30+ Authentic Instant Pot Indian Curry Recipes
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Cooking Indian curries just got easier! Grab your Instant Pot and pick a recipe to make from this collection of Instant Pot curry recipes that include 30+ delicious vegetarian, chicken, lamb, and seafood curries to choose from.
Making Indian curries, especially protein-based, can be time-consuming when cooked on a stovetop unless you are using a pressure cooker. While the traditional, stovetop pressure cooker is reliable and quick, it comes with a few issues.
It can spew liquid all over the stovetop, and one has to count the number of times the vent goes off to figure out when to turn off the gas. Basically, you have to be around to monitor the cooking.
Then came along Instant Pot, and it revolutionalized Indian cooking.
With its automatic shut-down, keep warm, and delayed start features, the Instant Pot pressure cooker has become an almost hands-free device that everyone can’t stop raving about. Also, unlike the stovetop pressure cooker, this electric one doesn’t create a mess.
But what most folks love most about the Instant Pot are the saute and pressure cooking functions. Sauteeing helps in browning the meat and caramelizing the onions, while the pressure cooking function softens pulses to the perfect melt-in-the-mouth texture, cooks veggies just right, and the meats come out tender, juicy and flavorful.
That’s why Instant Pot has become a go-to kitchen device for making Indian food for many, including me. I have cooked a wide variety of Indian curries and dals in the Instant Pot, and I am so excited to share those tried and tested recipes with you.
The collection below has a good mix of easy everyday meals as well as popular restaurant-style curries from Indian cuisine. Enjoy!
Vegetarian curries and dal
Punjabi Rajma Masala
Use your Instant Pot pressure cooker to make this quick & delicious dhaba-style Punjabi rajma masala. While you can serve it with rotis, the combination of rajma and chawal (rice) is what makes this dish truly special.
Channa masala
Chana masala, widely known as Punjabi Choley, is a flavorful, high-protein dish that appeals to both meat lovers as well as vegans and is perfect for a crowd. Pressure-cooked choley is added to an onion-tomato-based sauce that has been seasoned with spices. It is then cooked some more till all the flavors have melded in. The end result is pure deliciousness!
Chawli (lobia masala)
Black-eyed peas curry, chawli, or lobia masala is a flavorful curry made with a few simple ingredients. It pairs well with both rotis and steaming hot rice.
Moong bean curry
This quick and easy Instant Pot Moong Bean Curry makes a delicious dinner or side dish in under 30 minutes. Pair this plant-based and gluten-free Whole Mung Dal (or sabut moong dal) recipe with rice or roti for the perfect weeknight meal!
Dal makhani
If you have never had Dal Makhani before, think of it as a creamy, lightly-spiced curry made from whole urad dal and red kidney beans (rajma). You could easily overpower the dish with spices but don’t just a hint of garam masala is enough. The stars of this dish are the lentils – let them shine.
Langarwali dal
Satisfy your soul and your stomach with this flavor-filled langarwali dal – a creamy mixed lentil curry that cooks effortlessly in the Instant Pot. Pair it with jeera rice or cumin rice for a complete gastronomic experience.
Sambar
Here’s the thing with any sambar recipe, including mine – the end result may be totally different from the sambar you’ve tasted in a restaurant or a friend’s home. This is because not only does every state in the southern part of India has its own way of cooking sambar, it is also because how the sambar tastes can vary depending on what vegetables you are using and if you have used store-bought sambar masala or made one at home. Check out my go-to recipe below.
Rasam
Tomato rasam (Udupi saaru) is a delightfully tangy and spicy concoction that is often served with rice or savored as is. Learn how to make this simple yet tantalizing soup in your Instant Pot effortlessly.
Tadka dal
With toor dal as its key ingredient, this tadka dal is easy to make, needs only a few ingredients, and makes for a nutritious accompaniment to roti or rice.
Dal fry
This recipe for dal fry comes from my mom’s kitchen and is fabulous if you ask me. I know I am biased, but I would love for you to try it and share your opinion.
Spinach dal
Mildly spiced and oh-so-creamy, this Spinach Dal (Dal Palak) recipe comes together in under 30 minutes for a protein-packed meal everyone will enjoy. This hearty, vegetarian spinach dahl cooks up in one pot for a comforting meal you can easily pair with fresh rice or roti.
Moong dal
If you are looking for a comforting, healthy, and easy weeknight meal, you’ll love this flavorful recipe for moong dal (yellow lentil soup). Also known as mung dhal soup, it’s a vegan-friendly lentil dish that pairs perfectly with rice, rotis, and many other popular Indian dishes. Make it in your Instant Pot or over the stovetop.
Trevti dal
A popular dal from Gujarati cuisine, trevti dal is also known as chevti dal or yellow dal and typically has no onion or garlic. This makes for a simple recipe that can easily be prepared for lunch or dinner and can be served as a soup or with rice.
Gujarati dal
Every Indian household has a version of dal that is cooked at home. Most dal recipes are usually mildly spicy, but what makes this Gujarati dal recipe special is its sweet and tangy taste.
Pav bhaji
What started off as a humble roadside snack has become insanely popular – from roadside stalls to fine dining restaurants, pav bhaji has made a permanent place for itself in Indian restaurant menus worldwide. Check out this easy Instant Pot recipe below.
