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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Curry

    Cauliflower Dhansak

    Published: Jun 16, 2016 · Updated: Oct 16, 2020 by Neil 16 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    Two balti dishes of cauliflower dhansak one in front of the other with forks to each and coriander to garnish with.
    This cauliflower dhansak is a rich and filling medley of delicious flavours. Vegan, gluten free and low calorie too, you'll find yourself coming back again and again for another spoonful of this satisfying curry. #neilshealthymeals #recipes #curry #dhansakcurry #vegan #vegancurry

    This cauliflower dhansak is a rich and filling medley of delicious flavours. Vegan, gluten free and low calorie too, you'll find yourself coming back again and again for another spoonful of this satisfying curry.

    Cauliflower dhansak served in a balti dish placed on a chopping board with a knife and chopped coriander alongside.

    Folks, do you remember back in January (hasn't this year flown by?) when my other half and I were doing "Vegan January"?

    Well that's when I devised this vegan cauliflower dhansak recipe.

    I was afraid then. That our experiment of being vegan for a month would mean I would struggle to make adequate and filling meals. Especially our favourite. Curry!

    I'd made delicious and popular vegan curries before. I mean have you checked out the healthy chickpea curry recipe?

    It's just that I became a bit stuck for what other kinds of vegan curries I could make. That didn't just include chickpeas!

    That's when I came up with the idea for a vegan dhansak curry. Dhansak is a popular Indian curry usually made from meat and lentils.

    Today I've made it with cauliflower and lentils!

    And this cauliflower dhansak has since been made time and time again. So I'm delighted to share it with you here today!

    Two balti dishes of cauliflower dhansak with two forks and a pile of chopped coriander in between.

    Let me just confess to you first.

    This particular vegan dhansak recipe will take a little more time to prepare and cook than the majority of other curry recipes on neilshealthymeals.

    You'll need a couple of hours before you can serve this.

    That's opposed to the normal time of getting everything served within an hour. That I like to aim for.

    Anyway, when you make this, I think you will forgive me!

    You see the reason why this vegetable dhansak curry takes a little longer is because the flavours need time to marinate and fuse together.

    So with that confession over, before I bring you the cauliflower dhansak recipe, let's just talk a little more about why I think you're going to love this.

    Not only for its great taste but for all the other great benefits which I've listed below too!

    Two balti dishes of cauliflower dhansak with two forks in between and chapatis on a plate alongside.

    Why you'll Love this Cauliflower Dhansak

    Set yourself a bit of time (30 - 45 minutes’ prep) for this curry.

    Generally, I make this on a Sunday afternoon, starting at 3pm, so there's plenty of time once this is just sitting, warm in the oven for me to make my Naans at 6 and serve this up at about 6.30pm.

    I promise you, you'll love the tantalising flavours and you'll love all of the amazing health benefits of this dish: -

    • An excellent source of vitamin C. (136% per portion!)
    • 54% of daily recommended dietary fibre requirement
    • Low in fat and saturated fat.
    • 0% cholesterol
    • High in antioxidants (can prevent or slow cell damage)
    • Helps decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Eat your veggies! 🙂

    To serve this Cauliflower Dhansak Recipe you may need....

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links – which means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    These are the balti dishes I use to serve my curries. You'll see these dishes in the photographs of this vegetable dhansak.

    And most of my other curry recipe photographs as well. They add a perfect authenticity when serving your curry.

    They come as a set of 6. Are easy to clean and they're a great price too. Check them out!

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    Other Popular Vegan Curry Recipes You Might Also Like

    • Lentil and kidney bean dal is a delicious vegan red kidney bean curry. It’s a perfect quick healthy meal to suit anyone looking for a really filling curry.
    • One pot chickpea and red lentil dahl is just packed with flavour. A delicious easy healthy and vegan recipe that’s great served with rice or naan breads!
    • One pot sweet potato and chickpea curry is a fantastic quick healthy budget recipe to make. Delicious and full flavoured this filling vegan curry is perfect for freezing too!

    Cauliflower dhansak curry is a rich medley of delicious flavours. Vegan, gluten free and low calorie too, you'll find yourself coming back again and again for another spoonful of this amazing curry! Click to Tweet

    Cauliflower Dhansak Recipe

    Serve your cauliflower dhansak with an Indian bread. I like chapati which you can usually get as a vegan option too.

    I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂

    This cauliflower dhansak is a rich and filling medley of delicious flavours. Vegan, gluten free and low calorie too, you'll find yourself coming back again and again for another spoonful of this satisfying curry.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    5 from 1 vote

    Cauliflower Dhansak Recipe

    This cauliflower dhansak is a rich and filling medley of delicious flavours. Vegan, gluten free and low calorie too, you'll find yourself coming back again and again for another spoonful of this satisfying curry.
    Prep Time45 mins
    Cook Time1 hr 15 mins
    Total Time2 hrs
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 330kcal
    Author: Neil

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Casserole pot
    • Kitchen scale
    • Chopping board
    • Kitchen knives
    • Measuring spoons
    • Garlic press

