Here’s a quick and easy Mixed Vegetable Curry recipe that’s perfect as a healthy weeknight dinner or simple vegetable side dish. This is an Indian and Pakistani style curry that’s naturally vegan and absolutely delicious!

Mixed vegetable curry with potatoes, carrots, and peas in a bowl sprinkled with cilantro and served with roti.

“I am so pleased with your recipe, it blew me away, I have been trying for 45yrs+ to cook curries, this was special, thank you.”

Gilbert

Easy Mixed Vegetable Curry

Mixed Vegetable Curry is called “Aloo Matar Gajar” in Urdu & Hindi, which directly translates to “Potatoes, Peas, and Carrots”.

Often, Indian and Pakistani dishes are creatively named after the ingredient list. So Aloo Palak is Potatoes and Spinach, Aloo Gobi is Potatoes and Cauliflower, Aloo Keema is Potatoes and Ground Meat, and so on.

There seems to be a trend here.

Mixed vegetable curry with potatoes, carrots, and peas topped with cilantro in a beige bowl next a small bowl of methi (dried fenugreek).

The Beloved Aloo (Potato)

When I was pregnant, my midwife, a hilarious and rather blunt woman in her late 60s, was good-heartedly reprimanding me on my pregnancy weight gain. She asked me what I usually eat, so I named dinner from the night before – Chicken and Potat Curry with Rice.

She was taken aback. “Potatoes and rice are both carbs…You’re doubling up on carbs.”

Clearly, South Asians and most pregnant women (I was both at that time) do not mind doubling up on carbs.

I proudly attribute about 10 pounds of that weight gain to potatoes.

Potatoes, carrots, and in a beige bowl with a piece of roti on the side.

I’ve called it Mixed Vegetable Curry, but it’s essentially curried vegetables, as it’s a dry vegan curry with no “curry” per se.

A Note on the Ingredients

Ingredients for making Mixed Vegetable Curry on a marbled surface

This is a humble, flexible dish that requires simple ingredients:

  • Basic pantry staples like onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, green chili peppers, and a handful of spices.
  • Potatoes, peas, and carrots (Aloo Matar Gajar) – The trifecta I grew up eating but you can use any vegetables you like or have on hand.
    • Potatoes – How you cube them will affect the cooking time. If you cube them smaller, decrease the cooking time accordingly.
    • Peas – I use frozen peas and add them along with the rest of the vegetables. If you’d like them a little less overdone, add right before covering to cook.
    • Carrots – Carrots add a beautiful taste to this dish. Depending on the size, I either slice them or halve, then slice them.
  • Dried Fenugreek Leaves (Kasuri Methi). This is the “finishing-touch” ingredient that elevates this recipe from ‘delicious curry’ to ‘Wow – my children won’t stop eating their vegetables.” Make a run to your local South Asian store or order it online. It lasts for eternity almost and you can also use it in my Red Lentil Curry, Authentic Chicken Korma, or Instant Pot Butter Chicken!

How to make Mixed Vegetable Curry

To make mixed vegetable curry, start by sautéing the onions until lightly golden. Add the garlic and ginger and continue to sauté for a minute.

Sauteed onions with garlic and ginger in a black pan with a wooden spoon

Next, add in the rest of the ingredients and stir-fry for a few minutes. Lower the heat and cover to allow the veggies steam in their own juices.

Potatoes, carrots, and peas in a black pan with a wooden spoon

That’s really all there is to it. Garnish with dried fenugreek (methi) and cilantro if desired. Stir, serve, & eat!

3 Tips To Help Your Veggies Shine

I truly believe the humblest of dishes can be made memorable if the right techniques and fresh ingredients are used. Here are my straightforward tips on making this curry:

  1. The vegetables are best left to cook in their own juices. That means we’re not adding any water here unless absolutely necessary.
  2. Use a nonstick skillet or pan to prevent any possibility of scorching.
  3. The beauty of this dish is in its simplicity, and simplicity often relies on quality. Try to find organic vegetables, especially carrots. I find them to be juicier and sweeter compared to conventional ones.
Curried mixed vegetables in a bowl with bread and a glass of water on the side

What to Serve with Mixed Vegetable Curry

‘Dry’ curries are typically served with any type of bread while ‘wet’ curries can be served with rice or bread. Since this doesn’t have much curry, it pairs perfectly with roti, paratha, naan, or any other bread. Try brushing your roti or naan with a little butter to make the meal extra delightful.

Closeup of curried mixed vegetables inside a beige bowl

More Vegan Curry recipes:

Chana Masala – (Authentic Chickpea Curry)
Aloo Gobi (Potato & Cauliflower Curry)
Aloo Palak (Spinach & Potato Curry)
Zucchini/Courgette Curry (Toriyan)
Okra Curry (Bhindi)
Smoked Eggplant Curry (Baingan Bharta)

This post is an update of a recipe that was originally published in July, 2018.

Mixed Vegetable Curry in a bowl with roti inside
5 (23 ratings)

Easy Mixed Vegetable Curry

Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
This Easy Mixed Vegetable Curry is perfect as a weeknight dinner or side dish. It comes together with very little effort with ingredients you have on hand. Vegan and Gluten-Free!
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Ingredients 

Curry:

  • 3 tbsp (44 ml) olive oil
  • 1 small to medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • ½ inch piece ginger, crushed
  • 1 (~120 g) medium tomato, chopped
  • 1 small green chili pepper, chopped
  • 3-4 (~1 cup) small carrots, peeled (if necessary) and sliced ~1/3" thick
  • 1 cup (145 g) frozen peas
  • 1 (~250-280 g) medium to large russet potato, peeled and cubed into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/4 tsp red chili powder, or to taste
  • 3/4 tsp table salt, or to taste

Garnishing:

  • 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi), lightly crushed between your hands
  • 1 tbsp cilantro leaves (optional, for garnish), chopped

Equipment

  • Nonstick pan with lid

Instructions 

  • Heat oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until golden brown (~7-8 minutes). Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until the raw smell disappears, about a minute.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients listed under curry and sauté for 5 minutes.
  • Lower the heat to low or a little higher than the lowest setting (depending on your stove) and cover the pan with the lid. Let the vegetables cook for 24-25 minutes or until they are well done. Check once or twice in between and stir to ensure even cooking. Taste and add salt, if needed. If you’re afraid the vegetables will stick to the bottom of the pan, add a splash of water. But the goal is to let the vegetables steam in their own juices.
  • Garnish with crushed fenugreek leaves and cilantro and mix gently to combine. Serve with roti, naan, or any type of bread.

Video

Calories: 211kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 517mg, Potassium: 584mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 8214IU, Vitamin C: 36mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 2mg
Author: Izzah Cheema
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian, Pakistani