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Vegan "Butter Chicken" is one of my favorite vegan, Indian-inspired dishes to whip up.
Made with creamy coconut milk and a variety of Indian spices, this plant-based recipe is perfectly creamy with an array of flavors mingling together.
To turn this dish into a full meal, I highly recommend pairing it with naan/flatbread, roti, white basmati rice.
Why You’ll Love This
- This tofu makhani recipe is 100% plant-based, dairy-free, and made with easy-to-find ingredients.
- Frozen tofu is the real winner here! Freezing then thawing tofu creates a chewy, "meaty" texture similar to chicken. Additionally, freezing tofu helps expand its pores, which makes it easier for the gravy to penetrate. This means BIG FLAVOR throughout the tofu and the dish.
- It's the perfect comfort food for any time of the year. I love serving vegan "butter chicken" during the warmer months alongside warm naan or rice.
- Makes for an impressive date night meal! Switch things up and have dinner at home with this creamy, flavorful dish. It'll impress the veg person in your life!
If you love Indian food, you've probably heard about butter chicken or murgh makhani.
Butter chicken is a chicken curry made with different spices, butter, tomatoes, and a cream sauce.
It's similar to chicken tikka masala, the difference being that tikka masala is less creamy and has more tomato essence. Both are incredibly delicious!
For this recipe, we're veganizing butter chicken by switching out the chicken for tofu, the butter for vegan butter, and the milk/cream for coconut milk.
How To Make Vegan Tofu "Butter Chicken"
- Freeze then thaw tofu. Toss with oil, salt, and flour.
- Bake tofu or air fry tofu over 400 degrees F.
- Next, make the gravy.
- Transfer the gravy to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Finally, combine the gravy with the tofu "chicken." Simmer until thick, then serve.
To cut back on time, air fry the tofu rather than cooking in the oven.
Recipe FAQs
What Does Vegan Butter Chicken Taste Like
Vegan butter chicken has a creamy, warm, tomato-y, umami flavor profile. Although this one uses coconut milk as the cream base, the coconut flavor is subtle against the other flavors added to the gravy.
What is Vegan Butter Chicken Sauce/Gravy Made Of
Butter is one of the main ingredients in this recipe - hence the name. Other ingredients in vegan butter chicken include tomato paste, cumin, onion, garlic, ginger, garam masala, coriander, cayenne/chili, and creamy coconut milk.
Many of these ingredients can be found at an Indian or Asian grocery store.
Their prices are typically better than big-box stores and you can purchase the spices in bulk.
If you're having a difficult time finding these spices and ingredeints at your local grocery store, they can be found on Amazon.
How To Store
Store the cooked vegan "butter chicken" in an airtight container or reusable silicone bag for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
This can also be stored in the freezer in a freezer-grade container.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Recipe Tips
- Use full-fat coconut milk - this will help create a very creamy dish. Low-fat coconut milk won't cut it.
- Cayenne pepper is Indian chili powder. Use it. If you want it to be spicer, add more. If you prefer to hold back on the heat, add less, or opt-out.
- Removing water from frozen then thawed tofu is very easy to do. A tofu press is not necessary. Simply take the backs of two plates and gently press the tofu.
- Note, you’ll need extra firm tofu to get that springy, texture you want to get from the tofu. Avoid silken tofu for this recipe.
- For this recipe, I used a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity that comes from the tomato paste. However, if that’s your jam – omit the sugar.
- If you do not have fresh crushed garlic on hand, use a tablespoon of dry garlic powder, instead. By the way, a garlic crusher is hands-down one of my favorite kitchen purchases. It cuts prep time considerably.
If you're looking for more vegan Indian recipes, check out our Aloo Tikki, Palak Paneer, and Indian-inspired Garam Masala Savory Oatmeal.
Tried out this Vegan "Butter Chicken" recipe?
Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it, or tag a picture @plantbasedandbroke on Instagram and hashtag it #plantbasedandbroke. Show off that creation with us.
Vegan Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Ingredients
Tofu "Chicken"
- 19 ounce block firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Gravy
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 large onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 tablespoons ginger crushed
- 3 ounces tomato paste
- 1 tablespoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust to taste, optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 13 ounce can full coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- Pinch of sugar to tone down acidity, optional
Instructions
Tofu "Chicken"
- Freeze the tofu for at least 12 hours. Remove from freezer and thaw. Fully drain and press water from tofu block.
- Arrange the tofu pieces onto the baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes, flipping halfway. Or, air fry for at 400 degrees F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway. Set aside.
Gravy
- Next, add the onions and cook until they are tender, about 4-6 minutes. Add the crushed garlic and ginger, tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the rest of the spices, salt, coconut milk. Stir well. Lower heat to low and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the vegan butter chicken gravy into a blender and blend until smooth. Or, use an immersion blender. If using a standard blender, pour the gravy back into the pot and add the tofu pieces. Stir and coat well. Stir in a pinch of sugar (optional) Simmer over low for 5 minutes. Serve.
Video
Notes
- Removing water from frozen then thawed tofu is very easy to do. A tofu press is not necessary. Simply take the backs of two plates and gently press the tofu.
Nutrition
Did you try out this Vegan Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) Recipe?
Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it, or tag a picture @plantbasedandbroke on Instagram and hashtag it #plantbasedandbroke. Show off that creation with us.
Go plant-based the budget-friendly way and check out our Guide To A Cheap Plant-Based Diet.
Nicole
Thank you for this!! This is another absolute banger of a recipe from you that I've been making on repeat. The only thing I do different is add 2 cans of chickpeas along with the tofu (and only use 1/2 tsp of the cayenne). Serve with naan and rice and it is *chef's kiss* amazing. My elementary schooler requests this all the time 🙂
Aly Michell
Glad you loved it! Serving it with naan is definitely a great choice! Yum!
Chaz za
I see all the great comments…but mine didn’t go so well…I converted the measurements to Australia so maybe that was the reason. But I husband threw up lol and maybe I put in too much cayenne pepper haha
Aly Michell
I always reccommend following the recipe as written. Also,cayenne pepper in this recipe is optional and may be adjusted to your desired spice levels.
Myra
I made this dish and it was better than the meat version I made years ago when I was a meat eater! It was a hit with me and my dinner guest. YUM!
Aly Michell
Hey Myra! Glad it was a hit for you and your dinner guest. Love that you love the vegan tofu "butter chicken" as much as we do!
diana
This was SO good! I had never tried freezing tofu before, but this created a wonderful meaty texture. The sauce for this "Butter Chicken" is very addictive. If you have never tried freezing, thawing, and pressing tofu, make this your first recipe. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Aly Michell
Hi Diana! Thank you so much for tryinh out the tofu makhani! Glad you loved it. It's sooo good and I am glad you felt the same away about it!
Ethan
Holy smokes that gravy is delicious! We're two vegan parents trying to help our 13 year old come around to liking vegan food. He ate this up in and licked the spoon. Double batch next time!
Aly Michell
Glad you loved our vegan Tofu Makhani! It's definitely one of my favorites - soooo good!