Introducing an easy Potato Curry recipe. Potatoes are cooked in a spicy onion and tomato sauce, balanced well with Indian spices. It is naturally vegan and made in the Instant Pot, making it worth trying for busy weeknight dinners.

It's mid-February, and the snow is still piled up outside. That’s why I turn to my cozy and comforting potato curry.
I’ve often made this curry in the Instant Pot, and tonight is no different. The only thing to remember is not to burn, while sautéing. Other than that, it’s quick, easy, and perfect for a hearty meal(like this Instant Pot chicken curry and mung bean curry).
The ingredients for this Indian-style potato curry are commonly available in any of the leading grocery stores in the States. Do you miss some of the ingredients? That's no problem; we will discuss all the substitutions and tips.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️It is a delicious authentic Indian curry recipe.
⭐️You can make this curry effortlessly with minimal ingredients.
⭐️It's a time-saving dinner recipe, thanks to the Instant Pot!
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil: You can substitute with ghee(clarified butter) or neutral-flavored cooking oil.
- Cumin Seeds add a hint of flavor to the dish. You can find them in the international aisle of grocery stores.
- Onion: Use any type of onion, red, yellow, or white onion.
- Ginger and Garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic are a must in this recipe. Smash them gently in a pestle and mortar, or mince them.
- Serrano peppers: For the heat and flavors. You can substitute with Thai green chilies, too, if available;
- Tomato: Use fresh tomato or canned crushed tomatoes.
- Red chili powder: This is Indian red chili powder; you can substitute it with cayenne pepper or paprika, depending on your heat preference.
- Ground turmeric: I highly advise using this ingredient without skipping it. It has a rich golden color and mild tropical flavors.
- Potato: Golden Yukon potatoes are the best. However, any variety of potatoes will work fine.
- Cilantro: Optional; For garnishing
How To Make Potato Curry
- Set Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode, add vegetable oil and cumin seeds, and let them splutter. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
- Then, add ginger, garlic, serrano peppers, and sauté for 30 seconds. Add chopped tomato and sauté until soft.
- Next, add red chili and ground turmeric, potato wedges, and salt.
- Add water and close the lid. Set the Instant Pot manually for 7 minutes. Once cooked, wait 10 minutes for natural pressure release. Open the lid and gently mash 25% of the potatoes to thicken the curry. Garnish with cilantro, and serve hot.
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
This potato curry tastes moderately hot.
The serrano pepper and the red chili powder contribute heat to this recipe. You can adjust these ingredients according to your heat tolerance.
The Leftovers
- You can transform the leftover Instant Pot potato curry into a sandwich or wrap it with roti or a whole wheat tortilla.
- Transfer leftover potato curry to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for three days or in the freezer for up to two months.
- Thaw the frozen curry in the refrigerator overnight or gently defrost it using the microwave.
- Reheat it to the microwave or stovetop, and add a splash of water to retain its texture.
Best To Serve With
- Rice: Long rice, soft and fluffy, would be perfect.
- Indian Bread: Soft naan, roti, or paratha(like this onion kulcha) are the best options.
- Salad: Pair with an Indian spicy salad(like this Indian Carrot Salad, mango cucumber salad, or this Indian tomato salad).
- Snacks: If you're planning a party, serve with samosas.
FAQ
Yes, absolutely! Feel free to add diced carrots, green beans, and cauliflower.
This dish is best made and served immediately, so I would advise prepping all the ingredients and storing them in the refrigerator a day before. Toss them into the Instant Pot just before serving.
You can convert this Instant Pot potato curry recipe into a stovetop version. Follow this recipe's steps, but instead of the Instant Pot, use a pan and add half a cup more water to allow the potatoes to cook to perfection.
More Curry Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Potato Curry Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil /ghee
- ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ cup onion
- ½ inch ginger smashed
- 1 pod garlic smashed
- 2 serrano peppers stilted/thai green chili peppers
- ½ cup tomato roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cup potato peeled
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped for garnishing
Instructions
- Cut potato into wedge shape. Crush ginger and garlic gently with back of ladle. Set aside.
- Set Instant pot to ‘Sauté’ mode.
- Add vegetable oil and cumin seeds. Allow it to splutter.
- Add chopped onion, and sauté until it becomes translucent.
- Then add ginger, garlic, serrano peppers, and tomatoes. And sauté until it becomes soft.
- Add red chili powder and ground turmeric. Sauté for 20 seconds.
- Add potato wedges, salt and water. Close the lid.
- Set the Instant pot manually for 7 minutes.
- Once cooked, wait for 10 minutes to release the pressure.
- Open the lid, gently mash 25% of the potato make the curry thicker.
- Transfer to serving bowl, and garnish with cilantro.
- Serve hot as a side dish.
Notes
- Adjust the spice level by increasing or reducing serrano peppers and red chili powder based on your heat tolerance.
- You can substitute fresh tomatoes with canned crushed tomatoes and swap serrano peppers with Thai green chilies.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and reheat with a splash of water.
Hal says
This is a very common dish among the people of sub-continent! They eat it on a daily basis!
Sujatha Muralidhar says
Thank you Hal, for endorsing this authentic Indian recipe!