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Tofu Tikka Masala

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I can’t believe that I’ve had my vegan tikka masala recipe hanging out in my Google Drive for fully THREE years and finally remade it to share it with you! Just food blogger problems I guess. The list of future recipes is always growing infinitely larger :). This is a slow cooker tofu tikka masala – start by sauteeing a few aromatics and spices in a pan, but then transfer everything to your Crock Pot (or pressure cooker!) to finish the curry.

Slow cooker tofu tikka masala in a white bowl with brown rice and a brown wooden spoon in the background

Traditional chicken tikka masala (which, I’ll add, is thought to actually originate from the UK) involves marinating the protein in a spiced yogurt mixture before starting the curry. No marinade required here! #VeganHacks. All you need to do is press the tofu of its excess liquid so that it can absorb the creamy, garam masala-spiced sauce while it cooks in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

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You can mix up this tofu tika masala by substituting chickpeas or adding vegetables like sweet potato or cauliflower; but I happen to like it exactly as written. Slow cooker tofu is not at all like you’d expect. It doesn’t fall apart into mush, but instead gets flavorful and tender while maintaining its shape. I used to always pre-bake or pre-fry my tofu before adding it to the crock pot, but over the years I’ve learned that this step isn’t even necessary either. Making flavorful tofu is now easier than ever!

Overhead view of a bowl of vegan tikka masala curry with creamy coconut milk on a wooden cutting board, garnished with flecks of red bell pepper, cilantro and red onion

Aside from turning this curry vegetarian, I had to do something about the cream normally found in this recipe. My original dairy-free tikka masala used cashew cream, which I have to tell you made for a dead ringer for the classic, but is a little bit more of a pain in the butt because you have to soak and blend the cashews. Ultimately I decided that coconut milk is much easier and works with the flavors, so my final recipe uses that. But in the recipe notes I also tell you the cashew version!

Porcelain bowl filled with crock pot tofu tikka masala and generously sprinkled with fresh coriander leaves

Trader Joe’s might have a pretty tasty vegan tikka masala now, but I’ve gotta say this homemade tofu tikka masala is even better, more cost-effective, and loved by vegans and omnivores both! My non-vegan friend who claimed not to be hungry ended up going back for seconds, so yeah.

Serve this slow cooker tofu tikka masala with brown or white rice or other grain of choice; or a bread like naan, chapati, paratha, etc. Or just slurp a bowl of it on its own! You won’t regret it! And after you give the recipe a try, let me know in the comments here and by tagging me @yupitsvegan on Instagram!

Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala | Yup, it's Vegan
4.94 from 30 votes
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Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala

Hearty, creamy, delicious tofu tikka masala that cooks in your slow cooker or Instant Pot for easy meal prep. Vegan and gluten-free.

Course curry, dinner
Cuisine dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free, vegan, vegetarian
Keyword slow cooker tofu curry, tofu tikka masala, vegan tikka masala
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Total Yield 4 servings
Calories Per Serving 383 kcal
Author Yup, it's Vegan

Ingredients

For the spice blend:

  • 1 tbsp garam masala
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (reduce to 1/4 if sensitive to spice)
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

For the tofu tikka masala:

  • 12 oz extra-firm tofu (1 normal package)
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 large yellow onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 inch ginger peeled and minced
  • 2 green chili peppers finely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 6 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes quartered (or use 1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained)
  • 1 can full-fat coconut milk (1 and 3/4 cups)
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp coconut sugar (optional but recommended)
  • salt to taste
  • freshly-squeezed lemon juice to taste, for serving
  • chopped fresh cilantro (coriander) to taste, for serving

Instructions

  1. Drain excess liquid from the tofu package. Wrap the tofu in several clean towels and place a heavy object on top of it. (Alternately, use a tofu press). Press the tofu for 10-15 minutes - to save time, I start this before I chop and prep other ingredients.

