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Vegetable Jalfrezi Recipe

Vegetable Jalfrezi

A semi-dry Indian mixed vegetable stir-fry featuring crisp-tender vegetables tossed in a tangy, spiced tomato sauce.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients
  

For the Vegetables
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil any neutral oil like canola or sunflower
  • 1 medium carrot peeled and cut into 5 cm (2-inch) thin batons
  • 10 heads green beans trimmed and cut into 5 cm (2-inch) pieces
  • 1/2 cup cauliflower florets cut into small, bite-sized pieces
  • 5 pieces baby corn sliced lengthwise into thin strips
  • 1 medium bell pepper mix of red, yellow, or green, deseeded and cut into thin strips
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder divided use
  • 1/4 tsp salt for cooking the vegetables
For the Masala Sauce
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil neutral oil
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 medium onion sliced lengthwise into thin strips
  • 1 inch ginger cut into thin juliennes, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 medium green chilies slit lengthwise
  • 3/4 cup tomato puree freshly pureed or canned tomato passata
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt adjust to taste
  • 1 tsp white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala
  • 2 tbsp coriander leaves fresh, chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Wok or Kadai A wide, deep pan allows you to stir-fry the vegetables on high heat without overcrowding them.

Method
 

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wide pan or kadai over medium-high heat. Add the carrot, green beans, cauliflower, and baby corn. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften slightly at the edges but still retain a firm bite.
  2. Add the sliced bell peppers to the pan. Sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes. The peppers should be slightly tender but bright and crunchy. Transfer all the sautéed vegetables to a plate and set aside.
  3. In the same pan, heat another tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for 10 seconds until fragrant. Add the sliced onions, half of the ginger juliennes, the chopped garlic, and the slit green chilies. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the onions turn translucent and soft.
  4. Pour in the tomato puree. Add the Kashmiri red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, the remaining 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and cook over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens into a paste and tiny beads of oil begin to separate at the sides of the pan.
  5. Lower the heat to medium-low. Return the sautéed vegetables to the pan. Toss gently to coat all the vegetables evenly with the tomato masala. Cook for 2 minutes to heat everything through. Stir in the vinegar and garam masala, then turn off the heat. Garnish with the remaining ginger juliennes and fresh coriander leaves before serving.

Notes

Adjust the green chilies to match your heat preference. Searing the vegetables first ensures they do not release excess water into the sauce, maintaining their crisp-tender texture.
Cut the vegetables as uniformly as possible so they cook at an even rate.