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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Vegan Butter Chicken (Cauliflower)

    Published: Aug 26, 2020 · Modified: Aug 10, 2022 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    Serving dish of curry with text reading: Vegan Butter Cauliflower Curry.
    Spoonful being taken out of dish of vegan butter chicken with text reading: Easy Vegan Butter Chicken Cauliflower.
    Dish of curry with text reading: Vegan Butter 'Chicken' (Cauliflower). Ready in 20 minutes.

    This easy Vegan Butter Chicken is made with roasted cauliflower instead of chicken! It has a rich and delicious tomato cream sauce. It's a tasty vegetarian version of the popular Indian curry that's full of flavor and ready in just 20 minutes.

    You'll also love Cauliflower in Peanut Sauce, Cauliflower Crispy 'Duck', and Whole Roasted CauliflowerWhole Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Paprika.

    Serving dish of cauliflower curry.

    Okay, so there's no butter and no chicken in this Vegan Butter Chicken recipe. Instead, it's totally vegan. I've used dairy-free butter instead of ghee, and my beloved roasted cauliflower instead of chicken. And it is AMAZING!

    A rich, creamy, delicately spiced tomato cream sauce is the basis for this curry. It has an incredible flavor balance and is mild yet full of awesome spices. Want it spicier? Go ahead and add more chili to spice it up!

    The roasted cauliflower is melt-in-your-mouth GOOD. It's the perfect vehicle for that gorgeous Indian sauce!

    It has all the flavor, but none of the meat or dairy. Yay! This is my plant-based homage to the classic Indian curry. It tastes great, and it's much healthier too.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Curry recipes
    • Ingredients
    • Kitchen Equipment
    • Step by step tutorial
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage and freezing
    • Cauliflower recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    The roasted cauliflower has its own great taste, which is then bathed in a fragrant and delicious curry sauce. Absolute bliss.

    I'm sure you'll love this vegetarian Butter Cauliflower as much as we do. I've made it often and stockpiled it in the freezer for a quick curry. It has a wonderful, rich, delicious flavor. Seriously incredible.

    So go on, scroll down and get in the kitchen. This is your dinner tonight.

    Spoon taking scoop out of vegan butter cauliflower curry.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    A flavorful Indian curry.
    Vegan, meat-free, dairy-free version of the popular Butter Chicken curry.
    Ready in just 20 minutes.
    Freezable.
    Chunks of roasted cauliflower in a rich buttery curry sauce.
    Better than takeout.

    Curry recipes

    In case you haven't guessed, I'm a HUGE curry fan. Curries are such a flavorful way to enjoy lots of veggies. And veggies are my number 1 thing (in case you hadn't noticed).

    If you love this vegan butter chicken, then I'm sure you'll love these other Indian recipes too!

    • Easy Dal Tadka (Tarka Daal)
    • Easy Tofu Curry
    • Easy Chickpea Curry
    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)
    • Instant Pot Lentil Curry
    • Easy Roasted Carrot Curry
    • Cauliflower Leaf and Sweet Potato Curry

    Ingredients

    Cauliflower - go for a nice medium-sized head of cauliflower. Frozen florets work too.
    Vegan butter - either a block or margarine.
    Onion - red, white or yellow.
    Garlic
    Ginger
    Garam masala - a popular Indian spice blend that's available in most grocery stores. You can also make your own garam masala.
    Ground cumin
    Ground coriander
    Chilli powder - adjust to your liking. I've given amounts for a pretty mild curry, so if you like it hot, add more!
    Tomato paste/puree
    Vegan cream - I use soy cream, but use whichever type you like. Cashew cream and coconut cream work too. If you're vegetarian, you can use heavy cream or double cream.

    Kitchen Equipment

    You don't need any special kitchen tools or gadgets for this recipe.

    All you need is:

    Oven
    Baking sheet
    Knife
    Bowl
    Sautee pan (or a pot or large deep frying pan)
    Wooden spoon

    Serving dish of butter cauliflower curry.

    Step by step tutorial

    This is a simple curry recipe. Follow these step by step photos for perfect results.

    Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full ingredients list and method.

    Cauliflower in a bowl and on a baking sheet.

    Add the oil and garam masala to a bowl, add the cauliflower florets and toss to coat.
    Spread out on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast in the oven (400F/200c) until golden, about 15 minutes. 

    Pan with onions and spices.

    Meanwhile, cook the onions in the oil and butter until they begin to brown. Add the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for a further minute.

    Stir in the cream, tomato paste and water and simmer for 10 minutes.

    Collage: 1 sauce in a pan, 2 cauliflower roasting on tray.

    Simmer for 10 minutes.
    Remove the cauliflower from the oven.

    Sautee pan of curry sauce next to a pan with cauliflower in the sauce.

