This Mushroom Masala recipe is an easy, delicious Punjabi style one-pot mushroom Curry made with white button mushrooms in a spiced onion-tomato gravy. Though I have made the curry in a pan, I also cover Instant Pot instructions after my step-by-step guide below and in the recipe card.
Table of Contents
About This Mushroom Masala
My mushroom masala recipe like most of my recipes is easy to prepare. To make this tasty curry, there is some prep work like making onion paste and tomato puree.
Both of which can be easily done in a good blender or mixer-grinder. When you are ready with the onion paste and tomato puree, making the mushroom masala is a breeze.
The onion paste is caramelized and this gives a deeper, richer flavor in the gravy. I also add fresh curd (yogurt) which makes the gravy a bit creamy with a smooth consistency and a flavorful taste.
There are no nuts like cashews and almonds in this mushroom masala gravy. Thus the curry does not have a thick and creamy consistency.
Instead it is incredibly flavorful, light with a gravy that can be easily poured on steamed rice. You can also have it with some soft dinner rolls or roti or paratha.
Most often I use this mushroom masala gravy base with slight modifications to make vegetable or paneer bhuna masala.
For a protein rich curry, you can also check this Soya Chunks Curry that I make on occasions.
How to make Mushroom Masala
Preparation
1. Rinse or wipe dry 200 to 250 grams mushrooms. Slice off a bit of the base stalk. Then slice or chop them. Keep aside.
2. In a grinder or blender, take ¾ to 1 cup chopped onions, 1 teaspoon chopped ginger and 1 teaspoon chopped garlic.
3. Grind to a smooth paste without adding any water.
4. Remove this paste with a spoon or spatula in a bowl. Set this ground onion-ginger-garlic paste aside.
5. In the same jar, add ½ cup tightly packed chopped tomatoes.
6. Make a smooth puree without adding water. No need to blanch tomatoes before pureeing. Set the tomato puree aside. If using packaged puree, then add ⅓ cup tomato puree.
7. Whisk 4 tablespoons fresh curd (yogurt) until smooth and set aside.
Sauté Onion and Tomato Paste
8. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a pan and add the following whole spices – ½ tsp cumin seeds, 2 small or 1 medium to large tej patta, ½ inch cinnamon, 1 black cardamom, 2 green cardamoms, 3 cloves and 1 single strand of mace.
I forgot to add tej patta at this step, so added later at step 11.
TIP: Black cardamom does give some smokiness to the dish, but can be omitted if you do not have it.
9. Sauté the spices until they become aromatic.
10. Lower the heat and add the ground onion-ginger-garlic paste.
11. Mix the onion paste with the oil. If the paste splutters then cover the pan with a lid allowing for some space for the steam to pass.
12. On a low to medium heat stirring often, continue to sauté until the onion paste starts reducing.
13. Stir and sauté until the onion paste becomes golden and caramelized. This sautéing of onion paste takes some time. So to quicken the process add a pinch of salt.
14. Now add the prepared tomato puree. Combine well.
15. Add the spice powders – ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chilli powder (or cayenne pepper) and 1 teaspoon coriander powder.
16. Stirring often sauté until you see oil releasing from the sides of the onion-tomato masala. The masala paste will also thicken and become glossy.
Sauté Mushrooms
17. Add the sliced or chopped white button mushrooms.
18. Lower the heat and add the beaten curd (yogurt). Beat the curd separately in a bowl and then add. If you add curd without whisking, it can curdle or become grainy.
Add yogurt made from whole milk. Do not add low-fat milk or toned milk yogurt as they will split in the gravy.
If you do not have curd, then simply skip it.
19. As soon as you add yogurt, mix very well.
20. Simmer on a low to medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
Making Mushroom Masala
21. Then add ¾ cup water or as required. You can add less or more water depending on the consistency you prefer.
Remember that mushrooms release water – so add less water keeping this point in mind. You can always add more water later if the gravy becomes very thick.
22. Season with salt as required.
23. Stir very well.
24. Cover the pan with a lid.
25. On a low to medium heat simmer the masala gravy for 18 to 20 minutes or until the mushrooms are cooked and the gravy has thickened a bit. You should also see some oil specks on top.
26. Lastly add ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and ½ teaspoon of kasuri methi, crushed. Stir the gravy well.
At this step for a rich mushroom masala, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of heavy cream.
27. Then add 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves. Stir.
28. Serve mushroom masala hot or warm.
Serving suggestions
If you like you can garnish the mushroom curry with some coriander leaves while serving.
