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.

About the recipe

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 does help in having the gravy 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.

Step-by-Step Guide

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.

Sautéing 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.

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.

Making mushroom masala

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 flame for 2 to 3 minutes.

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

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.

Storing

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.

Tips

FAQs

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 mushroom masala?

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 Mushroom Masala in Instant Pot?

1. 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.
2. Add onion paste and sauté stirring non-stop until the onion paste turns golden.
3. Add the tomato puree, ground spices and mix well.
4. Sauté until the masala becomes glossy, thickens and you see oil releasing from the sides.
5. Add in the mushrooms and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Press the cancel button. Add the curd (yogurt). Mix thoroughly and quickly.
6. Add ⅓ cup water and salt. Mix and deglaze.
7. Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes. Do a quick pressure release after 3 minutes.
8. Sprinkle dried fenugreek leaves, garam masala powder and coriander leaves. Mix and serve hot.

More Curry Recipes

If you made this recipe, please be sure to rate it in the recipe card below. If you’d like more delicious Indian vegetarian recipes delivered straight to your inbox, Sign Up for my email newsletter. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest or Twitter for more vegetarian inspiration.

This mushroom masala recipe post from the archives (July 2015) has been republished and updated on 21 December 2020.