Indian Vegetarian Recipes

Guacamole Recipe

https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/guacamole-recipe-easy-guacamole-recipe/

Guacamole is a favorite at home and also our quick breakfast or dinner when I am too tired or busy to make anything else.

Just making this famous Mexican dip takes 5 minutes and there you serve it – with toast or taco or tortilla. You can even make grilled sandwiches from guacamole.

About this Guacamole recipe

Decades back when living in Bangalore and Goa, I used to see avocados in the markets but did not know what to do with them. So they would never make it to my vegetable groceries until I was introduced again to this amazing fruit when a friend made the simplest guacamole.

We liked his version of guacamole recipe. From then on I have been experimenting with guacamole and finally, come to this version which we love at home. Much richer and better in taste than my friend’s version who introduced us to guacamole.

My guacamole recipe which I have been making for decades now is very easy and has fresh ingredients.

What ingredients you will need ?

To make this best homemade guacamole recipe all you need are ingredients that are easily found in your pantry. You don’t need any special ingredients.

Ripe avocado: A well-ripened avocado has a soft creamy buttery pulp. If possible use Hass avocado due to their creamy texture. But do note that Indian avocado also works well.
Onions: For the crunch and slight pungency.
Tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes give a nice tang and crunch. Adding tomatoes are optional.
Garlic: A bit of pungency comes from adding garlic. But adding them is optional. Though personally I prefer garlic in guacamole, but you can skip it.
Serrano peppers (green chilies): The heat and spice in guacamole mainly comes from peppers. For a more spicy taste, you can increase the quantity. You can even add jalapeño pepper.
Lemon juice: The acidic element which really elevates the taste is lemon juice. So do not forget to add it. You can add less or more as per your taste buds.
Extra virgin Olive oil: I always add a dash of olive oil as some fat makes the guacamole only taste better. You can skip olive oil though.
Herbs: I always prefer guacamole with herbs and it tastes so good with cilantro (coriander leaves). I have made guacamole with basil and parsley too, but I prefer cilantro to both these herbs. You can choose your choice of herbs to be added to the guacamole.
Spices: You can use either black pepper or cayenne pepper in the recipe. I prefer freshly crushed black pepper. Sometimes I have even added smoked paprika and it was good.

Is guacamole healthy

Avocado is the main ingredient in guacamole so obviously it is healthy. Avocado is a superfood.

Avocados are rich in vitamin E, the B group vitamins and vitamin K. They are also high in potassium. They are also rich in fiber. So it is good to include avocados in your diet.

They are good for kids too. When making guacamole for small kids, just skip the chilies and black pepper to avoid the spice & heat.

I love avocado and all the recipes that have it. Another favorite of mine is avocado toast. The rich buttery texture of avocado is so good and at times I simply slather it on toasts sprinkled with a bit of black salt and pepper.

How to make guacamole recipe

1. First, finely chop 1 small onion, 1 small tomato, mince or finely chop 1 small clove of garlic, 1 to 2 serrano peppers or jalapeño peppers or green chillies and cilantro (coriander leaves). You will need ¼ cup finely chopped onion, ¼ cup finely chopped tomatoes and 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (coriander leaves). Garlic is optional and can be skipped.

2. Take all these chopped ingredients in a mixing bowl. Keep aside.

3. Take a ripe avocado and cut it from the center horizontally or vertically into two equal halves. While cutting the avocado from the center keep on rotating the knife in a circle at the center so that you get two halves of the avocado. Note that while cutting you will feel the resistance from the inner seed.

4. So now you have the two avocado halves. Remove the seed with a spoon. Now you can scoop the avocado pulp with a spoon. With a knife you can even cut or slice the avocado directly in the fruit itself but be careful when doing this.

5. I scoop the avocado pulp and then place these on the chopping board. You can even place the scooped avocado pulp directly in the mixing bowl.6. Then chop them.

7. Place the chopped avocado in the mixing bowl.

8. Add 2 teaspoons lemon juice or add as required.

9. Drizzle 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil.

10. Lastly, season with salt as per taste and ¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper or ground black pepper. You can add a dash of cayenne pepper instead of black pepper. You can use kosher salt, crushed sea salt or even black salt. Black salt gives a really good taste with hints of sulfur and the guacamole tastes almost eggy.

11. Mix very well. Mash the avocado whilst mixing. Check the taste and add more salt, black pepper or lemon juice if required.

12. Serve this best guacamole with toast, tortilla chips, nachos or as an accompaniment with a burrito or quesadilla. You can garnish with a few coriander leaves while serving.

For similar recipes do check

This guacamole recipe post is from the archives (27 January 2012) and has been recently republished on 17 February 2020.

Many of my recipes have detailed step by step photos and useful tips to help you make it easily and perfectly.

