Pakistani Zucchini (Courgette) Curry
The original Zucchini Curry recipe adored by thousands! 12 simple ingredients are all you need to transform boring zucchini into this flavorful Indian & Pakistani-style Zucchini (Courgette) Curry, called Toriyan or ‘torai ki sabzi’ in Urdu. This is an easy, one-pot vegan curry recipe that will have you (and even your kids!) loving Zucchini.
“…It blew my mind. I can’t stop thinking about it, weeks later! I had no idea courgette could taste so good, I will definitely be growing it again just to make this amazing curry.”
Kath
What’s so special about this recipe?
I originally published this zucchini recipe back in 2017. Since then, I’ve had hundreds of people reach out and share how much they love this curry. Here’s what I think makes this recipe special:
- The cooking process brings out the sweet and rich flavors of zucchini. This plays well with the earthy, spicier flavors of this vegetarian curry.
- An extra onion adds another layer of caramelization and complements the zucchini.
- The spices are subtle, which make the final dish pronounced in flavor, but not overwhelmingly spicy.
Notes on the Ingredients
I was tempted to give the onions and tomatoes in grams, but this dish allows for plenty of variance and I wanted the recipe to reflect that. Here’s what you need to know about the ingredients:
- Green Chili Pepper – You can use Serrano, Thai chilis, or other suitable green chili pepper. You need just a small amount to add adequate heat and flavor.
- Red Chili Powder – This is Pakistani and Indian style red chili powder. Substitute cayenne if you don’t have it. Since the spice level of red chili powder varies from brand to brand, start with the smaller amount and increase as desired.
- Onions – This recipe works well with sliced onions (similar to okra curry), which contribute to the overall flavor and texture. For large onions, you may prefer to quarter them before slicing. If you’d rather just finely chop them, that’s okay too.
- Zucchini (Courgettes) – Traditionally peeled but you can leave it unpeeled if you’d like. Just note that unpeeled zucchini may take a little longer to disintegrate into the curry.
How to Make Zucchini (Courgette) Curry
The method can be simplified into 4 Steps:
- Sauté the onions until golden. Don’t brown them too much because once you add the garlic and ginger, the onions will deepen even more in color.
- Add the tomatoes, salt, and spices. Once the tomatoes soften, add the zucchini along with a bit of water.
- Cover and allow to cook for 7-10 minutes. Once the zucchini is soft and the water has dried up, use a wooden spoon to break the zucchini into pieces.
- Lower the heat, cover, and allow the zucchini to cook for another 15-20 minutes. Uncover and sauté out any excess moisture, using your spoon to break up any remaining bits.
How to know when it’s done:
The final dish shouldn’t have water content from the zucchini floating around. When in doubt, sauté a little extra. Once the oil separates from the curry and the zucchini is very well cooked, you’re done!
A note: I’ve had several people share pictures of their finished product with a bit more ‘curry’ and not fully reduced down. If that’s how you prefer it, that’s okay too. Make it your own!
How to Serve
This dish pairs perfectly with just about anything, but roti, naan, paratha, or any other bread go exceptionally well with it. Rice is another reader-favorite pairing.
More Popular Vegetarian Curry Recipes:
- Easy Spinach and Potato Curry (Aloo Palak)
- Easy Mixed Vegetable Curry
- Potato & Cauliflower Curry (Aloo Gobi)
- Baingan Bharta (Smoked Eggplant Curry)
- Chana Masala (Chickpea Curry)
Tried this recipe? If you have a minute, please consider leaving a comment telling me how it was! If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I truly love hearing from you. Thank you!
Pakistani Zucchini (Courgette) Curry | Toriyan (Torai ki Sabzi)
Video
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (79 ml) grapeseed or other neutral oil
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 5-6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 inch piece ginger, crushed
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 medium tomato, cubed
- 1 tsp salt, or more to taste
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
- 1/4-1/2 tsp red chili powder, or to taste
- 3 large (1 to 1 1/4 lb) (454-567 g) green zucchini squash (courgette), peeled and cut into 1/8-inch half-moons, (weighed after chopping)
- 1 small green chili pepper (such as Serrano), sliced
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 cup (4 g) chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a nonstick or heavy bottomed skillet over high heat. Add the onions, and sauté until they are lightly golden (~8-10 minutes).
- Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, ginger and cumin seeds. Sauté until the raw smell of the ginger and garlic disappears (~1 min). Add the tomato, salt, coriander powder, black pepper powder, and red chili powder. Sauté for a minute, then stir in the zucchini and 1/4 cup of water. Mix well, ensuring that the zucchini is well coated.
- Cover and let cook on medium heat for 7-10 minutes, stirring once in between. Once most of the water has dried up, use a wooden spoon to break the zucchini into pieces. Add the sliced green chili pepper and turmeric and sauté for a few minutes.
- Lower the heat to the lowest setting, cover and continue to cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring half-way. If you’re afraid it will stick to the pan, add a splash of water. Uncover and stir well. If needed, raise the heat to high to sauté any extra moisture for 3-5 minutes. Taste and adjust salt.
This is an update of a recipe that was originally published in 2017. Since then, it’s been updated with new pictures and video!
278 Comments on “Pakistani Zucchini (Courgette) Curry”
I made this recipe and jarred up the results from half my courgette harvest. It is very easy to prepare and cook. Also makes a great change from ratatouille as a way of using up some of the courgettes from the garden.
Makes a great side as well as a filling lunch with bread.
Hi Paul, This is curry is definitely one of our favourite ways to eat zucchini. So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hi izzah
I made this courgette masala last night.it was so good!!
I dried the watery consistency.lastly I added some freshly grated coconut which gave a mild sweetness and balanced the taste.
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Delicious! I had less than 1 lb of zucchini and it still came out great. So nice to be able to prepare it in an interesting, flavorful way.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed the zucchini curry. It’s one of our favourites!
This was amazing and I will definitely make again as I have a lot of surplus courgettes that I am trying different recipes with. I didn’t have cumin seed but used cumin powder instead, but other than that I followed the recipe to a tee. Would love to know if this freezes ok? Thank you for this lovely recipe.
I was blown away with this recipe! flavours were perfect and no adjustments were necessary. Good way to get some veggies in!
Thanks so much, Maria! It’s pretty crazy how Zucchini can taste on such a tasty form!
Wow this is unreal. 2 simple ingredients are turned into something incredible. I’m an Englishman living in Phoenix AZ so I know first hand how difficult it is to get delicious Indian food around here. This is my 2nd recipe from this site and I’m going for more. Absolutely delicious
Yay! We are so glad you enjoyed the Zucchini Curry! Would love to hear how the other dishes you try turn out 🙂
This is a fantastic dish – so delicious and easy to prepare – follow the instructions precisely, especially the timings – it is going to become one of my favourites! Thank you for sharing, Izzah.
We are so happy to hear this Shirley!
Made this last night, was amazed my husband ate it all (also have one that thinks meat is a requirement) – very good result! Thank you!
Yay! We are so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I initially decided to make this recipe out of pure skepticism. I didn’t think it could taste good. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. A lovely and comforting vegan meal option
Thank you, Aisha!
Love this recipe. I have cooked it several times for a light dinner and has been always a success. I usually add more tomato than as recommended.
So glad. More tomato sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing, Maite!