  2. Mix together all of the spices and set aside. Heat the coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat, and add the diced onion with a pinch of salt. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until translucent and starting to lightly brown, 4 to 6 minutes.

  3. Add the cumin seeds and cook for 60 seconds more. Add the garlic, ginger, and chili pepper, and cook for another 60 seconds. Stir in all of the spice mixture and cook, stirring constantly, just until fragrant, about 45 seconds.

  4. Add the bell pepper, nutritional yeast, and tomato paste, and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently. Finally, add the tomatoes and stir well, scraping around the bottom of the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the tomatoes are starting to soften. Turn off the heat.

  5. Lightly spray or grease the bottom of your slow cooker. Cut the pressed tofu into small cubes and add it to the slow cooker. Use a spatula to add all of the mixture from the skillet. Add the coconut milk, white wine vinegar, and coconut sugar, and stir to combine.

  6. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours. Alternately, cook under pressure in your Instant Pot for 15 to 20 minutes.

  7. After cooking, season to taste with additional salt, and fresh lemon juice. Serve with rice or accompaniments of choice, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Recipe Notes

CASHEW CREAM: I'm usually too lazy to do this extra step, but for a more authentic tikka masala flavor, this recipe is even better with cashew cream substituted for the coconut milk. For the cashew cream, use 3/4 cup raw cashews plus 1 and 3/4 cups water and 2 tsp lemon juice.

NO SLOW COOKER: Bring the mixture to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce to a gentle simmer, then cook covered for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tomatoes are broken down and tofu has absorbed the sauce flavor.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST: The nutritional yeast gives a slightly cheesy, funky undertone that makes this tikka masala taste more similar to one made with dairy. To omit it, add 1/2 tbsp of olive oil or vegetable oil, and brown the onions more deeply before continuing with the recipe. If you have soy sauce on hand, also add 1/2 tbsp to replace the umami.

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala
Amount Per Serving (1 fourth recipe)
Calories 383 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 40%
Saturated Fat 18g 90%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Sodium 74mg 3%
Potassium 1038mg 30%
Total Carbohydrates 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 7g 28%
Sugars 10g
Protein 18g 36%
Vitamin A 43%
Vitamin C 110%
Calcium 20%
Iron 22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Adapted from non vegan Chicken Tikka Masala on AllRecipes.

Other tasty curry recipes from the blog:

Easy Coconut Chickpea Curry

Curried Red Lentil Dip

Lentil Spinach Curry with Coconut Rice

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Comments


  1. Loved it! Used cumin powder, added large handful of chopped cilantro and spinach at the end of cooking time.

    Reply

  2. A friend has been trying to adapt this recipe to an instant pot, but keeps getting a burn warning. Any suggestions before I start tinkering with the recipe myself?

    Reply

    • Yeah, this is a tricky problem, I know of a number of recipes where most people have no issues but some people get a burn warning. The instant pot insert pan is very thin. A few thoughts…the saute step of this recipe might be problematic for those who are unlucky. If you have the option to lower the saute temp, definitely do that, and try to keep the saute step short as possible, proceed past it as soon as the onion etc are softened. Make sure to deglaze the pan thoroughly and scrape up anything stuck to the bottom. And add more liquid if there’s not enough to cover the tofu. Hope this helps!

      Reply


  5. Absolutely wonderful. I’ve finally found the courage to try to cook a meal that I loved since when I was little (back then the omni version). It tasted exactly as I remembered it – rich, spicy, and thick. I made a few changes:
    -used about 3/4 teaspoon of cumin powder instead of cumin seeds
    -used red chilli peppers instead of green ones
    -used a 400g can of chopped tomatoes and didn’t drain it
    -used apple cider vinegar instead of white wine vinegar
    -omitted the coconut sugar
    -used 200g of cashews to make the cream, because it didn’t seem thick enough at first, though ended up adding quite a bit of water, so probably unnecessary

    I absolutely love it. Seriously, I don’t recall I’ve eaten a meal that was so rich and hearty as this one. Great recipe 🙂

    Reply


  8. And I can’t believe I had this bookmarked for so long and finally made it. My kids are finally coming around on Indian food. Made this along with some Saag Paneer and had an Indian feast the other night. It’s definitely in the rotation. Dang that’s a lot of fat, though!