Guacamole Recipe

Learn to make the best guacamole from scratch with easily available fresh ingredients.

Servings (change the number to scale):2

(1 CUP = 250 ML)

1 avocado – ripened
¼ cup finely chopped onions or 1 small onion
¼ cup finely chopped tomatoes or 1 small tomato – optional
1 to 2 serrano peppers or green chillies or jalapeno pepper – finely chopped
1 small garlic clove – finely chopped or minced – optional
¼ teaspoon freshly crushed black pepper or ground black pepper – add as required
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (coriander leaves)
2 teaspoons lemon juice or add as required
salt as required – can use rock salt, black salt, kosher salt or crushed sea salt
a few coriander leaves – for garnish, optional

Cut the avocado into two equal parts. Remove the ripe pulp with a spoon.
Mix it with the rest of the chopped ingredients, salt, olive oil and lemon juice. Add the seasonings – salt and freshly crushed black pepper. You can even chop the avocado pulp and then mix with the remaining ingredients.
Mash the avocado while mixing.
Serve this best guacamole with toast, tortilla chips, nachos or as an accompaniment with a burrito or quesadilla. You can garnish with a few coriander leaves while serving.

Tips and variations

Optional ingredients: you can skip tomatoes, garlic and olive oil in the recipe.
Avocado: Always use a ripe avocado. If the avocados are not ripe, then cover with a paper towel or brown paper and place them on the kitchen counter for some days till they ripen.
Some more crunch: you can add 1 small to medium-sized cucumber and 1 small bell pepper.
Substitutions: Instead of cilantro, you can add fresh parsley. If you do not have fresh herbs, then replace with dried parsley or basil.
Cumin: You can even add a bit of ground cumin in the guacamole.
Servings: The recipe serves 2 and can be easily scaled by decreasing or increasing the ingredients.
Ground peppers: You can add black pepper or cayenne pepper. You can even add sweet paprika or smoked paprika.
Salt: Use your favorite salt. I prefer to add rock salt, Himalayan pink salt or rock salt – alone or in combination.

Nutrition Facts

Guacamole Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 177 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 591mg26%

Potassium 561mg16%

Carbohydrates 12g4%

Fiber 7g29%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 357IU7%

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%

Vitamin B6 1mg50%

Vitamin C 18mg22%

Vitamin E 2mg13%

Vitamin K 24µg23%

Calcium 12mg1%

Vitamin B9 (Folate) 88µg22%

Iron 1mg6%

Magnesium 31mg8%

Phosphorus 58mg6%

Zinc 1mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Indian Vegetarian Recipes

Paneer Tikka Masala

paneer curry served in a white bowl garnished with cilantro with naan in the background

Paneer Tikka Masala is a popular Indian curry where cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese), onions and peppers are marinated with yogurt and spices, grilled and then tossed in a creamy tomato based curry. This dish goes extremely well with butter naan or paratha or basmati rice.

About This Recipe

You know the most famous Indian food in the world? It is Chicken Tikka Masala, at least that’s what I think. You talk to anyone in the UK or USA and even if they don’t know much about Indian food they definitely know about chicken tikka masala. I think the dish is synonyms with Indian food in the west. The vegetarian version of it is of course Paneer Tikka Masala which is also quite popular and you would find it on the menu of most Indian restaurants.

Growing up in India, I had never heard of paneer tikka masala. Sure, we had paneer tikka but adding it to a curry was unknown, at least to me. I remember watching a MasterChef India episode some 10 years back which had chef Vikas Khanna and chef Kunal Kapoor talking about the origin of this dish. They also shared a recipe and so this recipe is inspired from their version.

They of course shared the recipe for chicken tikka masala but I changed it to paneer tikka masala and also made few changes depending on my preferences and availability. This recipe uses curry powder which is a common spice mix in the west (again this spice mix doesn’t even exist in India) and it makes sense since this dish originated in the UK. There are stories of how a chef added cream sauce to chicken tikka to please the taste buds of British people and that’s where it originated from.

There are 2 parts to this recipe- the tikka part where paneer, onions and peppers are marinated with yogurt and spices and then grilled. You can cook the tikka in tandoor, oven or in your pan. The other part of the recipe is the curry which is a smooth curry made with onions, tomatoes, cream and butter. The grilled tikka is added to the curry and then served as a main course with side of bread.

This Paneer Tikka Masala

is super creamy, smooth.
goes well with naan, paratha.
makes a comforting meal.
leftovers are great as well!

Ingredients

There are 2 parts to this recipe- the paneer tikka and the curry.

Paneer Tikka

Paneer: you can use either homemade or store bought paneer but whatever paneer you use, it should be firm and be able to hold it’s shape. You can find paneer at Indian grocery stores or make it at home.

