Easy Indian Masala Sauce – Gluten Free and Vegan

Okay, this is so not a traditional masala sauce. It’s a sauce for lazy cheaters who like an easy, tasty supper. It tastes like a really flavorful Indian Food sauce, lots of depth and flavor. It takes maybe 5 minutes to put together, and it’s naturally gluten free and vegan. When I make it, I usually stir in boiled potato chunks and chickpeas and serve it over basmati rice. Some nights, I use it as a really tasty noodle sauce.

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The Ingredients

Garam Masala

Garam Masala is a powdered spice used in Indian cooking. It’s a combination of a bunch of spices that you’d never find together in typical Western cooking. There’s coriander, cumin, chili, as well as mace, cinnamon, and star anise. For some reason, they all blend together to make this amazingly beautiful seasoning; fragrant, lightly spicy, and just a little sweet. I buy a big bag at an international grocery store because it’s so much cheaper than buying little bottles at a regular grocery store or online.

Turmeric

Turmeric is available at any grocery store. It’s so much cheaper at an international grocery store, so that’s where I buy it. It’s a yellow almost flavorless spice that adds a little bit of color. You can probably leave it out without it changing the taste too much, the sauce may just be a little bit more red than brown. Turmeric is reported to reduce pain and inflammation (and I feel it does for me), so I add it to a bunch of recipes.

Oil

You only need a teeny bit of oil for this recipe. The oil helps release the flavors of the spices. I keep a bottle of olive oil on the counter, so I usually use that. (You don’t use enough for the taste to come through). You can also use coconut oil or just plain vegetable oil.

Ginger Paste

You can buy ginger paste at an international or Asian grocery store in a jar. If you can’t find it, you can use ginger powder or, for an even better taste, grated fresh ginger. Ginger paste is the easiest way to get the best flavor.

Minced Garlic in a Jar

Minced garlic is readily available in any grocery store. I usually find it in a jar in the produce section. You can also use a teaspoon of garlic powder, or minced fresh garlic. Again, the minced garlic really is the easiest way to get the best flavor.

Rotel

If you live in the US, you probably already know what Rotel is. It’s a 10oz can of diced tomatoes and chilies. You can get different levels of spice. I buy the original, but you can use the spicy or mild. If you live outside the US, you can just use a heaping cup of canned diced tomatoes with most of the liquid drained out. You’re going to blend it smooth before you add it to the sauce.

Coconut Milk

For best results, use full fat coconut milk. My favorite brand is Aroy D in the green can, but you can use your favorite. You’ll only need half a can. That’s about 1 cup. Please don’t use the coconut milk you drink, it won’t be good.

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Easy Indian Masala Sauce – vegan and gluten free

Ingredients

2 tsp vegetable oil

2 Tblsp Garam Masala

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 Tblsp ginger paste

1 Tblsp minced garlic

1 can Rotel, blended smooth (or 1 cup diced tomatoes blended smooth)

1/2 can full fat coconut milk

salt to taste

Directions

Heat oil, masala, and turmeric in a saucepan over medium heat for a few seconds until the mixture smells fragrant. (Stir it around with a wooden spoon or a spatula while it’s cooking.)

Stir in the garlic and ginger.

Pour in the coconut milk and rotel, and stir well.

Simmer for about 5 minutes, sauce will thicken and darken.