Vegan Tikka Masala

This vegan variation of chicken tikka masala is a plant-based delight! It's also low in sodium which makes it a great choice if you're watching your blood pressure or you have CKD!

Recipe developed by Clarissa Paimanta, RD and tested by Jennifer Krasilovsky, Kidney RD Intern 2021

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Course: Main

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Low Phosphorus, Low Potassium, Low Protein, Low Sodium, Plant-Based

Diet Type: CKD, Dialysis, VLPD

Servings: servings

Calories: 443kcal

Author: Clarissa Paimanta, RD

Ingredients

¾ cup long grain white rice uncooked
1½ cups water
4 tablespoons avocado oil divided
1 medium red onion sliced thinly
2 cloves garlic minced
½ teaspoon ginger grated
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
¾ cup tomato sauce no salt added
¾ cup water or more as needed
4 cups cauliflower cut into florets
½ cup canned chickpeas rinsed and drained
⅓ cup canned coconut cream or coconut milk
¼ teaspoon salt to taste
Optional garnish: chopped cilantro
2 medium Indian roti or chapati about 7” in diameter

Instructions

Cook rice in a saucepan with water per package directions.
In another sauté pan over medium heat, heat 3½ tablespoons of oil. Add red onion and sauté until slightly soft and golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Add garlic and ginger, cook while stirring for about 1 minute or until fragrant. Then add garam masala, chili powder, and turmeric, and toast for 10-15 seconds, followed by the tomato sauce, water, and cauliflower. Mix well, then lower the heat, cover, and let simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender and cooked through. Add more water as needed if your sauce becomes too thick before your cauliflower is cooked.
Add chickpeas and coconut milk or cream. Stir well and let it come to a gentle simmer just to warm through. Season with salt to taste, garnish with chopped cilantro, then remove from the heat.
Optional: brush the remaining oil on the Indian roti or chapati and toast for a few seconds in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cut in half or quarters before serving.
To serve, divide cooked rice between four plates, scoop vegan tikka masala on top of or beside rice along with one or two pieces of toasted roti. Enjoy!

Notes

You may have heard that nuts, beans, and whole grains are not a great choice for a kidney-friendly diet because they are high in phosphorus. Wondering why we include them in many of our recipes? We include beans, nuts, and whole grains because only about 40% of phosphorus found in these plant foods are absorbed by humans. This makes them a good fit for most people's diets! If you have questions about adding these foods to your diet, please reach out to your renal dietitian.

Nutrition

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