Top 7 Delicious Indian Dishes that Can be Prepared Without Tomatoes

Indian Dishes Without Tomatoes

In addition to the surging costs of petrol and diesel, people in India are now facing the impact of skyrocketing tomato prices. While tomatoes are typically priced at around Rs. 20-40 per kilo, recent fluctuations have driven the rates up to Rs. 100/kg or more.

This increase is attributed to factors such as unreliable supply chains and less storage facilities, affecting tomato prices across various cities in India. 

Tomatoes are an essential ingredient in Indian cooking, and their absence is strongly felt in our everyday meals. However, there's no need to worry! We have listed some delicious Indian recipes without tomatoes, where you can use another ingredient, curd, or yogurt. Curd is a staple ingredient in every Indian household, and it can easily replace tomatoes in many Indian dishes 

7 Recipes Without Tomatoes

1. Palak Paneer 

2. Chicken Curry 

3. Shimla Mirch ka Salan

4. Mutter Paneer

5. Moolachi Kadhi

6. Paneer Makhanwala

7. Chicken Korma

• Palak Paneer

  

Palak paneer offers a delightful fusion of flavours, with the richness of paneer complementing the earthy and slightly bitter notes of spinach. It is a beloved dish enjoyed for its wholesome taste and nutritional value and is best enjoyed with piping hot rotis or plain parathas. 

How to make Palak Paneer without tomatoes?

Begin by blanching a bunch of fresh spinach leaves and blending them into a smooth puree. In a pan, heat oil or ghee and add cumin seeds, finely chopped onions, ginger, and garlic. Sauté until golden brown. Then, whisk some curd along with some gram flour and add it to the pan, allowing it to cook for a minute. Add ground spices like turmeric, coriander, garam masala, and salt. Stir well. 

Now, pour in the spinach puree and simmer for a few minutes. Finally, add cubed paneer and cook until tender. Serve hot with naan, rotis or rice for a flavourful Palak Paneer with the tanginess of curd. This is the easiest no tomato recipe. 

• Chicken Curry

  

Chicken curry is a popular and versatile dish enjoyed not just in India but also worldwide. This flavourful and aromatic recipe features tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich, spiced gravy. Chicken curry is a comforting dish that is best enjoyed with both rotis and rice. 

How to make Chicken Curry without tomatoes?

Heat oil in a pan and add finely chopped onions. Sauté until golden brown. Then, add ginger, garlic, and a blend of spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and garam masala. Stir well and cook for a minute. 

Next, add chicken pieces and cook until they turn golden. You can even add mutton pieces instead of chicken for a tasty mutton curry. Now, whisk curd and add it to the pan, allowing it to coat the chicken. Lower the heat and let it simmer until the chicken is cooked through. Adjust the seasoning and garnish with fresh cilantro. This tomato-free recipe of Chicken Curry with curd offers a creamy and tangy twist to the traditional recipe. 

Also Read: Top 5 Most Popular Indian Dishes to Try

• Shimla Mirch ka Salan

  

Shimla Mirch Ka Salan is a delicious Indian dish featuring stuffed bell peppers in a tangy and flavourful gravy. The bell peppers are filled with a mixture of spices and gravy, giving them a delightful taste and texture. Shimla Mirch Ka Salan is a delicious sabzi and a popular choice in Indian cuisine that can best enjoyed with rotis. 

How to make Shimla Mirch ka Salan without tomatoes?

To prepare Shimla Mirch ka Salan, start by chopping some fresh capsicum; you can cut them into bigger pieces. In a pan, heat oil and sauté mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and fenugreek seeds until they splutter. Add finely chopped onions and cook until golden brown; then mix in ginger-garlic paste and ground spices like turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder. 

Make a paste of peanuts and tamarind pulp, adding it to the pan along with water to adjust the consistency. Season with salt and let the gravy simmer. Next, add some beaten curd to the mixture. Add the capsicum in the gravy and cook until tender. This is one of the most delicious non tomato recipes that can be enjoyed with roti or naan. 

