I am super excited for this vegan crockpot recipe because Indian Food is my FAVORITE and we spend about $50 every time we eat out (which used to be a couple times a week, but now we have scaled back to once a month). MAN…I hope this is good!!

Ingredients:

4 large garlic cloves, chopped…already had but prob cost about $.50
3 tbsp. minced ginger…$.40
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce…$1.49
1 tbsp. garam masala…couldn’t’ find it so I skipped it
1 tbsp. ground coriander…$2.99 for bottle
1 tbsp. ground cumin…already had, but approx. $.10
1 tsp. salt…already had but prob like $.01
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper…already had, approx. $.05
1 can low fat coconut milk…$1.59
3 10 oz. boxes of spinach, thawed…$4.17
1 bag fresh baby spinach…$3.59
12 oz. firm tofu, chopped into cubes…$1.69
Basmati Rice…$5.59 for enough to feed a small army!!

Instructions:

• Add everything to the slow cooker except for the fresh spinach and tofu
• Cook on low for 3 hours.
• Open and add the fresh spinach. Cook for 1 more hour.
• Blend everything using an immersion blender or blending batches. Return to the slow cooker.
• Add the tofu and cook for 1 more hour. Serve over quinoa, rice, or with Naan.

Recipe from Healthy Girls Kitchen

Sunday 5pm: Shopping for ingredients (20 minutes)
Sunday 6pm: Prep time 10 minutes max
Monday 2pm: Finished Prep (10mins)
Monday 7pm: Made Basmati Rice (30 mins)
Monday 7:30pm: EAT!

My Taste Test…this was a CHALLENGE for us as our favorite food ever is Saag Paneer from a local Indian Food restaurant. I thought it was GOOD as long as I didn’t compare it to our fave. I would give it a 6 out of 10. It was a little bland but I don’t know Indian spices enough to know what to add.

Hubby’s Taste Test…he ate it but didn’t like it. He won’t eat leftovers like I will. He said it was bland and even though I told him NOT to compare, I know he did. He gave it a 1 out of 10.

I added cilantro to one of my servings and that helped give it some zip! I would love to hear from experienced Indian Food peeps as to what other spices I could add to help!!

Total Prep Time: A little over an hour
Total Cost: $15.27 new stuff+ $.66 ingredients I already had on hand=$15.93
Lasted us 7 meals (and we eat a LOT so you will probably get double that)
Total Cost per Meal=$2.28

YAY!

So far my biggest “complaint” about cooking all these vegan crockpot recipes is cleaning all this mess up!!