Veg makhanwala recipe or vegetable makhani recipe is a north indian mixed vegetable gravy that we often get to see in restaurants. It is served with roti, naan or kulcha and can also be paired with a pulao or biryani.
Veg makhanwala recipe, I am sharing is roughly been adapted from murgh makhani, the best Butter chicken, I had ever made. The vegetarian version is very simple and it gets done under 25 minutes.
To make the veg makhanwala recipe, mixed vegetables are cooked in a delicious onion tomato gravy and then milk cream is added to it to make it creamy. This is a no onion no garlic version of the vegetable makhani and to add volume to the gravy you can use onions too. I have not used paneer, you can as well use few chunks of paneer, if you like.
Veg makhanwala recipe, vegetable makhani recipe
Veg makhanwala recipe | Veg makhani | How to make veg makhanwala
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
- 2 to 2 ½ cups mixed vegetables chopped (beans, peas, carrots, potatoes, bell pepper and cauliflower)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp ginger or ginger garlic paste
- 2 inch cinnamon stick
- 2 green cardamoms
- 1/2 tsp cumin or shahi jeera
- 2 cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pinch methi powder (fenugreek seeds powder) (optional)
- 1 green chilies slit
- 4 tomatoes large (pureed in the blender and filtered to remove skin and seeds)
- ½ to 1 tsp red chili powder (adjust to suit your taste and color)
- 8 almonds blanched and soaked or 10 cashews or 2 tbsps. roasted magaz seeds(refer notes)
- ½ tsp garam masala powder
- ½ tbsp kasuri methi
- ¼ tbsp sugar
- 80 to 100 ml cream
- Coriander leaves for garnishing
How to make the recipe
- Wash and chop vegetables to the desired sizes. Puree the tomatoes in a blender, filter and remove the skin and seeds. Add almonds or cashews or magaz seeds to a blender and powder them, add very little water and blend to make thick milk or paste. Do not add too much water while grinding this will make the gravy very thin.
- Add 1 tbsp. butter to a pan and fry the vegetables till they are partially cooked or softened. Set these aside.
- To the same pan, add the rest of the butter, add the cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves and cardamoms. Saute till they sizzle.
- Add ginger or ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell disappears.
- Pour the tomato puree, red chili powder and fry till the tomato puree thickens and begins to leave the sides.
- Pour water just enough to make a good gravy, bring it to a boil.
- Add fried vegetables, salt, kasuri methi and garam masala. Cook till the veggies are soft cooked.
- Pour the cashew or almond milk or paste, stir well and cook till the gravy thickens, after adding cream the gravy thins up, so let the gravy thicken at this stage.
- Pour cream and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. If you are worried that your gravy will curdle, do not cook after adding the cream.
NUTRITION (estimation only)
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
If you are new to cooking, follow my detailed step by step photo instructions for best results.
For more North Indian veg recipes, check
paneer butter masala
paneer tikka masala
kadai paneer
kadai mushroom
punjabi chole masala
Veg makhanwala recipe, vegetable makhani with step by step pictures
1. Fry vegetables in one tablespoon butter till they are half cooked. Stir constantly. Set these aside.
2. Add another tablespoon butter to the pan, add bay leaf, cumin, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and allow them to sizzle. Add ginger paste and fry till the raw smell disappears
3. Pour the tomato puree and add red chili powder
4. Cook till the puree thickens and begins to leave the sides of the pan.
5. Pour 1 cup water or as needed and bring it to a boil
6. Add vegetables, garam masala, kasuri methi and salt. Stir and cook till the veggies are soft cooked.
7. Add the almond paste or milk and cook till the gravy thickens. Make sure the gravy thickens. If the gravy is too runny, evaporate on a high flame.
8. Pour cream and stir. Switch off the stove.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
debzmar says
really enjoyed this dish, left out the nuts as they dont agree with me, added a pureed onion and used tinned toms.
Plenty of flavour and well spiced, served with plain rice and chutneys
swasthi says
Thanks Debzmar,
Yes onions can be used.
Glad to know you liked it.
Philo Sequeira says
Thanks, did it for the first time came good only ibneed to learn how to fry the veg (timing) my daughter loved it ,can u help me ,need to learn how to cook gluten free food..Breakfast and all Thank u once again. Philo
swasthi says
Welcome Philo
Glad to know you liked the recipe. I do not have a gluten free category yet on the blog. It needs an extensive study I guess.
I am sorry I am unable to help you
Hemayuvi says
Wow delicious
swasthi says
Thanks
shalini says
One more restaurant taste recipe. Lovely. Thanks swasthi for giving me the reply soon, so then only I was able to prepare this wonderful , tasty dish.
I added green chilli at met.4 along with ginger. And also I added methi seed powder.
I was scared that adding methi seed powder will spoil the taste, but from ur reply u have mentioned adding this will enhance the flavor, & really the taste was amazing.
swasthi says
welcome Shalini, Iam glad it turned out good. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. A pinch of Methi seeds powder adds a unique flavor to most curry recipes without affecting the taste. Have a good day
shalini says
Hi swasthi, this recipe is quiet interesting to me, need to prepare this. But few silly questions,
At which stage u have added Kasuri methi, Sugar, & if using methi seed powder when to add it.
swasthi says
Hi Shalini,
sugar and kasuri methi to be added just before adding cashew or almond paste. roasted methi powder is optional it can be added along with kasuri methi. It gives a good fragrance. Thanks for the mention will update the post soon.