Serve Mushroom masala with steamed rice, jeera rice or pulao. This mushroom curry also goes very well as a side gravy dish with biryani.
You can also have mushroom masala with roti, paratha, naan, bread or dinner rolls.
Storage
The leftovers can be refrigerated for 1 to 2 days. Warm the mushroom masala gravy in a pan before serving.
If the gravy has thickened too much, then add a few tablespoons of water to thin the consistency.
FAQs for Mushroom Curry
Which mushrooms to use?
Button Mushrooms, cremini mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms add a lot of flavor, texture and taste in any curry or gravy recipe.
Which vegetables to add in this recipe?
The vegetables that pair beautifully with mushrooms in this curry are cauliflower, carrots, green peas, broccoli and bell pepper. You can add about ½ to 1 cup of any one veggie.
How do I make a Vegan Mushroom Curry?
For a vegan curry, add almond yogurt or any nut yogurt. You can even skip adding yogurt.
How to make the recipe in the Instant Pot?
- Press the sauté button on normal mode. Add the oil in the steel insert of the IP. When the oil becomes lightly hot, add the whole spices and let them splutter.
- Add onion paste and sauté stirring non-stop until the onion paste turns golden.
- Add the tomato puree, ground spices and mix well.
- Sauté until the masala becomes glossy, thickens and you see oil releasing from the sides.
- Add in the mushrooms and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Press the cancel button. Add the curd (yogurt). Mix thoroughly and quickly.
- Add ⅓ cup water and salt. Mix and deglaze.
- Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes. Do a quick pressure release after 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle dried fenugreek leaves, garam masala powder and coriander leaves. Mix and serve hot.
More Curry Recipes!
Gluten Free Recipes
Potato Recipes
Capsicum Recipes
Brinjal Recipes
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Mushroom Masala | Mushroom Curry (Punjabi Style)
Ingredients
For onion paste
- ¾ to 1 cup chopped onions – 100 grams or 2 medium onions
- 1 teaspoon chopped ginger or 1 inch ginger
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic or 4 to 5 medium-sized garlic
For tomato puree
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes (tightly packed) – 70 grams or 2 small to medium tomatoes or ⅓ cup tomato puree
Other ingredients
- 200 to 250 grams white button mushrooms
- 4 tablespoon Curd (yogurt) – whisked till smooth
- 3 tablespoons oil – any neutral oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 small tejpatta or 1 medium to large tejpatta (Indian bay leaf)
- ½ inch cinnamon
- 1 black cardamom – optional
- 2 green cardamoms
- 3 cloves
- 1 single strand of mace – optional
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder (ground coriander)
- ¾ cup water and ⅓ cup water for Instant Pot – add as needed
- salt as required
- ¼ teaspoon Garam Masala
- ½ teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) – crushed
- 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
Instructions
Preparation
- Rinse or wipe dry the mushrooms. Slice off a part of the base stalk. Then slice or chop them. Set aside.
- In a grinder or blender, take the chopped onions, ginger and garlic. Grind to a smooth paste without adding any water.
- Remove this paste with a spoon or spatula in a bowl and set aside.
- In the same jar, add the chopped tomatoes and make a smooth puree. No need to blanch tomatoes before pureeing. Set the tomato puree aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk curd (yogurt) until smooth and set aside.
Sautéing onion and tomato paste
- Heat oil in a pan and add the following whole spices – cumin seeds, tejpatta, cinnamon, black cardamom, green cardamoms, cloves and a single strand of mace.
- Fry the spices for a few seconds until they become aromatic and splutter.
- Lower the heat and add the ground onion-ginger-garlic paste.
- Mix the paste with the oil. If the paste splutters then cover the pan with a lid allowing for some space for the steam to pass.
- On a low to medium heat stirring often continue to sauté until the onion paste starts thickening.
- Stir and sauté until the paste becomes golden. This sautéing of onion paste takes some time. So to quicken the process add a pinch of salt.
- Now add the tomato puree. Stir. Then add the spice powders – turmeric powder, red chilli powder and coriander powder.
- Mix well and sauté until you see oil releasing from the sides of the masala.
Making mushroom masala
- Add the sliced or chopped white button mushrooms.
- Add the beaten curd (yogurt). As soon as you add yogurt, mix thoroughly and quickly.
- Simmer on a low to medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Then add water.
- Season with salt. Mix very well.
- Cover the pan with a lid. On a low to medium heat simmer the mushroom masala for 18 to 20 minutes or until the mushrooms are tender.
- Lastly add dried fenugreek leaves (crushed), garam masala powder and chopped coriander leaves. Mix again. At this step you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of heavy cream for a rich tasting curry.
