Vegan Instant Pot Potato Curry! Super quick, easy, nutritious, delicious and no fancy spices needed, plus it’s really budget friendly!
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I treated myself to an Instant Pot (<<affiliate link) a few months ago and it has totally revolutionized meal times. I use it every single day for one thing or another and can’t imagine life without it now.
Today’s Vegan Instant Pot Potato Curry is an adapted version of my very popular, Super Simple Green Bean Potato Curry.
This curry works brilliantly in the Instant Pot with a couple of very minor changes and I’ve made those changes here in this revised Instant Pot recipe version.
If you don’t have an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker, don’t worry because you can still make this recipe. Just follow the stove-top instructions here instead.
This Vegan Instant Pot Curry really is quick, easy and budget friendly. It has only 8 ingredients (plus water, salt & pepper) and although the original version is pretty easy too, the Instant Pot version is even easier!
This is cooking for lazy people who like their food!
A lot of people are a little daunted at the thought of making curries. Lots of spices are usually involved and they often take a little bit of time.
If you aren’t familiar with mixing and matching spices, aren’t confident in trying, or you don’t like a lot of spices or just can’t be bothered to spend ages cooking, then this is the curry for you!
It’s so quick and easy.
Cook it up and serve it with rice, naan bread and if you are feeling extravagant, some mango chutney.
You’ll have an amazing, tasty dinner in no time at all!
The only downside to cooking the curry in an Instant Pot is that you then can’t cook the rice in it. These little electric pressure cooker miracles cook rice absolutely perfectly. I hear that some people are so obsessed with them that they have two. Me, I have such limited counter space so this isn’t an option. I just have to settle for the fact that I have to cook my rice the old fashioned way in a pan!
This Vegan Instant Pot Potato Curry is pretty flexible. If you don’t have green beans, frozen peas make a great alternative and feel free to throw in any other veggies you have lurking about.
I can’t stress enough how happy I am to be back in comfort food season and this Instant Pot Curry ticks all the cozy food boxes.
As nice as it is to have a pot of something delicious bubbling on the stove, it’s also pretty nice to throw it all in an Instant Pot, walk away and put your feet up. No babysitting it or having to stir it, and unlike with slow cookers, the food doesn’t come out with a distinctive taste.
Is it just me that thinks that about slow cooker food? There is always a slow cooker-y taste. Like a slight bitter tang. I can’t put my finger on it. I am so glad my slow cooker insert cracked and gave me the chance to upgrade. Expect to see more vegan Instant Pot recipes soon!
Reason To Love My Vegan Instant Pot Potato Curry:
- It’s super easy
- It’s really quick and easy
- It’s healthy and pretty low in calories too
- You don’t need to stock up on fancy schmancy spices to make it
- It reheats really well
- Save the pennies..it’s super budget friendly!
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
If you did, be a ☆ and let me know what you think by rating it and commenting below. Tag me on Instagram too. I am @avirtualvegan and my hashtag is #avirtualvegan
Vegan Instant Pot Potato Curry
Vegan Instant Pot Potato Curry! Super quick, easy, nutritious & delicious, plus it's really budget friendly!
Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion , chopped - I like to cut mine in half moons slices but if you prefer you can chop it finely
- 4 large cloves of garlic , chopped finely
- 900g / about 5 heaping cups baby potatoes , regular potatoes are ok too but the waxier varieties are best because they remain firmer. Floury potatoes might fall apart a bit. Cut any larger ones into chunky bite sized pieces. No need to peel them unless you prefer to.
- 2 tablespoons curry powder or curry paste , be sure to use a good flavorful brand
- 500mls / around 2 cups water
- 400g / 2 heaping cups fresh green beans , chopped into bite sized pieces. You can also use frozen beans, no need to defrost first. Frozen peas also work well as a sub.
- 1 400ml can coconut milk , full fat or light
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional but recommended)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes or a small fresh chili chopped (optional but recommended)
- 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder , or corn starch
Instructions
INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS (My Instant Pot is a 6 quart. If yours is a different size you will need to scale the recipe up or down accordingly).
Set your instant pot to saute. Once hot, add a few drops of water and cook the onions until translucent, then add the garlic and cook for one minute longer. Press the KEEP WARM/CANCEL button.
(This sautéing step adds a little more flavour but you can skip it if you are short on time.)
Add everything else to the Instant Pot except the green beans and arrowroot/cornstarch.
Set the Instant Pot to 20 minutes on MANUAL high pressure and allow the pressure to release naturally after this time.
Press KEEP WARM/CANCEL, remove the lid and press SAUTE. Put the arrowroot/cornstarch into a small bowl or cup and mix into it a few tablespoons of water to make a thickish but pourable slurry. Pour it into the Instant Pot stirring as you go.
Add salt and pepper to taste then add the green beans and cook for about 5 minutes until they are tender and the gravy has thickened.
Serve immediately.
