Veg Kolhapuri Recipe

My Tryst with Kolhapuri Cuisine

I’ve been to Kolhapur many times and have got the opportunity to savor vegetarian Kolhapuri cuisine in all its authenticity. I’ve tried dishes ranging from their celebrated thalis, the spicy Vada Pav & Appe on the roadside to chilli pitla (a hot gram flour-based dish) and the Kolhapuri Misal Pav (sprouted moth beans curry), which is known to make one sweat because of its fieriness. Even the Kolhapuri dal is bold and spicy. On my trip to Kolhapur last time, I also got my hands on the earthy Kolhapuri kanda-lasun masala (onion-garlic spice blend). This spice blend in particular is so good that it perks up the flavor of any dish it is added to. I have used it in many of my vegetable and lentil recipes. The result of which has always been more and more praises! While in Kolhapur, I never came across the Veg Kolhapuri dish, at least in the restaurants and hotels that we went to and stayed in. Though, I have seen Veg Kolhapuri in the menu of many restaurants across India.

About Veg Kolhapuri Recipe

This Veg Kolhapuri recipe is inspired from one of the most loved and spicy dishes from Kolhapuri cuisine, the ‘Tambda Rassa.’ ‘Tambda’ means ‘red’ and ‘rassa’ is a ‘thin curry or gravy.’ This famous dish is traditionally a non-vegetarian preparation which makes use of the robust Kolhapuri masala. The Kolhapuri Masala is made with many fragrant spices together with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dry coconut shreds and dried red chillies. One of the main ingredients in an original Kolhapuri masala are a special type of small, but extremely hot chili called the ‘lavangi mirchi.’ For this Veg Kolhapuri recipe, which is vegan too, I have toned down the spiciness by not using the lavangi chilli. Instead, I have added ‘Byadagi chillies’ (also known as bedgi chilli), which impart a deep color and are medium- hot. You can also use Kashmiri red chillies for a less spicy curry. The heat levels in this Veg Kolhapuri recipe can be tolerated by most Indians. But if you do not prefer spicy pungent food, then you can cut down on the quantity of dried red chilies, ginger and garlic. This Veg Kolhapuri uses a Kolhapuri masala, which is freshly made at home. So, you don’t need to rush to a store to get a packet. Though, if you have it, you can use it. The quantity is mentioned in the notes’ section of recipe details. I have made the Kolhapuri masala by referring to some of the cookbooks I purchased from Kolhapur. You can add any vegetable of your choice in this Veg Kolhapuri recipe. It is best served with chapati, phulka, paratha, bajra or jowar bhakri or steamed rice. I’ve even tried it with bread and loved it. You can also check another less spicy dish called Paneer Kolhapuri, which is adapted from this recipe.

How to make Veg Kolhapuri

Preparation

1. Firstly, rinse, peel and cut the vegetables into thick strips or batons. Place them in a steamer pan. I have used the following vegetables:

1 medium size potato 8 to 10 French beans ⅓ cup cup chopped cauliflower florets, optional 1 medium carrot or 2 small carrots ⅓ cup green peas, fresh or frozen 1 medium yellow/red bell pepper or green capsicum – I have sautéed the capsicum instead of steaming it.

2. Then steam the vegetables in an electric cooker, steamer or a stovetop pressure cooker using water as required. For cooking in a stovetop pressure cooker, use a 3 litre cooker. Place a trivet in the cooker. Add 2 cups of water. Place a pan containing the veggies on the trivet in the cooker. Pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles until the vegetables are steamed well and fork tender. Let the pressure drop naturally and then only open the lid. Drain any water from the pan and set the steamed veggies aside.
3. The vegetables have to be completely cooked and yet retain their shape.
4. While the vegetables are steaming, gather all the ingredients required for making Kolhapuri masala. Below picture lists all the ingredients. Note: If stone flower (patthar phool), cobra saffron (nagkesar) and poppy seeds (khus khus) are not available in your country, you can skip using them.

