30+ Instant Pot Indian Vegetarian Recipes

Pav Bhaji is a spicy mashed vegetable dish, served piping hot with a dollop of butter, diced red onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Accompanied by warm buttery pan-toasted rolls, this visually delightful dish is sure to fill your tummy as well as your heart!  

Mushroom Masala is a versatile dish that packs in a burst of flavors from earthy mushrooms, tart tomatoes, and aromatic spices. The intense flavors are balanced with easy homemade cashew cream. Ready in under 20 minutes and savory to the last bite, this curry is sure to win you the master chef crown at your next party.

In contrast to the much-loved fiery and heavily spiced curries, there are lovely subtle and mild versions that also deserve a turn in the spotlight. Creamy, mildly spiced, with a touch of sweetness, Mushroom Matar Malai is one of my family’s favorite comfort food curries. My homemade version cooks up super quick in the Instant Pot and gets lightened up for a healthy weeknight staple.

Paneer Butter Masala is a classic Indian dish with a creamy tomato-based sauce and luscious cubes of paneer dunked in it. This lightly spiced curry is easy to make and a crowd-pleaser, so go ahead make it for a weeknight dinner or for your next get-together. I am also sharing some fun options to serve this finger-licking delish curry.

Misal Pav is a vibrant meal consisting of a spicy sprouted bean curry topped with crunchy Farsan, crisp red onions, and fresh cilantro that is served with lightly buttered Pav or dinner rolls. The bold flavors of this peppery dish are accentuated with a dash of lemon, packing in an explosion of flavors in every bite. 

Cabbage stir fry is a simple and delicious side dish served with Indian meals. Cooked in 10 minutes, this humble “Gobhi Ki Sabzi” or sautéed cabbage is healthy, vegan, and gluten-free. A versatile recipe that can be easily jazzed up with ingredients such as tomatoes, carrots, peas, potatoes, or even lentils!

Vegetable and Paneer Biryani is a complete meal with grains, vegetables, and protein. It begins with a base of caramelized onions, then builds layers of flavors with aromatic long-grain basmati rice and a combination of vegetables cooked to tender perfection. Each bite is infused with delicately balanced whole spices and a bold finish with garam masala.

Chana Masala, also known as Chickpea Curry or Chole, is the quintessential Indian soul food. This simple recipe achieves an authentic Punjabi Chana Masala flavor without a store-bought spice blend, and the sauce is full-bodied with bold garam masala and deep tomato flavors.

The ultimate comfort food, Dal Dhokli is a sweet, spicy, and tangy lentil stew with freshly made whole wheat noodles cooked in the lentils. A hearty one-pot meal from the Indian States of Gujarat and Maharashtra, where it is also called Chakolya or Varan Phal.

Black Eyed Peas Curry cooked in a smooth onion, tomatoes, and coconut-based sauce with earthy flavors from turmeric, cumin, and coriander. Spiced with red chili powder and aromatic garam masala, this tasty curry served with rice or warm roti this meal is on repeat in my home.

Dum Aloo is a North Indian curry made with baby potatoes that are simmered in onion and tomato-based gravy, spiced perfectly with turmeric, red chili pepper, garam masala, and garnished with dried fenugreek leaves.

Chana Saag is a vegetarian chickpea curry cooked with greens in a tangy onion-tomato-based sauce that is perfectly spiced with turmeric, cumin seeds, and garam masala.

Chickpea Biryani is a wholesome vegetarian Biryani with plump chickpeas cooked in caramelized onions and spices over fragrant basmati rice. Paired with cooling cucumber raita and a squeeze of fresh lime, this biryani makes a hearty meal.

Herbaceous dill and rich, creamy moong daal meld together in this hearty Garlic Dill Lentils dish. Cooking the dill with lentils mellows the distinctive grassy flavor of the herb. This is a common dish in India after pregnancy, but baby or no baby, this recipe is delicious served with warm paratha or steamed rice.

Green Bean Curry potatoes is a delicious Indian curry cooked with creamy potatoes and just a few earthy spices. Best served with hot rotis or for a gluten-free meal pair it with steamed rice, either way, you have a healthy and hearty curry ready in less than 30 minutes.

In contrast to the much-loved fiery and heavily spiced curries, there are lovely subtle and mild versions that also deserve a turn in the spotlight. Creamy, mildly spiced, with a touch of sweetness, Mushroom Matar Malai is one of my family’s favorite comfort food curries. My homemade version cooks up super quick in the Instant Pot and gets lightened up for a healthy weeknight staple.