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 cloves whole
    • 4 black peppercorns
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 2 teaspoon medium curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
    • ¼ teaspoon allspice
    • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
    • 1 red onion chopped
    • 2 carrots peeled and chopped
    • 1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped
    • 4 medium white potatoes peeled and chopped
    • 1 red pepper de-seeded, cored and chopped
    • 75 g peas
    • 2 cloves garlic crushed
    • 1 inch piece fresh ginger peeled and finely chopped
    • 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
    • 500 ml vegetable stock
    • 200 g red split lentils
    • 300 g cauliflower florets
    • Salt and freshly ground pepper
    • 1 tablespoon freshly chopped coriander
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 180C fan.
    • In a large oven proof / casserole dish gently heat the oil, then add all of the spices and stir around for no more than a minute just to release their flavours.
    • Add the onion, carrots, potatoes, red pepper, peas, garlic and ginger and stir well to combine everything for a couple of minutes.
    • Add the chopped tomatoes, vegetable stock, red split lentils, stir well to combine and bring to the boil. Then turn down to simmer.
    • Place the dish into the oven and cook for approximately 45 minutes until all the vegetables have softened.
    • Then, add the cauliflower florets, stir well into the cooked vegetables and place back into the oven for a further 5 minutes to allow them to cook. You just want the cauliflower to be “al-dente”.
    • Remove from the oven, season to taste and serve in balti dishes* garnished with the chopped coriander.

    Notes

    You can vary the vegetables you use.
    Makes about 8 portions so and is perfect for freezing.
    These are the Balti dishes that I serve my curries in.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 63.8g | Protein: 14.4g | Fat: 3.8g | Saturated Fat: 0.6g | Sodium: 550.2mg | Fiber: 13.6g | Sugar: 9.7g | Vitamin A: 2400IU | Vitamin C: 112.2mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 4.9mg

    Nutrition Facts
    Cauliflower Dhansak
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 330 Calories from Fat 34
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3.8g6%
    Saturated Fat 0.6g4%
    Sodium 550.2mg24%
    Carbohydrates 63.8g21%
    Fiber 13.6g57%
    Sugar 9.7g11%
    Protein 14.4g29%
    Vitamin A 2400IU48%
    Vitamin C 112.2mg136%
    Calcium 110mg11%
    Iron 4.9mg27%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine

      June 16, 2016 at 1:19 pm

      Ah, this looks and sounds incredible, Neil! You know I'm a big cauliflower (and INDIAN!) fan!

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        June 16, 2016 at 9:44 pm

        Thanks Rebecca! All those veggies combined together, I thought you would love this! 😀

        Reply
    2. rachel @ athletic avocado

      June 16, 2016 at 2:30 pm

      wow all of this flavor sounds amazing! Another way to eat my favorite veggie!

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        June 16, 2016 at 9:45 pm

        Glad you like it Rachel! If you love cauliflower you're definitely going to love this! 😀

        Reply
    3. GiGi Eats

      June 17, 2016 at 3:30 am

      CAULI-POWER!!!! Made some awesome cauliflower dish, to be posted on Tuesday, and you posted one today! GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!!!

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        June 17, 2016 at 5:10 am

        I'm looking forward to that Cauliflower dish you've got coming on Tuesday! Excellent! 😀

        Reply
    4. Shashi @ RunninSrilankan

      June 17, 2016 at 10:25 pm

      Neil, you have quite the spice-fest going on here! The only dhansak I've had has had mutton and lentils in it - but I love my veggies and prefer your version so much more!

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        June 18, 2016 at 11:29 am

        Thanks Shashi 🙂

        I've been staring at the photographs thinking how nice and colourful they look as opposed to looking out of the window here at the grey skies! 😆

        That dhansak you mention with mutton and lentils in it sure sounds delicious though. 😉

        Reply
    5. Dannii @ H

      June 20, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      I think cauliflower is a must when it comes to a veggie curry. It has so much texture and really bulks it out. I have a curry craving now.

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        June 20, 2016 at 8:22 pm

        I love cauliflower in a veggie curry too. 🙂

        And also potato and butternut squash. Those last two are curries that are on my to-do list. I might wait until later in the year when it's a bit cooler for them though.

        Reply
    6. Patti

      June 14, 2017 at 4:38 am

      This looks so amazing but does the cauliflower truly cook in only 5 minutes?

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        June 14, 2017 at 4:43 am

        Thanks for your comment Patti.

        Yes, You just want the cauliflower to be “al-dente” so slightly crunchy and not completely mushy. But cook for as long as deem necessary to your taste. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Dawn

      October 12, 2017 at 5:32 pm

      This looks great! I'm the only veg or curry eater in our house, so I wondered if this would freeze. I'd love to have this on hand when they want meat or for a brown-bag lunch. Thanks!

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        October 12, 2017 at 7:41 pm

        Hello there Dawn, thanks for contacting me. Yes this does freeze no problems!

        Hope you enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Paul Goodman

      April 23, 2022 at 7:27 am

      5 stars
      This looks delicious! Going to make this tonight Neil. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Neil

        April 23, 2022 at 7:40 am

        Hi Paul. Thanks for taking the time to comment and rate my recipe. Yes this is one of our favourite veggie curries. Hope you enjoy it too! 🙂

        Reply

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    Hello there! I’m Neil. Since 2014 Neil's Healthy Meals has been providing delicious quick healthy recipes and fabulous cheesecakes based on the 80/20 rule for eating. Helping you live a diet free lifestyle. One where you can still enjoy cake! Learn more here

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