Vegetable oil. Use any oil of your choice, including avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil or coconut oil. Please don't use olive oil in Indian cooking because the flavor doesn't work and olive oil should not be heated to the high temperatures needed for the tempering. There is a common misconception that the "aloo" in "vindaloo" stands for potatoes. That's not only a bit simplistic, but "aloo" is a Hindi/Punjabi word for potatoes and not one used in Goa (where potatoes are called "batate" or "batato" in the local language, Konkani). Meat vindaloo recipes do not usually have potatoes in them, although I do frequently use them in my vegan version because hey, they are delicious. Ingredients for a vegetable vindaloo Not that there are that many dishes, or pots, to clean. This is essentially a one-pot curry (you need the blender too, of course). All you need to do to make it is toss ingredients into the blender, pour the sauce into a hot pan, cook it down, add the tofu, and you're done. Bell peppers. Any color is fine. You can even use frozen multicolored bell peppers for a really pretty look.

You can also serve it with an Indian flatbread, like a roti or a vegan naan ( gluten-free vegan naan recipe here). Curry leaves. These add great flavor. If you absolutely can't find them, use 2 tablespoons of cilantro and add it at the same time as you would the curry leaves. If you love eating Indian food but are intimidated by the idea of cooking it, you should try this recipe for sure. It's beginner-level easy, and it'll leave you excited about trying out more Indian style recipes. And what an adventure that'll be!An approximately 14 oz can of c oconut milk. The full fat kind from the can is really essential to create a lovely, creamy sauce. Don't use light coconut milk. It is easy. Oh yes. These are the kinds of recipes, like my mushroom spinach curry that I had shared earlier, that make life bearable when time is not on my side. And the few simple spices you will need are likely already in your pantry, even if you only occasionally make Indian food. Baby spinach or regular spinach (fresh or frozen. If using baby spinach no need to chop, but if using the larger spinach leaves chop them coarsely)

Dal can be made with one or a mix of several legumes, including toor dal, urad dal, chana dal, moong dal, and many more. All lentils are amazingly healthy, and combined with a grain like rice or wheat they make a complete protein.Once you have added the coconut milk, make sure you reduce the heat to a simmer. Turn off the heat as soon as you've added the final ingredients. There is a small chance that the coconut milk will curdle if you boil it too long, but if it does, don't be alarmed--the curry will still taste fabulous.

Despite the changes, Goa's charm is hard to smother, as is the delightful nature of its diversity. The state has large populations of both Hindus and Christians who speak the same language, Konkani, with vastly different accents. Churches like the Basilica of Bom Jesus are as much at home here as the colorful domes of the Mangeshi temple. In fact, Hindus and Christians. as I remember, would cross-worship at both churches and temples with unbridled gusto. "The more gods to get blessed by, the merrier," my Goan aunt, Vilas maushi, an avid temple- and church-goer herself, once explained very logically. Place the zucchini shreds in a bowl. Add the spices to it--cayenne, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder and ginger garlic paste and mix it in.You don't need much to gild this lily. Serve the curry with a side of basmati rice or brown rice for a dinner to remember. And a weeknight dinner that you're family will be thrilled to welcome into the rotation.

tbsp coconut oil. Coconut oil works perfectly with the other flavors here. If you have to substitute, any neutral oil, like avocado oil, would be fine.Throughout my school years we had several History classes, we're very pride of our history, despite all the "dark aspects" of it, and I remember very well when my History teacher told us about the Route of Spices, it's how the Portuguese people called the way/path (by sea)that the sailors did to get in to Goa and how they exchanged their merchandise by India merchandise and spices. Cherry tomatoesor regular tomatoes. These add more acidity and sweetness to the curry, creating layers of flavor.