Yogurt: for the marinade, it is best to use thick yogurt. Either use Greek yogurt or if using regular yogurt, use store bought yogurt which tends to be thicker than homemade yogurt. If using homemade yogurt, strain it using a muslin cloth for at least 3 to 4 hours to get rid of all the excess water.

Spices: the marinade uses coriander powder, garam masala, two types of chili powder, ginger-garlic and lime juice. You can also use fresh herbs like cilantro, mint.

The Masala/Curry

Curry base: the base is made with onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic which is quite a staple for most creamy Indian curries. I like using white onion for that sweet, subtle flavor.

Spices: this paneer tikka masala recipe uses curry powder which is a mix of spices and is popular in the western world. It’s not so much popular in India actually, in fact I didn’t even know it existed until I moved out of India. If you don’t have it, you can use a blend of coriander, cumin, turmeric and ginger.

Flavor enhancers: to make the curry creamy, we finish the recipe with butter, cream and cilantro!

Step by Step Instructions

1- We will start by making the paneer tikka. To a large bowl, add yogurt (1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon), make sure the yogurt is thick (if using regular homemade yogurt, drain the yogurt for 3 to 4 hours before using in the recipe). To that add the following:

1 & 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
juice of 1/2 lime

2- Using a spatula or whisk, mix until all the ingredients are well combined.

3- Now add 225 grams paneer (cubed into big cubes), 1 medium red onion (quartered and separated into petals) and 1 medium green pepper (cut into 1 inch cubes).

4- Mix until the paneer, onion and peppers are well coated with the marinade. You can use your hands here. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes at the least.

step by step picture collage of making paneer tikka masala

5- Meanwhile, let’s work the curry part of this recipe. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1-inch cinnamon stick.

6- Let the seeds sizzle and then add 1 large white onion (roughly chopped), 3 to 4 large garlic cloves, chopped and 1-inch chopped ginger.

7- Stir and cook for around 5 to 6 minutes until onions turn light golden brown in color, stir often in between.

8- Then add 3 large tomatoes (chopped) along with the following:

1& 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon sugar

9- Stir and cook the tomatoes for 7 to 8 minutes until soft and completely cooked. This step is important so do not rush this step.

10- Once the tomatoes are completely cooked, remove the pan from heat. Let it cool down a bit and then remove the cinnamon stick and transfer everything to a blender and blend to a fine paste. Set this aside.

11- Back to the tikka now, take the marinated paneer out of the refrigerator. Now, you can cook this in a pan or grill or in your oven. I have used a grill pan that I had. Spray the pan with oil and then add the marinated paneer, onions and bell peppers on the pan.

12- Cook until the paneer turns light golden brown in color and onions and peppers are slightly cooked, turning them few times in between for even cooking. Now it’s time to bring the curry together.

Oven instruction: arrange tikka on skewers and bake at 450 F degrees for 10 minutes and then broil for 2 to 3 minutes to get it browned (optional).

13- Now put the pan back on medium heat and add the pureed paste to it that we had prepared earlier. You can also add remaining 1/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder at this point if you prefer a brighter color of the curry.

14- Add 1 cup water (or more depending on how much gravy you want), and stir well. Then add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, 2 to 3 tablespoons cream and 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro. Mix and let it cook for 2 minutes.

15- Add the roasted paneer, onions and peppers into the curry.

16- Mix well and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with more cilantro and serve paneer tikka masala with naan or paratha.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve paneer tikka masala with the following:

Butter Naan: nothing like fluffy, soft homemade naan to dip into the curry.
Jeera rice: rice seasoned with cumin seeds makes the perfect pairing.
Roti: you can never go wrong with the classic Indian everyday bread.
Tandoori roti: another great bread to serve the curry with.

bowl of paneer tikka masala garnished with cilantro and spoons of spices placed on the side

Vegan Variation

For a vegan version of this recipe you can do the following substitutions:

use extra-firm tofu in place of paneer.
marinate the tofu with thick coconut milk (use the top part from the can) or vegan yogurt (plain almond milk works well).
replace butter with vegan butter.
replace heavy cream with coconut milk.

Tips & Notes

I don’t add cashews or any nuts to this recipe but you can definitely add some cashews along with the onions and tomatoes to make it more creamy.
Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) can definitely be added toward the end for that nice aroma.
If using store bought paneer, remember to soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes before using in the recipe.
You can also strain the onion-tomato mixture after blending it, that will make the curry totally smooth. I didn’t do it to save time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paneer Tikka same as Paneer Tikka Masala?

No they are different. Paneer Tikka is served as an appetizer and has cubes of grilled paneer where for paneer tikka masala the grilled paneer is added to a creamy curry and served as a main dish.

What can I substitute the curry powder with?