- Serve mushroom masala hot or warm.
Instant Pot Method
- Use the sauté function of your IP at normal mode. Add the oil in the steel insert and let it get hot.
- Add the whole spices and let them splutter.Add onion paste and sauté stirring non-stop until the onion paste turns golden.
- Add the tomato puree, ground spices and combine well. Sauté until the masala paste becomes glossy, thickens and you see oil releasing from the sides.
- Add in the chopped mushrooms and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Press the cancel button.
- Add the curd (yogurt). Mix thoroughly and quickly.
- Add ⅓ cup water and salt. Mix and deglaze.
- Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.
- Then do a quick pressure release after 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle dried fenugreek leaves, garam masala powder and coriander leaves. Mix and serve hot.
Serving suggestions
- While serving you can garnish mushroom curry with some coriander leaves.
- Serve Mushroom masala with steamed rice, jeera rice or pulao. This mushroom curry also goes very well as a side gravy dish with biryani. You can also have mushroom masala with roti, paratha, naan, bread or dinner rolls.
Storage
- The leftovers can be refrigerated for 1 to 2 days. Warm the mushroom masala gravy in a pan before serving. If the gravy has thickened too much, then add a few tablespoons of water to thin the consistency.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Notes
- Mushrooms: If you do not have Button Mushrooms then cremini mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms make a good substitute.
- Veggies: You can add cauliflower, carrots, green peas, broccoli and bell pepper. Add ½ to 1 cup of any one vegetable.
- Vegan option: Add almond yogurt or any nut yogurt. You can even skip adding yogurt.
- Tomatoes: Replace ½ cup of canned chopped/crushed tomatoes with fresh tomatoes.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
This mushroom masala recipe post from the archives (July 2015) has been republished and updated on 21 March 2021 with a video.
Thanks
Hi Dassana,
Thanks for posting this delicious looking recipe. I’m going to try it very soon. Was just wondering if I can add babycorn to this dish. If yes, at what point do I add babycorn to the curry and will I need to cook it in advance before adding to the curry?
Thanks again.
Welcome and thanks. You can add baby corn to the dish. Baby corn and mushrooms can be added together. No need to cook it earlier. Baby corn will get cooked with the mushrooms.
This was my first cooking mushroom.. enjoyed it.. thanks a lot for the recipe
that is nice to know and thanks for the review and rating. most welcome.
Hey Dassana,
How are you? Tried this recipe and it turned out to be delicious! Paired with ghee-smeared phulkas and a simple cucumber-carrot salad, it was an utterly satisfying meal. Thank you! ????????
Regards,
Neeti
hi neeti, i am good. hope the same for you. thanks for this lovely feedback. glad to know. thanks for the rating too.
I just made this recipe and it is delicious. It’s the best of many mushroom curries I’ve tried over the years
thanks a lot mary for this lovely review. so glad to read it. thanks for the rating too.
Thank you ma’am for such a great recipes and blog. I always prefer only your recipes on internet, I wish you would post non-veg recipes too.
thank you sanskruti. glad to read your feedback. happy cooking.
I am very grateful to you for sharing your cookery.
This is authentic and I’m going to make Mushroom Masala today. I will be using your recipes again because they are amazing!
thanks a lot. i hope the mushroom masala recipes went well for you.
Hi Dassanna.. I have tried many of your recipes and everything has been super hit. But this punjabi mushroom turned out bad. In the sense mushrooms were not getting cooked even after 1 hour.. I added curd for first time in mushroom.. Before this all my mushroom curries used to be delicious.. Can you tell me where I went wrong.. As far as I m concerned mushrooms were of good quality.
hi sripriya, this issue could be due to the quality of mushrooms. this is a really delicious mushroom curry. curd gives a nice taste to the curry. so the mushrooms not getting cooked is not due to the curd. the amount of curd added is also less. next time you can even saute or fry the mushrooms separately in oil and then add.
I made this last weekend and LOVED it. Your website is amazing.
I love the detailed information you provide with each recipe. Pureeing the onions, garlic and ginger/ tomatoes prior to cooking was new to me. Usually, I puree after cooking the gravy ingredients– as you instruct in your mushroom paneer recipe. I’m curious why the difference.
Again, thank you for the dedication and love you have given to the world with your website!
thank you david. i puree the onion, tomatoes etc first to save time. but there is a difference in taste in both the methods. it also depends to what extent the onions are cooked – light golden or golden. in fact, onions can also be ground separately and then fried till golden. this method of cooking onion paste till golden also gives a very nice taste to the gravy. hope this helps.