Cauliflower, cashew, pea and coconut curry

I’ve made this curry a few times now, as it proved popular with both girls. I like the way the flavours and textures remain distinct – the soft sweetness of cauliflower, fresh pop of peas and crunch of cashews make for a very satisfying dish.

This is another Gujarati recipe from Made in India by Meera Sodha. As I usually do when cooking Indian recipes, I cut back on the quantity of oil and tweaked the spices to our liking. I made it with light coconut milk the second time, which resulted in a fresher tasting curry.

Cauliflower, cashew, pea and coconut curry
(serves 4)

• a thumb of ginger, peeled and chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 green chilli, chopped (deseeded if you want a milder curry)
• 2 Tb sunflower oil
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 1 Tb tomato purée
• 1/2 Tb ground coriander
• 1/2 Tb ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 large cauliflower, broken into bite-size florets
• 400ml tin coconut milk
• 3/4 cup (100g) raw cashews
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/4 cup coriander, chopped
• a wedge of lemon

1. Place the ginger, garlic and chilli in a mortar, add a pinch of salt and work into a paste.
2. Heat 2 Tb oil in a lidded frying pan over medium heat.  Add the onions and sauté until golden and soft.
3. Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook a few minutes more. Stir in the tomato purée, ground coriander, cumin, chilli powder and salt.
4. Add the cauliflower and stir until coated. Pour in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about ten minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender.
5. While the cauliflower is cooking, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Fry the cashews for a couple of minutes, then spread them on a piece of paper towel to cool.
6. When the cauliflower is tender, add the peas and garam masala and cook for a few more minutes.
7. Adjust the seasoning, then serve sprinkled with cashews, coriander and a squirt of lemon juice.

Tags: cashews, cauliflower, coconut, dairy-free, gluten-free, Indian food, peas, vegan, vegetarian