A simple tomato and cauliflower curry recipe that’s perfect for a weeknight meal. This post is sponsored by Hunt’s canned tomato products. Jump to recipe.
In the kitchen, my second great love was Indian food. The first was muffins from a box, a love born of the fact that they were something my seven year-old self could make without a grown-up’s help (that it was sweet was a bonus). After the thrill of muffins wore off, I moved on to trying to figure out Italian food and so-called hearty soup recipes dotted with undercooked bits of grain. For a long time after that, it was cans of pinto beans and boxed mac mostly. And then, Indian food.
I still have the Indian cookbook I bought in college that taught me to julienne and to crack a coconut. With the book’s urging, I bought a food processor and used it to turn fresh mangoes and dried papaya into an impossibly bright, tangy fresh chutney. Surprisingly, some of the least dog-eared pages of this beloved tome involve tomatoes. Back then, I just couldn’t fathom tomatoes outside of their role in pasta sauce or chili. Recently, though, I’ve realized that tomatoes are actually the perfect conveyance for all kinds of rich spices and complex heat.
This dish isn’t from that worn cookbook, but like many of the dishes I cook, it’s the source of my inspiration. This simple curry recipe starts with freshly ground spices, plus onion, garlic, and fresh ginger. To that I added a green chili, cauliflower florets, and diced potatoes. Carrying the flavor and adding a delightful punch of color are Hunt’s canned tomatoes. From the sunny fields of California, Hunt’s vine-ripened canned tomatoes are wonderfully flavorful right out of the can, but they also cook up beautifully with a balanced acidity and robust texture. Besides great flavor, I like Hunt’s canned tomatoes because they have no artificial ingredients or preservatives added.
A simple tomato and cauliflower curry recipe with big flavor.
- 1 teaspoon cumin seed
- 1 teaspoon coriander seed
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed
- 3 tablespoons ghee or neutral vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion , trimmed, peeled, and diced
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt , divided (or to taste)
- 4 cloves garlic , smashed and peeled
- 2- inch section of ginger , peeled and minced (2 tablespoons)
- 1 - 2 green chilies , seeded and sliced
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 3 medium potatoes , scrubbed and cut into a 1/2-inch dice
- 1 28- ounce can Hunt's diced tomatoes
- 1 medium head cauliflower , cored and cut into 3/4-inch florets
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro leaves
- freshly grated nutmeg
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Using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind cumin, coriander, and fennel seed.
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Set a deep 10- to 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ghee or oil, and when hot, add onions and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Cook, stirring often, until onions are tender and translucent, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, chilies, and spices, and cook for 3 - 4 minutes more.
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Add potatoes, Hunt's canned tomatoes, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, bring mixture to a boil, then turn down to a vigorous simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Add cauliflower, recover, and cook for 7 - 10 minutes more, or until potatoes and cauliflower are tender. Taste and add more sea salt as needed.
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Spoon into bowls, garnish with cilantro leaves and a few grates of nutmeg. Serve with warm naan triangles.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hunt’s canned tomato products.
Perfect weeknight meal! Can’t go wrong with warm spices and vegetables like this in fall 🙂
i can’t get enough bright, spicy tomato sauces these days. it’s the perfect contrast to autumn’s mellow dark. i’m saving this recipe and hope to try it soon. x
Tomato based curries are my favorite and I have a pantry stocked with hunts so this is perfect! 🙂
Gimme ALL the curries, please. This looks so delish, Elizabeth! With that yummy naan and a side of raita? Yes, please!!
Looks terrific but massive. How many servings does this make?
Hi Rose, This makes four servings. I’ll update the recipe right away. Thanks for dropping by!
Hi, Rose, I made this tonight and found it made eight servings with rice! Also, I recommend using something much larger than a skillet.
Wondering how many servings this recipe makes. I have 6 adult mouths to feed and I’m wondering if I need to double it
Hi Rachel,
This recipe makes 4 good sized servings, but for 6 adults I’d think you should double it. The leftovers heat up nicely, and especially because there’s no protein, I’d err on the side of too much.
Hope you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for checking it out!
I love the flavor combination here. I have loads of tomatoes from the garden still, do you think I could use fresh in this recipe?
Hi Kate, So glad you like the recipe! I think fresh tomatoes would be awesome, but I might salt them and remove the seeds first so that they’re not to watery. Thanks for dropping by!