Palak paneer
If you have never had palak paneer before, think of it as a mildly spicy, creamy curry made from spinach and cottage cheese and a few basic Indian spices. The silky texture makes it a popular dish to dunk your naans in.
Paneer tikka masala
This restaurant-quality paneer butter masala is so easy to make in the Instant Pot that you will not consider takeout again.
Gujarati kadhi
Gujarati kadhi is a delicious yogurt-based curry that will bowl you over with its sweet and sour taste. Use an Instant Pot to make it a one-pot meal.
Aloo saag
When it comes to a quick and comforting recipe, this Punjabi aloo palak hits the mark. Ready in under 30 minutes, filling, and full of flavor, this spinach curry with potatoes will convince even your pickiest eaters to love spinach.
Punjabi dum aloo
Dum Aloo is traditionally made by deep-frying whole potatoes and then slow-cooking them in an onion-tomato-based gravy. It is a popular north Indian dish and is commonly found in most Indian restaurants. This recipe calls for shallow frying potatoes and is a healthier take on the classic dum aloo recipe.
Aloo matar
Instant Pot aloo matar – this simple peas and potato curry recipe are perfect for days when you want a fuss-free meal that is easy to make and delicious. Pair it with roti or rice to make it a complete meal.
Egg and Chicken curries
Egg curry
Love eggs? Try this easy North Indian-style egg curry recipe. It is perfect for when you want a quick meal.
Instant Pot Butter chicken
Butter chicken or chicken makhani is one of the most popular North Indian dishes in which boneless chicken thighs are cooked in a buttery onion-tomato sauce with a medley of spices. Try this delicious Indian chicken curry with naan bread or steamed rice.
Instant Pot chicken tikka masala
Grilled chicken pieces (tikkas) which are crisp on the outside and succulent on the side, are added to a creamy onion-tomato-based gravy to make this finger-licking Indian chicken dish. Most Indian chicken curries are on the spicier side, but you can make this one as mild as you want without impacting the taste. That’s what makes it such a popular dish worldwide.
Indian chicken curry
There are so many things you can do with chicken, but lately, we’ve been loving this spicy and aromatic North Indian-style chicken curry. This simple Indian chicken curry recipe made with bone-in chicken is one more reason you’ll love cooking in your Instant Pot. Serve it with Basmati rice, jasmine rice, or brown rice to make it a meal.
Mangalorean chicken curry
Mangalorean chicken curry or Kori Gassi is a chicken curry like no other. This fiery red chicken curry combines the mild sweetness of full-fat coconut milk with a medley of whole spices to create a complexly flavored curry that is a treat to your senses.
Chicken vindaloo
Learn how to make this tangy finger-licking chicken vindaloo curry in an Instant Pot or Stovetop. It is gluten and dairy-free and absolutely delicious! Serve it with warm pav (dinner rolls) for an authentic experience.
Chicken Chettinad
What makes this dish stand out is its rich, spicy, and aromatic flavor. It is always cooked with a special blend of freshly roasted and ground spice mix or masala. The fresh masala infuses the dish with all its flavors and gives the Chettinad Chicken its gorgeous aroma and signature spicy taste.
Methi chicken
Instant Pot Methi Chicken comes together in 30 minutes for a flavorful weeknight dinner. Tender marinated chicken simmered in a fenugreek curry makes for a lip-smacking dish everyone will enjoy!
Seafood curries
Salmon tikka masala
Got 30 minutes? Make this Instant Pot Salmon Tikka Masala recipe. This delicious fish curry combines marinated bite-sized pieces of salmon in a creamy, spiced tikka masala sauce. Serve it with naan or Basmati rice and some onion raita to make it an extra-special weeknight dinner.
Prawns balchao
This seafood curry from Goa is a must-try in my book. It is spicy and tangy and goes really well with steamed rice.
How to meal prep Indian curries
If you like to meal plan and prep, then you’ll find making these two basic Indian sauces, bhuna masala and tikka masala sauce, very helpful. Having these sauces stocked in your freezer will allow you to cook Indian food in minutes. Check out the recipes below.
Indian curry sauce (Bhuna masala)
A curry sauce (bhuna masala) is a base onion-tomato masala gravy that can help create delicious Indian meals in a fraction of the time. Use it to make the most popular Indian recipes, from biryanis to curries like kidney beans (rajma) or chana masala – all with the same base sauce.
Tikka masala sauce
For those who want to balance the need of wanting to eat fresh food every day without spending hours in the kitchen, a simmer sauce like this one is a perfect solution. Add fresh or frozen vegetables, meat, seafood, paneer, and tofu to this tikka masala sauce to create delicious meals in minutes.
Other easy Instant Pot recipes to try
- 30+ Instant Pot vegetarian recipes – Looking for vegetarian recipes to make in your Instant Pot? Then this collection of fast and easy Indian curries, biryanis & side dishes is perfect for you!
- 20+ Instant Pot dessert recipes – Save this list of 20+ drool-worthy Instant Pot dessert recipes – they’ll come in handy when you are in the mood for a quick and easy dessert.
- 30+ Instant Pot rice recipes – From Indian Instant Pot recipes like chicken biryani to global recipes such as Mexican rice, you’ll find a variety of options to choose from in this collection of recipes.
- 25+ Popular Instant Pot Indian recipes – Ditch the takeout menu and make popular Indian food at home using your Instant Pot. These 25+ easy recipes are perfect for busy weeknights.