Make Kolhapuri Masala

5. Heat a pan and dry roast the below ingredients on low heat, for Kolhapuri masala first:

1 inch cinnamon 2 cloves 4 to 5 black peppercorns 1 teaspoon coriander seeds ½ teaspoon cumin seeds 4 to 5 fenugreek seeds 1 small stone flower (dagad phool, pathar ke phool) 3 dried red chilies 1 medium tej patta 1 cobra saffron (nagkesar) 2 single strands of mace 1 pinch grated nutmeg 1 green cardamom Seeds of 1 black cardamom

6. Once the spices become fragrant and are lightly roasted, add ½ teaspoon poppy seeds, 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds and 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut. Here I have used grated desiccated coconut, but you can also use kopra or dried coconut. If you both are unavailable to you, add fresh or frozen coconut. Ensure not to burn the spices; so do keep stirring often while you roast them.
7. Stir continuously and dry roast till the coconut turns golden. Turn off the heat and set aside the pan. Stir the spice mixture a few times, after you set aside the pan, so that the residue heat does not brown the coconut too much.
8. Once the spice mixture cools, then take them in a dry grinder or coffee grinder.
9. Grind to a fine powder. A slight semi fine powder is also fine. The sesame seeds and coconut will release oil while grinding. Make sure to keep scraping the sides of the jar and grind. If you are finding it difficult to grind, add some water to make a fine paste.

Make Veg Kolhapuri

10. Heat 2 to 2½ tablespoons oil in a pan and add ½ cup finely chopped onions.
11. Sauté the onions stirring often, till they turn light golden or golden.
12. Add ¾ tablespoon tablespoon ginger-garlic paste.
13. Stir and then add 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves. Stir and sauté for some seconds till the raw aroma of the ginger-garlic goes away.
14. Next, add ⅓ to ½ cup finely chopped tomatoes. Sauté till the tomatoes soften and you see oil leaving the sides of the pan. 15. Add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chilli powder and 1 pinch asafoetida.
15. Stir and then add chopped bell pepper/capsicum. You can also skip capsicum if you prefer.
16. Stir and sauté till the bell pepper/capsicum is just about cooked and yet have a slight crunch, for about 5 to 6 minutes on low heat.
17. Add the prepared Kolhapuri masala. 19. Stir and then add 1 to 1.25 cups water. Season with salt according to taste. For a thicker curry, add less water.
18. Bring the curry to a simmer.
19. When you see some oil floating on top of the curry, add the steamed cooked vegetables
20. Stir and simmer for 2 minutes. The consistency of the curry is slightly thin. Check the taste and add more salt if needed. If there is less salt, the flavor and taste of the spices do not come through.
21. Lastly, add some chopped coriander leaves and give a final stir. You can also garnish with 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves. 24. Serve Vegetable Kolhapuri with soft phulka, chapati, parathas or bhakri. You can also serve this spicy curry with bread, dinner rolls (pav) or steamed rice. Any leftover curry keeps well in the refrigerator for about a day. While reheating add some water if the curry consistency has thickened.

Places to visit in Kolhapur

Due to its rich spiritual history, Kolhapur is also known as ‘Kashi of South’ or ‘Dakshin Kashi.’ So, whenever you visit Kolhapur, make sure to visit the most revered Mahalakshmi Temple. It is one of the ‘Shakti Peethas’ in Maharashtra. Other places of interest include Siddhagiri or Kaneri Math, Kopeshwar Shiva Temple, Narsobawadi (a Lord Dattatreya temple on the confluence of rivers Krishna and Panchganga), Jyotiba Temple and the freshwater Rankala Lake.

Expert Tips

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Navratan Korma (Delicious and Rich Curry) Veg Handi Mix Veg Recipe Veg Kurma Recipe | 2 Tasty Vegetable Korma Recipes This Veg Kolhapuri recipe from the blog archives first published in November 2014 has been updated and republished on October 2023.