    The color of the sauce will darken as it simmers.
    Add the cauliflower and cook for a further 3 minutes. Taste, add more chilli powder if desired and season with salt and pepper.

    Enjoy served with rice and/or naan bread!

    TIP: If you like your curry with more sauce, add a little more water and simmer for a few minutes.

    Serving Suggestions

    Enjoy your vegetarian butter chicken on its own, with rice or with my super easy 15-minute no-knead Naan Bread Recipe.

    It's also perfect served with Vegetable Pakoras (ready in 25 minutes with just 6 ingredients).

    If you're looking for a fancier, but still easy, rice, then go for Turmeric Rice. Not only is it a vibrant color, but it's tasty too.

    Storage and freezing

    Keep this vegan butter cauliflower in the fridge for up to 4 days, covered. You can also freeze the cooled curry in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

    Cauliflower recipes

    If you love this butter cauliflower, then I hope you'll love these other cauliflower recipes too!

    Miso Roasted Cauliflower
    Baked Cauliflower Wings
    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Paprika
    Vegan Crispy 'Duck'
    Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

    Close up of a serving dish of curry.
    Veggie Desserts Cookbook by Kate Hackworthy

    Check out the Veggie Desserts + Cakes cookbook on Amazon

    📖 Recipe

    Serving dish of curry.

    Vegan Butter Chicken (Cauliflower)

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    This easy Vegan Butter Chicken has no butter or chicken and instead is made with roasted cauliflower! It's a tasty vegetarian version of the popular Indian curry that's full of flavor and ready in just 20 minutes.
    5 from 8 votes
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine gluten-free, Indian, Vegan
    Servings 4
    Calories 266 kcal

    Equipment

    • Oven
    • Baking sheet
    • mixing bowl
    • Saute pan or large frying pan

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 head of cauliflower cut into bite-sized pieces
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 1 teaspoon garam masala

    For the butter sauce

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon vegan butter
    • 1 large onion diced
    • 2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon garam masala
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • ½ teaspoon chilli powder adjust to taste
    • 4 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 cup 250g vegan cream I use soy cream
    • ½ cup water
    • Salt and pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400F / 200C.
    • Cut the cauliflower into large bite-sized pieces. Add the oil and garam masala to a bowl, add the cauliflower and toss to coat.
    • Spread out on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast in the oven until golden, about 15 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a pot or sautee pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 6 minutes until they begin to brown.
    • Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a further minute, then stir in the ground cumin, garam masala, ground coriander and chilli powder and cook for a few seconds.
    • Stir in the cream, tomato paste and water and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the roasted cauliflower and cook for a further 3 minutes. If you like your curry with more sauce, add a little more water and simmer for a few minutes. Taste, add more chilli powder if desired and season with salt and pepper.
    • Serve with rice or naan.

    Video

    Notes

    Serving suggestions
    • Enjoy your vegetarian butter chicken on its own, with rice or with my super easy 15-minute no-knead Naan Bread Recipe.
    • It's also perfect served with Vegetable Pakoras (ready in 25 minutes with just 6 ingredients).
    • If you're looking for a fancier, but still easy, rice, then go for Turmeric Rice. Not only is it a vibrant color, but it's tasty too.
    Storage and freezing
    • Keep this vegan butter cauliflower in the fridge for up to 4 days, covered.
    • You can also freeze the cooled curry in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 248mgPotassium: 756mgFiber: 5gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 452IUVitamin C: 75mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill

      April 18, 2021 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      One of our favourites!
      Vegan cream and brown rice or the Nan breads which are equally great .... super!
      Your site has become a family favourite - us and 3 adult children

      Reply
    2. Nicci

      September 21, 2020 at 8:09 pm

      5 stars
      Omg this was so lovely! My boyfriend really enjoyed it too. Thanks 🧡

      Reply
    3. Stefan

      September 08, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious. I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian, but this was straight out good! I did vegetarianize it though, using real butter and cream for it.

      And it was even better with your delicious turmeric rice!

      Reply
    4. Ashley

      August 26, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      5 stars
      I love anything Butter flavored... But, using cauliflower instead of chicken is just wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Lauren | Delicious Little Bites

      August 26, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      Love, love, love this recipe! I'm a a cauliflower addict and this is the kind of flavor that I Love!

      Reply
    6. Sharon

      August 26, 2020 at 2:21 pm

      5 stars
      This vegan butter cauliflower is a wonderful meatless Monday dish that has all the flavor of the original chicken dish.

      Reply
    7. Amanda

      August 26, 2020 at 2:13 pm

      5 stars
      That sounds gorgeous and I love the idea of roasting the cauliflower first too.

      Reply

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    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

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    My cookbook

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    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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