• Mutter Paneer

  

Mutter Paneer is an Indian sabzi loved by both children and adults. It includes green peas and cottage cheese (paneer) cooked in a flavourful gravy and is eaten with rotis or rice. Let’s learn how to make this popular dish with curd instead of tomatoes. 

How to make Mutter Paneer without tomatoes?

In a pan, heat oil or ghee and add cumin seeds, finely chopped onions, ginger, chopped green chillies, and garlic. Sauté until golden brown. Then, whisk curd in some gram flour and add it to the pan, cooking for a minute. Add ground spices like turmeric, coriander, garam masala, red chilli powder, and salt. Stir well. Add some water to increase the quantity of the gravy. 

Now, add boiled peas and some paneer cubes, allowing them to cook until tender. Adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve hot with rotis or rice for a delicious and tomato-free Mutter Paneer with the creaminess of curd.

Also Read: Top 10 Mughlai Dishes that Every Food Lover Must Try Once

• Moolachi Kadhi

  

Moolachi Kadhi is a Maharashtrian dish that features radish cooked in a flavourful blend of tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and spices. The radish becomes tender and absorbs the tangy base, resulting in a satisfying and comforting dish. Moolachi Kadhi is a popular choice for a wholesome and traditional Maharashtrian meal.

How to make Moolachi Kadhi without tomatoes?

Heat oil in a pan, crackle mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cloves, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, crushed garlic, ginger, and green chillies. Add hing, turmeric powder, grated radish, salt, and a pinch of sugar. Sauté, then add water, cover, and cook until radish is tender. 

In a bowl, make a paste of besan flour with water and add a tablespoon of thick whisked yogurt. Slowly add the yogurt mixture to the radish gravy, stirring continuously. Cook until slightly thickened, then turn off the heat. Your tasty no tomato recipe, Moolachi Kadhi is now ready to serve. 

• Paneer Makhanwala

  

Paneer Makhanwala is a popular Indian dish known for its rich and creamy gravy. It features chunks of paneer cooked in a luscious tomato-based sauce. The sauce is prepared with a blend of spices, butter, cream, and cashew paste, resulting in a velvety dish. Paneer Makhanwala is often enjoyed with naan, roti, or rice, making it a beloved choice for vegetarians seeking a delightful and indulgent meal.

How to make Paneer Makhanwala without tomatoes?

Heat oil or ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds, finely chopped onions, ginger, and garlic. Sauté until golden brown. Then, add ground spices like turmeric, coriander, cumin, and red chili powder. 

In a separate bowl, blend curd and cashews to make a smooth paste. Add this paste to the pan and cook for a few minutes. Add some water to get the right consistency. Next, add paneer cubes and mix well. Season with salt and garam masala. Finally, pour in some cream and cook until the gravy thickens. Serve hot with naan, roti, or rice

Also Read: Irresistible Snacks for Rainy Season: Explore Easy Monsoon Recipes

• Chicken Korma

  

Chicken Korma is a sumptuous Indian sabzi made with marinated chicken cooked in a creamy and aromatic gravy. It features a blend of spices, yogurt, and sometimes cashews or cream, resulting in a deliciously satisfying and indulgent meal.

How to make Chicken Korma without tomatoes?

To make Chicken Korma, start by marinating chicken pieces in a mixture of yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, red chili powder, and salt. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes. 

In a pan, heat oil or ghee and sauté sliced onions until golden brown. Add whole spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, followed by ginger-garlic paste. Cook until fragrant. Then, add the marinated chicken and cook until it turns brown. Pour in water and simmer until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in ground spices like coriander, cumin, and garam masala. Add salt along with a splash of cream or cashew paste for richness. Adjust the seasoning and garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot with naan or rice. 

In conclusion, the recent tomato price hike has made it challenging to include this ingredient in our daily cooking. However, by exploring other alternative ingredients, we can still create mouth-watering dishes that are rich in taste and appeal to our taste buds without relying on tomatoes.