Hemp-Tofu in Rich Creamy Pasanda sauce. Vegan 'Paneer' Pasanda. Gluten-free Soy-free Recipe

Published: Apr 23, 2014 · Modified: Jul 17, 2020 by Richa 83 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Tofu Pasanda recipe is intriguing and easy. Tofu crisped with spices and cooked in a special Pasanda sauce which pleases all. Indian Vegan Gluten-free

Jump to Recipe

In the earlier months of our transition to plant based diet, I felt a bit confused, like many other new vegans, about the options and recipes that were basically vegan versions of meat and cheese. I was brought up mostly vegetarian. Our everyday meals were beans, grains, vegetables. So fortunately, what we would eat for lunch or dinner never became a stressful question during the early transition days. Over the months I also realized that the Vegan movement is quite different than the Indian Vegetarian thing, Vegetarian-ism (in India) is usually somewhat religious or something you are born into and just happen to be because of family or community, and not really thinking of vegetarian-izing other dishes. With Veganism, there is usually a conscious reason to choose the Vegan diet, ethics, health, environment etc. Hence, there are several ways to do a plant based diet, with meat subs or without, with or without cheese subs, raw, cooked, mixed, smoothies, different cuisines, and on and on, depending on where(food wise) you come from.

Think of it this way. If most of the country(India) of more than a Billion people eats vegetarian everyday with the major portion of the meals being pulses, beans, grains and veggies,That too without an epidemic of protein, vitamin or other deficiencies, There have to be some good number of options for all those people right. And there are. There is no one Indian cuisineof the country. Each of the 29 states have their own cuisine and some regions within the states also have their own cuisines. Imagine all those plantfoods based options!

This week for Veg Week, here is another creamy North-Indian style curry with bold flavors to add to that repertoire of Vegan Indian food. This saucehas some specific spices and ingredients, which give it the texture and flavor. You can omit the ingredients you do not have on hand. The sauceis usually servedwith Paneer cheese or meats. I used a Hemp-Tofu block (Tofu made of Hemp seeds, yup, no Soy!). Each 8 oz pack has 30 gms of protein! This curry is loaded. Or use chickpea-tofu from my book to make soy-free.

Like the pasanda sauce, there are many such complex flavor sauces that are generally served over meat or paneer, but hey, all the flavor is in the sauce! So use it with anything, veggies, beans, tofu, tempeh. It is difficult to namemost of these sauces/curries. Most of them end up being called creamy 🙂 But believe you me, they taste and feel very different.

You can add chunky veggies or chickpeas or white beans or tempeh to the curry. Add potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, baby corn etc at the step when the tofu is added and cook until tender.

There are several ways to make the sauce. This version is nut-free, uses pumpkin seeds to add the richness. You can also add kofta balls (veggie “meat” balls) to the curry.
More Restaurant style Indian curries from the blog below. Use any regular firm or Extra firm Tofu, Hemp-tofu, Tempeh, Seitan or Veggies.All The curries are gluten-free and can be made soy-free with vegetables. Tofu and veggies are Glutenfree proteins while seitan is wheat. Tempeh can have gluten.
Palak/Saag “Paneer” – Tofu in Spinach curry
Mutter “Paneer”– Spiced Peas and Tempeh
Vegetable Jalfrezi – Veggies in smoky tangy curry
Gobi Broccoli Makhani- Cauliflower and Broccoli in creamy gravy
Tempeh Tikka Masala with Kale
Gobi Mutter Keema – Minced Cauliflower “Meat” in cilantro onion curry.
Mango Curry Tempeh.and more under the Main course India category.

Doesn’t it look like it came right from a restaurant!

Living Harvest has a line of Hemp Tofu with plain, Chimichurri, Spicy Chili Lime and Mexican Chorizo flavors. It is currently available only at Whole foods and will soon be in other stores (in a couple of months). With 30 gms of protein per pack and a good load of Omega 3+6 aminos, this is the soy-free Tofu you should give a few chances to get accustomed to the different texture and taste. I made a Scramble Pizza with the Chili Lime Hemp-tofu, which worked well because of the added flavors and crumbling it up. This curry further masks the texture and flavor. The Hemp-tofu can be crumbly depending on the pack and quite nutty tasting with a distinctive flavor. If you don’t expect it to be like regular Tofu, you might like it more. :). Hubbs is already in love with it and I loved it much more in this curry than regular Tofu.

Steps:
Cook the hemp-tofu with spices.

Cook the curry ingredients, then blend and return to pan with the tofu.

Cook until thick and aromatic.

Get this super popular recipe also in my cookbook! Available internationally!

Recipe Card

Save This Recipe in Your Inbox

Share your email and we will send this recipe! Plus, enjoy all the new recipes as they post!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Vegan Richa.

Print Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Hemp Tofu Pasanda Curry

This Tofu Pasanda recipe is intriguing and easy. Tofu crisped with spices and cooked in a special Pasanda sauce which pleases all. Indian Vegan Gluten-free

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Main

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 2

Calories: 230kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

1 8 oz (226 g) pack Hemp-Tofu cubed 1/2- 3/4 inch cubes regular or Chimicurri flavor, or use Firm Tofu, pressed and cubed
2 tsp oil use less or more to preference
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garam masala
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) cinnamon powder
1/2 cup (7 g) red onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 inch ginger chopped
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) cumin seeds
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) fennel seeds
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) coriander seeds
1 clove
1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds or sunfllower seeds
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) white or black poppy seeds khus khus
1 medium tomato chopped
1/2 cup (113 ml) coconut milk
1/4 cup (62.5 ml) water
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) paprika
1/4 - 1/2 tsp (1/4 to 1/2 tsp) cayenne or to taste
3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) salt
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) sugar

Instructions

In a pan, add oil and heat at medium. Add the cubed Hemp-tofu, garam masala and cinnamon and cook for 4-5 minutes or until lightly golden on some edges. Remove from pan and keep aside.
To the same pan, add onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Add garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, fennel seeds, clove, pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the tomato and cook for 4-5 minutes until saucy. Mash the larger tomato pieces while it cooks.
Cool slightly and blend to a smooth puree with a 1/2 cup coconut milk. Blend well until the poppy seeds break down.
Add puree back to the pan. Add water, paprika, cayenne, salt and sugar and the hemp-tofu cubes.
Mix well. Cover and cook on low-medium heat for 15-18 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the tofu picks on the color. Stir twice in between. taste and adjust salt, spice. The curry needs to cook through to cook the poppy seeds which are somewhat grassy uncooked.
Serve hot with rice/quinoa, flatbread, Naan.

Notes

Notes: To make this with regular firm tofu, press the tofu and cook tofu exactly as the recipe.
To make this with Tempeh, cook the Tempeh with the garam masala, cinnamon and 1/2 cup of water on medium heat for 10-11 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. then continue with the rest of the steps.
To make with Veggies or cooked Chickpeas, Cook the veggies/chickpeas with the spices in step 1 for 3-4 minutes and keep aside and continue with the rest of the steps. Cook with the curry until tender.

Nutritional information based on one serving

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Sharing is caring!

Share on PinterestShare on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on X (Twitter)Share on Email

Banana Walnut Breakfast Loaf. Gluten free Banana Walnut Bread Vegan Gum-free Recipe »

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online! I love hearing from you all! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hemp-Tofu in Rich Creamy Pasanda sauce. Vegan 'Paneer' Pasanda. Gluten-free Soy-free Recipe - Vegan Richa (2024)