated fat, making it a healthier alternative. Additionally, silken tofu is rich in protein and can work well in both sweet and savory dishes, offering versatility in cooking. The key to this delicious dish is making the creamy tomato and silken tofu gravy base, marinade and grilled mushrooms.

Tomato Onion Gravy

Indian gravies typically consist of a blend of ingredients that contribute to the rich and flavorful base. To help you understand the concept of a gravy, the following ingredients are typically the must haves in the sauce/gravy:

1. Onions: Often sautéed or caramelized to provide sweetness and depth.
2. Tomatoes: Either fresh or in the form of puree, adds acidity and thickness.
3. Ginger and Garlic: Enhances the overall flavor and aroma.
4. Spices: Spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, and more are used to create the distinct tastes
5. Chilies: Green chilies for heat or red chili powder for color and spiciness
6. Cashews or Cream: To add richness and creaminess to the gravy (In this recipe we are using silken tofu to bring in the creamy texture)
7. Soy Yogurt: Make sure to let it sit in a cheesecloth to draw out extra moisture, making it thick. This yogurt adds a tangy flavor and helps tenderize protein or vegetables. (There are a variety of plant-based yogurts that you can use)

With a simple gravy base like this, you can variate protein and vegetables to create different dishes like – Vegan Chicken Curry, Lentil Tofu Masala, or Vegan Mattar Paneer with Tofu.

Marinade for the Oven-Grilled Mushrooms

• Chop or shred the mushrooms uniformly.
• In a bowl, combine 400g mushrooms, 8 tbsp thick plant-based yogurt, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp Garam Masala, 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 tsp chaat masala, 3 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 tsp ajwain, 1 tsp lemon juice, and salt.
• Coat the mushrooms well and marinate for at least 30 minutes or refrigerate overnight for enhanced flavor.
• Before grilling, add 2 tbsp oil to the marinated mushrooms for extra flavor.
• Grill or Bake: Grill with 1 tbsp oil on a cast-iron or bake until golden-brown for a perfect finish.

Fire-Grilled/Oven-Grilled Mushrooms

Grilling mushrooms before adding them to a masala base can enhance the overall flavor and texture of the dish. This step helps evaporate moisture from the mushrooms, intensifying their natural umami taste. It also imparts a smoky and slightly caramelized flavor, adding depth to the curry. Additionally, the grilling process can give the mushrooms a firmer texture, preventing them from becoming overly soft when cooked in the masala base.

Ingredients and Substitutes

For Marination:

• Mushrooms (Preferred: Oyster Mushrooms, button mushrooms)
• Thick yogurt or hung yogurt (plant-based)
• Ground turmeric
• Garam Masala
• Kashmiri red chili powder (or Deghi mirch, or any red chili powder)
• Chaat masala powder
• Ginger Garlic Paste (or garlic cloves and ginger, crushed/minced)
• Ajwain or carom seeds
• Lemon juice
• Oil for coating
• Oil for grilling on cast iron or to grease the pan if baking in the oven
• Salt to taste

Substitutes for Marination: For Kashmiri red chili powder: Substitute with any other ground red chili powder.

For Mushroom Masala Sauce:

• Neutral oil
• Medium onions, finely chopped
• Ginger garlic paste (or garlic cloves and ginger, crushed/minced)
• Red tomatoes, pureed (Substitute with tomato puree)
• Ground turmeric
• Kashmiri red chili powder (or any other ground red chili powder)
• Ground cumin
• Ground coriander seeds
• Garam Masala

Substitutes for Mushroom Masala Sauce: For tomato puree: Use canned tomato puree if fresh tomatoes are unavailable.

High Protein “Cream”:

• Silken tofu
• Water

Garnish:

• Kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves
• Cilantro leaves, chopped for garnish

Method: How to make Mushroom Masala With Silken Tofu Cream

Marinade and Grill Mushrooms:

1. Chop the mushrooms in your preferred style.

• Combine all marination ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

• Mushrooms, hung yogurt (plant-based), ground turmeric, Garam Masala, Kashmiri red chili powder, chaat masala powder, Ginger Garlic Paste, ajwain or carom seeds, lemon juice and oil.

1. Add mushrooms to the bowl, coating them with the yogurt marinade. Allow them to marinate for 30 minutes.

• Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet. Roast the marinated mushrooms on medium to medium-high heat, pressing them down with a spatula or heavy pan. Flip when one side is well-charred and repeat for the other side.
• Alternatively, bake in the oven at 200°C for 45 minutes (monitor to prevent burning).

Silken Tofu Cream:

• Blend silken tofu and water until you achieve a smooth, cream-like mixture. Set aside.

Tomato Gravy:

1. Heat oil in a large pan. Add onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until translucent. Add little bit of salt for seasoning.

1. Add aromatics: green chili, ginger-garlic paste or minced ginger and garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds.

1. Introduce ground spices: turmeric, red chili powder, ground cumin, ground coriander seeds.

1. Add tomato puree and garam masala. Cook on medium-low heat for a few minutes until tomatoes are cooked.

1. Add the charred mushrooms, mix well, and incorporate the “silken tofu cream.”

1. Turn off the heat, stir in dried fenugreek leaves (Kasuri methi), and garnish with chopped coriander/cilantro.

Check out my other Curry recipes from the blog:

• Vegan Chicken Curry
• Best Chana Masala
• Creamy Lentil Tofu Masala
• Mushroom Masala – Restaurant Style
• Easy Chana Masala – Chickpea
• Vegan Malai Kofta
• Vegan Palak Paneer (Tofu)