    Reply

  9. I want to make this recipe with the cashew cream. To make it, I am assuming I would need to soak the 3/4 cup raw cashews in the 1 3/4 cups water and 2 tsp lemon juice for a couple of hours, then put in a food processor?

    Thanks,

    K

    Reply

    • Soak the cashews until soft, drain them, then add the amount of water and lemon juice listed and blend until very smooth. If using a food processor, you may want to strain with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag to get any tiny pieces out that didn’t get blended up. (Up to you).

      Reply


  10. This was great, and my adult non vegan grandson loved it too. He was surprised he liked the tofu. Very spicy and delicious. I had to use part cashew milk as I was using leftover coconut milk and didn’t have enough, and cooked it on the stove. Otherwise made the recipe exactly. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes, thanks!

    Reply

  11. Is it possible to make this dish without pressure cooker? I don’t have one but I would really like to make this.. 🙁

    Reply

  12. Hi! Just wanted to confirm the correct amount of paprika. Is it actually 2 tablespoons and not 2 teaspoons? I’m a bit confused since it Is listed under the 1 tablespoon of garam masala, and often ingredients are listed in decreasing order.

    Thank you. Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply


  13. Yum! Tofu & Indian food are not my usual fare. I’m so glad I decided to go out of my comfort zone to try this recipe. It was delicious! I used my instant pot and it turned out perfectly. The leftovers were even better the next day.

    Reply


  14. Hi Shannon,

    I loved this recipe! I’m from the UK where Tikka Massala is an all time favourite, and finding a good vegan recipe has been impossible until now. Made this for my family last night and they finished it all off with second helpings! Thank you so much!

    One question – I would love to include the cashew cream next time instead of coconut milk, however I am allergic to cashews (sad times for myself as a vegan.) Is there another nut you would recommend for cashew cream? It would also help me in all other areas of cooking!

    Reply

    • Hey Ellen! Raw macadamia nuts work great as a sub for cashews. I think they have an even better/more neutral flavor than cashews but they are pricier. I’m not as sure about other nuts / haven’t tested them much.

      Reply

  15. This recipe is excellent! I think the prep time listed isn’t really accurate. It took more than 15 minutes to drain my tofu, assemble my spices, prep my veg, and then actually cook things off to get it into the slow cooker. But aside from that minor difference this recipe is amazingly flavorful. It’s even better then second day. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply

  16. Hi Shannon:
    I did ac1/4 of this recipe 😊just to try and use oat milk with that I made adding a bit of oat flour so the milk comes bit thick, I have also replace the white vinegar and use Home made Kombucha vinegar , to my taste and I chopped a 200 grams o so of butter pumpkin. I really like , it was good.
    I want to add more veggies such as zucchini, broccoli, celery, carrots, do you think it’ll freeze well?
    Thank you very much.

    Reply

  19. If you double the amount of tofu (I was going to do 2 packages) would you recommend doubling everything else, too? Or which ingredients would you definitely double and which ones are not as important to double. Thank you!!!

    Reply

    • I think your best bet would be to double the tofu and use 1.5x everything else. I want to make sure you still have a full flavored sauce. This way the sauce will still be proportioned the same, there will just be a little less of it compared to the amount of tofu, but it’s on the saucy side as-is so that should work out ok.

      Reply

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I'm Shannon, the writer and photographer of Yup, it's Vegan! I'm a morning person based in Baltimore, USA. My mission is to create healthy plant-based recipes that anyone would enjoy, using seasonal produce with inspiration from global flavors.
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