STOVE TOP INSTRUCTIONS
See here
Recipe Notes
If you don't have an Instant Pot you can cook it on the stove top instead. See these instructions.
Cooking time includes the natural pressure release time but this can vary a bit each time so allow for it taking a few minutes more or less.
If you like bit of heat in your curry feel free to add some chili flakes or a fresh chopped chili when you add the other vegetables.
Leftovers reheat well and will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Alexa says
I just got anew instant pot and this is the first recipe I have tried. We loved it. Easy to follow and it made a really delicous curry.
Mark Singer says
I’m using this recipe as the basis for tonight’s curry. My changes are to use “vegan protein broth” (essentially a packaged soymilk/lentil/vegetable cooking stock) instead of the water and coconut milk, to add carrots and eliminate the green beans at the end, and to add about 14 oz. of tempeh cut into bite-sized pieces half-way through sautéing the onion, potatoes, and carrots. I also sautéd those ingredients in about 1 1/2 tbsp. of 50/50 mustard oil/vegetable oil–more fat, but water alone was not going to work with that much in the pot.
I used russet potatoes because I want them to break up and thicken the sauce, which is a good trick if you’re not wanting to use flour/oil or cornstarch as thickeners. I also cheated and used commercially prepared Madras curry paste because it was hanging around in the refrigerator. The results will likely be spicier, but the great thing about curries is that they’re infinitely variable once you have the proportions and techniques down, which this recipe certainly provides. Thanks for posting it.
Sheila Hoffman says
I may’ve waited too long to ask. I’m fixing this for our community dinner tomorrow night (20 people). I’m planning to add tofu and peas in addition to the potatoes and green beans. I’m wondering if you have any idea if I should cut back on the potatoes and green beans to make room and if you foresee any issues adding the tofu? I wasn’t sure how much tofu to add. I’m using two InstaPots and fixing for 10 in each. Then I’m making basmati rice as a go-with as well as naan. Any last minute input greatly appreciated. Thanks.
A Virtual Vegan says
How awesome that you are doing this for your community! I think tofu would be a great addition. It’s a pretty saucy curry so I don’t think you would need to cut back on anything to make room and because of everything else in it, you probably won’t need to allow much tofu for each person. Maybe only 1 block diced in each Instant Pot? At the most 2 if you want to be generous. I wouldn’t add the tofu at the beginning of cooking because it will end up overcooked or dissolve completely. I’d be tempted to add it when you add the green beans at the end so it just has enough time to heat through. I personally am not keen on tofu added as it is to curry. I prefer to crisp it up a bit first so it gets a bit of colour on it. You could maybe press it first to get the moisture out of it, then sauté it, maybe with some curry spices or a little curry paste if you have it, until it’s nice and golden, then set it aside and add it again at the end with the green beans.
It’s a pretty filling curry so with naans too, you wont need a massive amount of rice.
Have fun and good luck!
Sheila Hoffman says
Thanks so much. I’ll report back. I really appreciate the quick and helpful response.
Sheila Hoffman says
It went very well. Everyone liked it. I made 2 pots for 10 each and could’ve done with just one pot (12 adults plus kids). But by having 2 pots one was very spicy and one was intentionally bland. Adding the tofu and peas and serving over rice worked great. Thanks so much….easy to make and a crowd-pleaser.
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m so pleased it went well. It actually tastes better when it’s reheated so hopefully you can make good use of the leftovers!
Rachel says
Just like Jacqui, this was my first time using my new instant pot. I was a little confused about how to wait for the natural release, but I figured it out. I used red potatoes and they were perfect. I also added much more garlic, about a teaspoon of turmeric, I used veggie broth instead of water, and I stirred in a handful of spinach when it was all done. It needed salt but aside from that, the flavors were wonderful. I might reduce the sugar a bit, because the coconut milk was sweet enough, but really it was good as it is. We had it with basmati rice and loved it. Also the flavors continued to develop so the leftovers were spectacular the next day! I think it would be good with big pieces of mushrooms added, too. Thanks for a great recipe that my family loved!
(Posting a second time because I forgot to give it stars the first time!)
A Virtual Vegan says
So glad you enjoyed it Jacqui and thank you for coming back to leave feedback. Before you know it you will be using your IP like a pro. I wouldn’t be without mine!
Jacqui says
I just got anew instant pot and this is the first recipe I have tried. We loved it. Easy to follow and it made a really delicous curry.
lisa says
potatoes complete did not stay together and it was just potato curry soup. what went wrong
Marguerite says
I am trying this curry recipe tomorrow; It sounds delicious! I have had my Instant Pot for a few weeks now and I wonder how I ever managed without it. I look forward to your recipes coming in my mail box!
Marguerite
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Marguerite. That’s so nice to hear. I too don’t know how I managed pre-Instant Pot. It’s such a great appliance. I’m working on a new Instant Pot recipe as we speak too so you can look forward to seeing that in your mailbox eventually…It’s not going as planned at the moment!