EASY recipe with an authentic taste, this Thai Massaman Curry has tender cooked chicken and potatoes in a creamy coconut sauce. The best part is that you can also cook rice at the same time using the Pot-in-Pot technique and the whole meal is ready in under 30 minutes.
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The recipe was originally posted in May 2018 and has been updated with new photos, a video, and more details on the ingredients.
For many years I have been making Thai masaman curry on a stovetop using my friend Punitha's recipe. The best homemade curry with a perfect combination of spices, chunks of creamy potatoes, and tender, fall-apart chicken. The addition of whole cashews adds a luxurious nutty taste resulting in a better-than-restaurant curry.
I am excited to share this easier take on the original recipe using Instant Pot that delivers the same authentic flavors with half the effort. This recipe not only makes the most tender chicken curry but it's also pretty hands-off. The best part is that you can cook Jasmine rice along with the curry, using the pot-in-pot method for a quick and easy meal.
Jump to:
A fusion of Thai and Indian Curries, Massaman curry uses Indian spices such as cumin, coriander, and cardamom incorporated in a spice paste with the addition of lemon grass and galangal also known as Thai ginger or Siamese ginger which adds sharp citrusy flavors. Peanuts or cashews are often added to the curry to add nutty, luxurious flavors. Massaman Curry can be prepared with chicken, beef, lamb, or even a vegetarian version.
Maesri Curry Paste
So, what makes this Thai Massaman curry recipe so simple, delicious, and a repeat in my kitchen? A good quality curry paste. For me, it is the Maesri Massaman curry paste as it adds authentic Asian Curry flavors to this dish. It has all my favorite Indian spices such as coriander, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom as well as lemongrass and galangal for an authentic Thai taste.
Ingredients
- Chicken - boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 2-inch cubes
- Curry Paste -I highly recommend using vegan Maesri brand Massaman curry paste for an authentic-tasting curry. Here in the US, it is sold in Whole Foods, H-mart, and Amazon. It comes in a 4-ounce can which is perfect for this recipe. Any leftover curry paste can also be frozen.
- Coconut Milk - A must in Thai curries, I like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods brand unsweetened canned coconut milk. In this recipe, I like to cook the chicken in the watery portion of the coconut milk and then add the cream after the chicken has been cooked. The best way to separate cream from water is to refrigerate the can for a couple of hours or freeze the can while you prep the other ingredients. Once the coconut milk is cold, the cream rises up and making it easy to separate from the coconut water.
- Potato - Russet potato adds body and creamy texture to the curry. Peel the potato and cut into 1-inch cubes. As the curry cools down, the starch from the potato makes the curry thicker. You can also use red potato, sweet potato, or carrots if you like.
- Onion - Yellow onions add a bit of sweet flavor to the curry while holding up well to pressure cooking. You can also use other types of onions if you like.
- Cashews - raw, unsalted cashews add nutty flavors and richness to the curry. You can also add other nuts like peanuts to the curry if you like or skip the nuts in case of allergies.
- Fish Sauce - A completely optional ingredient, you may add fish sauce if you like the salty, briny flavor. You can also add lime juice as a substitute.
How To Make Massaman Curry
Serving
Serve hot massaman curry with steamed jasmine rice.
Storing
The flavors of this curry also develop over time, so go ahead and make a double batch so you have lots of leftovers to enjoy. Curry can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days. To reheat simply microwave or reheat on the stovetop.
Variations
- Looking for a vegetarian option? Here is my Vegetarian Massaman Curry Recipe
- Want to make more rice? Here is How to Cook Jasmine Rice in the Instant Pot.
- Thai food is often served with Jasmine rice. But you can also serve it with other white rice, basmati rice, brown rice, or low-carb cauliflower rice.
More Thai Curry Recipes
Enjoy Thai food? Here are more recipes that are easy and make for an easy meal:
Here are some more of my favorite Chicken Curry Recipes using Instant Pot:
★ Tried this recipe? I'd love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment and let me know, or snap a quick pic and upload it-I love seeing your creations. If you're on Instagram, tag @ministry_of_curry so I can check it out. Your feedback means so much to me and makes all the time I spend perfecting each recipe totally worth it. Thank you!
Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Massaman Curry
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs chicken breasts cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 4 ounce can massaman curry paste (maesri brand)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 can regular unsweetened coconut milk seperate cream and water - see note1
- 1 large russet potato peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced
- 20 whole raw cashews
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Pot in Pot Rice
- 1 cup Jasmine Rice rinsed and drained
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Add Jasmine rice, water, and salt to the stainless steel pot and keep aside.Separate the coconut cream and watery portion of the coconut milk and keep aside.
- Turn the Instant Pot to Saute mode and heat oil. Add the massaman curry paste and saute for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Add chicken and mix well with the curry paste. Add potatoes, onions, cashews, fish sauce, brown sugar and salt. Add ½ cup of the separated water from the coconut milk and stir everything well.
- Carefully place the tall trivet inside the Instant Pot. Place the prepared rice bowl on the trivet.
- Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure value to sealing. Pressure Cook(Hi) for 5 minutes followed by 10 minute natural pressure release.
- Open the Instant Pot. Using heat resistant mitts, take out the rice bowl and trivet.
- Stir in the reserved coconut cream. Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode and bring the curry to a gentle boil.
- Enjoy hot over steamed jasmine rice.
Notes
- Keep the coconut milk can refrigerated for a couple of hours which helps separate the cream from the watery portion. You can also freeze the can while you prep the remaining ingredients. Once the coconut milk is cold, the cream rises up and making it easy to separate from the coconut water.
Nutrition
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Alex Bratianu says
Thanks for this wonderful journey into Indian/Thai cuisine! This is the best gateway and introduction to Indian and asian cuisine and I am so happy I discovered your site. I just bought all the spices from your list and plan to make my own curry powder, curry paste and garam masala using only raw ingredients. Being totally new to pressure cooking, could you please advice between slow cookers and pressure cookers? Are your recipes suitable for slow cookers or only for pressure cookers like Instant Pot? This last one is hard to find in the country where I live.
Archana says
Hi Alex, I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes I share. My recipes will work best in a pressure cooker or also stovetop. I currently only have 1 recipe tested with the slow cooker - https://ministryofcurry.com/slow-cooker-chicken-tikka-masala/
Ann Whiting says
Can this recipe be doubled?
Archana says
Yes you can double it
Aaron says
I'm wanting to try this recipe, but the only trivet I have is the 1/2-inch one, not the tall trivet. Will setting that on top of the chicken, etc. (and putting the rice pot on top of that) interfere with the cooking process? Thank you!
Archana says
The short trivet wont interfere the cooking process but will just get messy with the chicken that is being cooked underneath.
Tammy says
This recipe was so easy and tasty! I love it! I’m so glad I found your site. Will try your other recipes and can’t wait - thank you!! Delicious! The flavor was tasty, on the sweet side, and not hot (I have a very sensitive tongue to hot food.) MMMMM!
Archana Mundhe says
Hi Tammy, welcome to ministryofcurry. I am so glad you tried this recipe. I can't wait to see which recipe you try next!
Peter says
I just made this Massaman dish. Very very legit and good. and my first time using an instapot ... wow. does that make it easy.
Archana Mundhe says
Thank you Peter! I agree, Instant pot does make it so quick and easy.