Potato Vindaloo Curry Recipe

Potato Vindaloo Curry recipe is a spicy Indian vegetarian dish that makes a quick and healthy lunch or dinner.

This post was originally published in 2017. It was updated in 2021 to add new photographs. The original recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

Have you ever wondered what your true nationality is? I’ve always been told that I’m about 50% Italian and 50% Irish, with a bit of German and French thrown in there. Many would say that my red hair is a dead giveaway for my Irish side. But, in reality, my mom and her brother (my uncle) – Both on the Italian side of my family, are the redheads…

I’m itching to take one of those ancestry DNA kits – You know, where you send in a bit of your spit and you get this color wheel back of all the nationalities that are floating around in your bloodstream. Mainly – Just to see if there are any shockers. Like, I’m part Croatian or Spanish… I’m thinking a DNA kit is going on my next Christmas list…

I definitely like to eat like I have a little bit of every country in me – Mexican, Vietnamese, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian – I love it all! You know how some people plan trips to other countries and they’re focused on seeing the museums and monuments? I’m more focused on where are we going to eat? This summer, Rick and I are headed to Northern Italy, and while he’s totally in charge of all the sights that we’re going to see, I’m dead focused on the food and wine and cocktails – Give me all the handmade pasta, the delicate sauces, Negronis and glasses of Barbera… I am SO ready for this trip!

But today, I’m delving into a dish that (I think) is a bit out of my heritage.

Potato Vindaloo Curry

This dish is inspired from my childhood – Trips to the Indian food buffet with my vegetarian dad. I loved all the spices, the bright, bold colors, and the aromas that wafted throughout the restaurant – Curries and cinnamon and turmeric and cardamom and my favorite spice of all, cumin. Anything with an abundance of cumin is going to find its way straight to my heart.

Most vindaloo recipes that you’ll find are for chicken vindaloo – A tomato based dish with a complex blend of spices which, very often, packs quite a bit of heat. I wanted to take that same dish, but turn it into a completely vegetarian meal – worth of my non- meat eating dad.

There is definitely an abundance of spices going on in this dish – Luckily, I already had all of them on hand. But, if you’ve got a more modest spice cabinet, I highly suggest checking out the bulk section of your grocery store – It’s a good way to get just a little bit of a lot of different spices, for cheap. Cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika and cinnamon all lend their bold color to the finished product – I mean, this dish is right in your face with those vibrant colors. The potatoes are almost dyed like little Easter eggs… Glowing in a bright orange hue. And, just like those potatoes absorb all those wonderful colors, they also absorb all of the intense flavors.

Spice from the serrano pepper, tartness from the vinegar and a hint smokiness from the cumin. A sprinkle of cilantro and fresh mint brighten everything up at the end, and a dollop of Greek yogurt (or sour cream if you prefer) helps to tame down that heat just a little bit if you get a bite of it with each potato. A word of warning: Vindaloo is meant to pack a punch with its heat level. If you’d prefer a milder dish, be sure to seed that serrano pepper, and remove the ribs, or leave it out entirely.

On a side note, this dish reheats beautifully, and it just gets better the longer it sits in the fridge (for up to three days). The flavors really get a chance to mesh all together and soak even further into those potatoes. I love making a big batch and taking it for lunches throughout the week.

So, this Indian Potato Vindaloo is definitely a far cry from my Irish-Italian background, but I’ll happily add it to my food repertoire. Who doesn’t love a dish that’s packed with flavor, is perfect for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, and just gets better the longer it sits in the fridge? Winner, winner, chicken (free) dinner.

Wine pairings for vindaloo:

• Dry Riesling is a great match for this squash curry. It’s hint of sweetness will tame down the heat while its acidity stands up to the bold blend of spices.
• Gewurztraminer is another lightly sweet wine that pairs nicely with this dish.

If you loved this Potato Vindaloo recipe I would appreciate it so much if you would give it a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

More Indian food recipes:

• Indian Butternut Squash Curry
• Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
• Indian Butter Chickpeas
• Instant Pot Butter Chicken
• Lamb Curry
• Homemade Naan with Mint Cilantro Chutney

Potato Vindaloo Recipe

Potato Vindaloo

This Potato Vindaloo Curry recipe is a spicy Indian vegetarian dish that makes a quick and healthy lunch or dinner.

4.67 from 9 votes

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 4 people

Created by Platings and Pairings

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Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 Tablespoon coriander seeds
• 4 black peppercorns
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil (or canola oil)
• 2 shallots (halved and thinly sliced)
• 1 serrano pepper (thinly sliced (omit for less spicy) )
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
• 8 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 inch knob ginger (peeled and minced)
• 4 medium russet potatoes (about 2 pounds, peeled & cut into 1” cubes)
• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Greek yogurt (for serving)
• Cilantro and mint (for serving)

Instructions

• In a small skillet over medium-high heat, toast the cumin, coriander and peppercorns until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a spice grinder or mortar and grind. Add tumeric, paprika, and cinnamon, set aside.
• In a large, deep skillet or dutch oven heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the mustard seeds, shallots and serrano pepper with a pinch of salt and pepper and sautee until the shallots begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomato paste, garlic, ginger and spice mixture and cook until fragrant, 2-3 minutes.
• Add potatoes, water, vinegar, brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer, covered, for 25-30 minutes, until the potatoes can be pierced with a fork easily.
• Remove lid and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
• Serve with greek yogurt, cilantro and mint if desired.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 865mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 585IU | Vitamin C: 13.8mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3.4mg