Go for a mix of coriander powder, turmeric, cumin and ginger. For replacing 1 u0026 1/2 teaspoon curry powder in this recipe, I would probably use 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric and 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger.

Is Paneer Tikka Masala same as Paneer Makhani?

They are both popular paneer recipes but the way you make them is different. For the tikka masala, we first marinate the paneer, grill it and then add to the curry. For the paneer makhani, the sauce is made with nuts, onions, tomatoes and then paneer pieces are added to it directly.

This post has been updated from the recipe archives, first published in April 2014. I have updated the recipe with better photos, videos and made slight modifications to make it better. The curry part of the recipe is same but I have added onions and peppers to the tikka part. If you wish to make it like the old recipe, just skip on the onions and peppers.

If you’ve tried this Recipe then don’t forget to rate the recipe! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram to see what’s latest in my kitchen and on YouTube to watch my latest videos.

Paneer Tikka Masala

Paneer Tikka Masala is a popular Indian curry where spiced and grilled paneer tikka is added to a creamy curry. It is best enjoyed with warm naan!

Course Entree

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings

Calories 367kcal

Author Manali

Ingredients

Paneer Tikka

1/3 cup + 1 tbsp yogurt use thick plain whole milk yogurt which has been strained or Greek yogurt
1 & 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder for color
1/4 teaspoon red chili powder or to taste
1/2 lime juice of
225 grams paneer cut into cubes
1 medium red onion quartered and separated into petals
1 medium green pepper cut into 1-inch cubes

Curry

1 tablespoon oil I used avocado oil, use oil of choice
2 tablespoons butter divided, unsalted or salted either works
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 large white onion roughly chopped, around 150 grams
3-4 large garlic cloves chopped
1 inch ginger chopped
3 large tomatoes roughly chopped, around 400 grams
1 & 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
3/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder divided (for color, not hot)
3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 tablespoon sugar I used granulated white sugar
1 cup water or more as needed
2-3 tablespoons heavy cream 30-45 ml
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Instructions

We will start by making the paneer tikka. To a large bowl, add thick yogurt, make sure the yogurt is thick (if using regular homemade yogurt, drain the yogurt for 3 to 4 hours before using in the recipe or use Greek yogurt).
To that add ginger-garlic paste, coriander powder, garam masala, Kashmiri red chili powder, red chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt and juice of 1/2 lime.

Using a spatula or whisk, mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
Now add cubed paneer, onion (quartered and separated into petals) and green pepper

Mix until the paneer, onion and peppers are well coated with the marinade. You can use your hands here. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes at the least.
Meanwhile, let’s work the curry part of this recipe. Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add cumin seeds and cinnamon stick.
Let the seeds sizzle and then add white onion (roughly chopped), chopped garlic cloves and chopped ginger. Stir and cook for around 5 to 6 minutes until onions turn light golden brown in color, stir often in between.
Then add the roughly chopped tomatoes along with curry powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste) and sugar. Stir and cook the tomatoes for 7 to 8 minutes until soft and completely cooked. This step is important so do not rush this step.
Once the tomatoes are completely cooked, remove the pan from heat. Let it cool down a bit and then remove the cinnamon stick and transfer everything to a blender and blend to a fine paste. Set this aside.
Back to the tikka now, take the marinated paneer out of the refrigerator. Now, you can cook this in a pan or grill or in your oven. I have used a grill pan that I had. Spray the pan with oil and then add the marinated paneer, onions and bell peppers on the pan.

Cook until the paneer turns light golden brown in color and onions and peppers are slightly cooked, turning them few times in between for even cooking. Now it’s time to bring the curry together.

Oven instruction: arrange tikka on skewers and bake at 450 F degrees for 10 minutes and then broil for 2 to 3 minutes to get it browned (optional).
Now put the pan back on medium heat and add the pureed paste to it that we had prepared earlier. You can also add remaining 1/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder at this point if you prefer a brighter color of the curry.
Add 1 cup water (or more depending on how much gravy you want), and stir well. Then add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cream and chopped cilantro. Mix and let it cook for 2 minutes.
Add the roasted paneer, onions and peppers into the curry. Mix well and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with more cilantro and serve paneer tikka masala with naan or paratha.

Video

Notes

I don’t add cashews or any nuts to this recipe but you can definitely add some cashews along with the onions and tomatoes to make it more creamy.
Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) can definitely be added towards the end for that nice aroma.
If using store bought paneer, remember to soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes before using in the recipe.
You can also strain the onion-tomato mixture after blending it, that will make the curry totally smooth. I didn’t do it to save time.
Older recipe: I have updated the recipe to make it better. The older recipe didn’t have onions and pepper added to the marinade and had a tablespoon of less butter in the curry. You can definitely use the old recipe, it’s almost same except these minor changes.