Gobi Bhurji (Indian Scrambled Cauliflower) is one of my favourite ways to enjoy a humble head of cauliflower. This north Indian-style Gobi Bhurji is perfect with buttered toast and soothing chai.
This recipe for Gobi Bhurji is naturally free from gluten (provided you serve it with gluten-free bread). It can easily be made vegan if you switch the ghee for a vegan alternative like dairy-free spread or oil.
Simply grate the a whole cauliflower using a box grater. If you’re short of time, you can also grate the cauliflower using a food processor with grater attachment. I like to grate the whole head, including the stalks.
Next, sauté with onions, tomatoes and aromatic spices until tender. The light cauliflower “grains” paired with chilli heat and masalas is as delicious as it sounds. Feel free to increase or reduce the amount of chilli in the recipe according to your personal taste.
Serve this quick and easy scramble with buttered toast or buns for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Have it on the table in 30 minutes flat.
Bhurji is the Hindi word for “scramble”. Indeed, as you can scramble just about anything, the varieties of Indian Bhurji dishes are endless. Some of the most popular Bhurji dishes in India include eggs, paneer (cheese) and vegetables like this fabulous cauliflower number. Another more recent variety is Tofu Bhurji, which simply includes mashed soya bean curd.
In this egg-free recipe, Kala Namak (or black salt) creates an extra layer of flavour in the absence of eggs. It carries a sulphurous aroma that smells pungent at first sniff but this mellows once it melds with the other masalas.
In my opinion, no Bhurji is complete without a sprinkle of Kala Namak. But that’s just my taste. You add whatever you like the flavour of.
I liken the use of Kala Namak in South Asian cooking to fish sauce in South East Asian cuisine. Kala Namak is a kiln-fired rock salt, also called Himalayan Black Salt.
If you don’t have black salt, a pinch of Chaat Masala will suffice, since this blend for street food already contains a small amount of black salt.
There are no hard and fast rules. Bhurji is a popular dish across India and is typically eaten as a casual meal in roadside dhabas or cafés. Some people like to add Pav Bhaji masala to their bhurji, while the Parsi egg equivalent, Akuri uses notably fewer spices. I’ve gone down the middle and created a blend of spices I think pair perfectly with buttery toast.
I find that an addition like Pav Bhaji masala can be hit and miss as all brands are different. Spices used in various quantities will significantly alter the flavour of the final dish.
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[…] Gobi Bhurji (Indian Scrambled Cauliflower) Gobi Bhurji (or Scrambled Cauliflower) is one of my favourite ways to enjoy a humble head of cauliflower. Simply grate it using a box grater, and sautee with onions, tomatoes and aromatic spices until tender. Serve this quick and easy scramble with buttered toast or buns for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Check out this recipe […]