This bold, fiery curry pulls its heat from two kinds of dried red chilies and its depth from a from-scratch Kolhapuri masala that you build right in your own kitchen. Toasted whole spices, golden coconut, and slow-cooked onion all get blended into a thick, deeply red paste that becomes the soul of the dish ā no store-bought shortcuts needed. The vegetables ā cauliflower, green beans, carrot, potato, and peas ā simmer until perfectly tender and completely coated in that rich, jammy masala. What makes this recipe so satisfying for anyone avoiding tree nuts is that the complexity here comes entirely from spices, coconut, sesame, and poppy seeds, with zero almonds or almond-derived ingredients anywhere in the process. It's the kind of dish that tastes like it took all day, but every step is straightforward and builds on the last. Serve it hot with a scatter of fresh cilantro and something to scoop up every last drop of that sauce.
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2 dried hot red chilies (such as byadgi or arbol), stems removed
1 tsp coriander seeds
½ tsp cumin seeds
4 black peppercorns
3 cloves
1 inch cinnamon stick
½ tsp poppy seeds
½ tsp sesame seeds
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
½ tsp ground turmeric
For the curry
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1 cup cauliflower florets (about 1-inch pieces)
1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into ½-inch rounds
1 medium potato, peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes
½ cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
1 cup water
For serving
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
1
Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat. Add the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds and toast, stirring constantly, until fragrant and the seeds begin to darken slightly, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool.
2
In the same small skillet, heat 1 tbsp of the oil over medium heat. Add the grated coconut and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and lightly toasted, about 3ā4 minutes. Transfer to the plate with the toasted spices.
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