A spicy, tantalizing dish of tofu cubes in a black pepper curry sauce is the stuff of memorable meals. This recipe, a vegan version of Paneer Kali Mirch, a popular north Indian food often served in roadside eateries, is gluten-free. And when made with my basic tomato onion sauce for curries, it comes together in 20 minutes flat in one pot.

I love, love, love the basic tomato onion sauce because it saves me so much time on weekdays -- and weekends, when I'd rather spend my time doing things that are fun rather than slaving over the stove. I've been sharing recipes with you as I have been making them, and today I have one that's really special: a vegan version of Paneer Kali Mirch.

This is tofu in a black pepper curry sauce, and it's so good, you'll be licking your fingers and asking for more.

And you'll have your family eating out of your hand (probably literally).

So what's the basic tomato onion sauce?

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, this is an Instant Pot recipe I shared with you a few weeks back that you can make and store in the refrigerator or freezer, and use to make quick, easy Indian dishes, like Chana Masala, Dal, Saag Aloo and so many more. This is the sixth recipe made with this magic sauce that I'm sharing with you, so if you make a batch, you'll have plenty of recipes to try it with.

Tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and few spices form the basis of many, many north Indian dishes, including the ones you'll find on restaurant menus. But chopping and cutting tomatoes, onions, garlic and ginger and then cooking them before you add other ingredients each time you cook can be time-consuming. If you make a large batch of the sauce when you have some time to spare (not that it takes much time), you'll be able to skip through a number of steps and put together tasty Indian recipes in minutes.

Finally, if you're worried everything will taste the same, worry not. They won't. The ingredients you add on top of the basic sauce give each dish its own unique flair and flavor, no one will know you made them with the same sauce.

Do I have to use tofu in this recipe?

Paneer Kali Mirch is made with paneer, an Indian cottage cheese, and super firm tofu makes a fine substitute for it. That said, I am all for mixing things up. If you're soy-free, or do not want to use tofu for any reason, you can certainly try chickpeas in this sauce. They'll taste quite wonderful.

Just how hot and spicy is this recipe?

Every individual has a different tolerance for heat, and that's why I always advise you to go with what you're most comfortable with. Black peppercorns give this recipe its unique flavor -- and heat -- so use as much or as little of it as you like. I add about a teaspoon, but being Indian-born, my tolerance for spice is probably higher than average. You can and should start out with less and add more ground black pepper to the sauce at the end of the cooking process, if you think it needs a little more oomph.

What do you serve with this Tofu "Paneer" Kali Mirch?

A naan -- like this homemade garlic naan -- is ideal, but a homemade roti or paratha are just as good. Rice or quinoa work beautifully too.

Serve with a side like my Curried Carrot Salad for a wholesome and delicious meal in minutes.

Let's get on with the recipe now, and if you have questions, let me know in the comments below. And if you make it, I definitely want to hear. Or take a photo and tag me @HolyCowVegan on Instagram.

Here are the ingredients you'll need for this recipe:

Basic Tomato Onion Sauce for Quick Curries

Vegetable oil

Green cardamom pods

Cloves

Cinnamon sticks

Cumin seeds

Whole black peppercorns

Raw cashews

Kasoori methi

Super firm tofu (extra firm is fine too, but press the water out first)

(extra firm is fine too, but press the water out first) Garam masala

Cilantro

Lemon juice

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Looking for more recipes with the Basic Tomato Onion Sauce for Quick Curries?

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Looking for more Indian tofu recipes?

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Tofu "Paneer" Kali Mirch

Vegan | Gluten-free