I know what you’re thinking – vegan butter chicken but without chicken…with tofu? Hear me out – if I had called this recipe vegan butter tofu would you have clicked? Probably not. But tofu makes the perfect replacement for chicken because – if cooked right -the texture and shape mimic chicken. I mean it can be used to make baked tofu nuggets and you can BBQ tofu! But, you have to know how to cook it and I’ve perfected this after working on my tofu curry recipe. So if you love Indian recipes like I do, I highly recommend you try this butter chicken with tofu! It comes together in under an hour and is packed with flavor – let me show you!
Why you’ll love it
Simple ingredients that are mostly spices. So while it might look like quite a few ingredients, they are really just different spices. The tofu has a crispy texture and bite feel very similar to chicken thanks to a trick I’ll discuss below! Crowd-pleasing Indian spices are a welcome warmth to anyone. Even if you haven’t tried much Indian food, garam masala brings a warmth and coziness only found in butter chicken.
Ingredients for Vegan butter chicken
Most of these ingredients can be found easily in the store. The only one that is a little special is garam masala but you can make your own if you can’t find it in the store.
Tofu: You will need 2 firm tofu blocks here. It’s super important that it’s firm tofu so the texture can hold up the awesome butter sauce. Cornstarch: This helps the outside to become crispy. It’s a must for this tofu! Tofu spices: Adding a little curry powder and salt to the tofu help to really layer on those flavors. Coconut oil: I use coconut here to stick with the coconut flavors, but olive oil or avocado oil work too. Yellow onion: These are the sweetest and most milk of the onions. A white onion would also work here but the sauce won’t be quite the same. Ginger & garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic have a flavor unlike anything else! While I don’t recommend powdered ginger or garlic, you can use pre-minced ginger and garlic. Garam masala: This is a blend of many Indian spices that adds SO much flavor to the dish! You can find it in most stores, otherwise you can make homemade garam masala. Butter sauce spices: In addition to the garam masala, you will need coriander seed, kashmiri chili powder, cumin, and salt. A note about the kashmiri chili powder, if you don’t have it, you can substitute for sweet paprika and cayenne pepper. Coconut milk: Grab full-fat coconut milk for the most decadent vegan sauce. This type of coconut milk is usually found in a can near the Asian item in the store. Tomato paste: Tomato adds a natural sweetness and slight acidity to cut through the fat from the coconut milk and oil.
How to make butter chicken vegan
To veganize this typically chicken-based dish, we need tofu. We also need to know how to handle the tofu to make it taste and look like chicken. Here’s what you do:
Storage
This dish is best eaten right away. It can be kept int he fridge for up to 3 days but the tofu will loose it’s crispy texture. You could also make just the sauce and freeze it in small portions to use as needed through the year.
Why this Recipe Works
If you aren’t already rumeging through your pantry to find the ingredients for this vegan butter chicken, here are a few more reasons why it works so well!
Torn tofu really makes all the difference in texture and appearance! You can meal prep the sauce and serve it with tofu, roasted cauliflower or anything else that sounds good! Everyone loves this dish even if they have never had Indian food. It has the perfect combination of comforting and exciting flavors to keep you coming back bite after bite.
What can I use instead of chicken in butter chicken?
You can use tofu! It’s packed with protein, has a similar mouth feel, and is a great vessel for the butter sauce. If you’re not a fan of tofu, we also love serving this butter sauce with nutritious (and delicious) chickpeas.
How do I press tofu?
I find it best to place the tofu on a plate with many paper towels on top, a piece of parchment paper, and then a few heavy cook books or pans. Let this sit for 20 minutes to get the extra moisture out.
Can I make this sauce thinner?
Yes, to make the sauce thinner and with less fat you can use a lite coconut milk instead of full fat.
Serve It With
Butter chicken can be paired with many staple side dishes. Here are a few of my favorte ways to serve it.
Serve it over warm jasmine rice. Add a side of fresh naan bread for dipping. Pair it with roasted vegetables for more colors of the rainbow on your plate!