Mixed Lentils & Vegetables Khichdi is a vegetarian one-pot gluten-free dish. Cooked with lentils, rice, vegetables that are spiced with turmeric and red chili powder and topped with ghee it makes for an amazingly flavorful comfort meal.

A favorite Indian lentil dish, this spinach dal is made with an easy dump-and-done Instant Pot recipe. This recipe also shows you how to make the rice at the same time using the pot in pot technique so you have a full meal to enjoy.

Rajma Masala is what I call my “rainy day curry” because I always have the ingredients in my pantry and don’t need a plan to pull together a super healthy and tasty meal. This vegetarian comfort food turns a few simple ingredients into a richly spiced bean curry with delicious tomato gravy that just begs to be sopped up with rice and parathas. 

Spicy and flavor-packed, Masale Bhath is a traditional rice dish from western India. This gluten-free vegetarian dish makes a great one-pot meal and is made with a variety of vegetables and a warm spice blend known as “Goda Masala”.

Palak Khichdi is a wholesome vegetarian dish made with lentils, rice, and spinach. This gluten-free dish cooked in ghee, earthy cumin, and warming garam masala makes an amazingly flavorful and satisfying meal.

North Indian comfort food, Dal Makhani is a lightly spiced creamy lentils dish that is cooked to perfection with just a few warm spices such as garam masala and turmeric. Traditionally slow-cooked for hours, this quick & easy Instant Pot recipe with pot in pot brown rice options delivers finger-licking good authentic flavors in no time.

I call this Palak Paneer Mommy’s Helper because it is a surefire way to get nutrient-rich spinach into kids without a complaint. The flash-cooking method helps preserve the vitamins, flavor, and rich color of the spinach. Cumin seeds add a subtle earthiness, and the creamy texture of cashews is the perfect replacement for traditional heavy cream, as it seamlessly balances the pureed sauce.

Curd or yogurt rice is a popular South Indian comfort meal made with soft cooked rice, mixed yogurt, and tempered with spices. This recipe needs only a few ingredients and it’s ok if you do not have some ingredients, like hing or curry leaves. The final dish will still be equally delicious.

Vegetable Kurma is a South Indian style curry of mixed vegetables cooked in a creamy coconut cashew-based sauce, lightly spiced with cinnamon and cloves, and fennel.

Aloo Gobhi is our go-to weeknight cauliflower curry with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and some of our favorite spices. Usually paired with spinach daal and rice or simply served with warm homemade parathas, it makes a nourishing weeknight meal.

A mixed vegetable casserole, Undhiyu is a delicious vegan and gluten-free Gujarati dish. It is a flavor-packed combination of baby eggplants, beans, and root vegetables cooked with warming spices, peanuts, coconut. The best part of the casserole is the addition of veggie dumplings called “Muthia”. In this easy recipe using Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, I am sharing all of my tips and shortcuts to make authentic tasting Undhiyu in no time!

Ven Pongal is a satisfying tiffin dish that is eaten for breakfast in South India. The rice and lentils are generously seasoned with curry leaves, cumin seeds, and black pepper. My family loves this hearty, gluten-free, vegetarian meal for lunch and dinner.

Here is my simple recipe to make delicious curried stuffed eggplant also known as “Baingan Masala”. In this quick and easy dish, small Indian baby eggplants are stuffed with onion, ginger, garlic, and a few earthy spices. The eggplants are cooked in the Instant Pot for an authentic-tasting Indian curry that is ready in just minutes.

Batata Bhaji is a traditional Western Indian dish with creamy potatoes sauteed with onions and spiced with ginger, green chili, and turmeric. This Instant Pot recipe uses a modern approach to effortlessly cook this dish in under 20 minutes and with the same authentic flavors.

Bisi Bele Bhath is a spicy and flavor-packed rice dish cooked with lentils, rice, vegetables, and aromatic spices! I love South Indian food and the flavors of the fresh spices and ground lentils used in various dishes are simply divine. Bisi Bele Bhath to me is the ultimate comfort food when it comes to simple home-cooked South Indian food.

A classic north Indian dish, Malai Kofta is made with deep-fried vegetable dumplings {koftas} that are added to a creamy tomato-based sauce. My version of the Malai Kofta uses store-bought vegetarian meatballs to get the same authentic flavors in a fraction of time. I have included both Instant Pot and Stove Top Recipes here.

Tangy, sweet, and spicy! This mouth-watering green tomato chutney is made with summer’s best raw-tart tomatoes, spicy jalapeños, and a hint of sweetness. With so many ways to enjoy this piquant chutney go ahead and make a double batch with this easy 20-minute Instant Pot recipe.