This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Instant Pot Vegan Korma Recipe with White Korma Sauce. Saucepan option. This Creamy Veggie and Tofu Korma is made in Instant Pot Pressure cooker. Indian Vegan Glutenfree Coconutfree Recipe. Soyfree, Nutfree option Jump to Recipe
There are Indian kormas and there are kormas. Some have tomato and some dont. The spices and flavors vary depending on the region, family recipe, restaurant recipe and so on. Most have no coconut, some have coconut. I have a couple of recipes on the blog and my Indian Kitchen book. Restaurant style Navratan Korma and white sauce navratan Korma in my book. A Veggie Korma without onion here, and a Coconut korma with a creamy sauce here. Lots of Korma Options!
This Korma sauce is an Instant Pot version. This White Korma sauce uses a base of onion, spices, nuts and poppy seeds. You can use pumpkin seeds instead of cashews for a nutfree version. The Sauce gets pressure cooked to get the deep roasted flavor, then roasted or chopped veggies are added and simmered for a few minutes before serving. Serve this delicious bowl with some toasted nuts or seeds and dried fruit garnish. As with all recipes, allergy friendly options and saucepan option are mentioned. Lets make more Korma!
More Instant Pot Recipes – all have saucepan options
- IP Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce GF
- Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chickin(soycurls). GF – Creamy, Delicious
- Japanese Veggie Curry. GF
- IP Lentil Chili. GF
- IP Mushroom Wild Rice Soup. GF
- Instant Pot Lasagna Soup with Red lentils. – So Easy
- IP Potato Chickpea Soup. GF
Tips to Cooking Creamy Indian Sauces in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
- Northern Indian or restaurant dishes with thick or rich or tomatoey Indian Sauces can have a tendency to stick to the pot under pressure and cause burn errors. You might have to tinker around with the liquid needed by your pot to avoid the burn errors. Watch for the general thickness of the sauce before closing the lid. Add a bit more water to cool down to the pot before closing. Mix really well, before closing the lid.
- If your IP is generally problematic with thick sauces,You can also omit the cashews from the sauce, blend it with 1/2 cup water to make cream and add later with the veggies while simmering.
- Since there are no long cooking ingredients such as meats in vegan meals, you want to make the sauce by itself. The longer cooking time helps the sauce roast well which is the key to getting that amazing flavor profile. Veggies overcook in that much time and also add more moisture which doesnt allow the sauce to roast and caramelize.
- Spices: Old spices can lose a lot of flavor. If the sauce isn’t as flavorful as you like, there may be less pay off from the spices or your personal preference maybe be for more. Just double them up. Also adjust salt to taste. The right amount often helps the flavor bloom.
Instant Pot Vegan Korma Recipe
Ingredients
Tofu + Veggies:
- 7 oz tofu, cubed, , or use other veggies such as cauliflower (1.5 to 2 cups)
- 8 oz Sweet potatoes, cubed
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp oil, , divided
Korma Sauce:
- 3 green Cardamom Pods
- 4-5 cloves
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 to 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 tsp cayenne
- 1 medium or small onion
- 1 inch ginger
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 1/4 cup cashews, ,use pumpkin seeds for nut-free, other nuts for cashew-free
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup non dairy yogurt
- 1/2 cup water, + 1/2 cup water for rinsing
To add later:
- 1 cup other veggies, chopped small, , I use quick cooking veggies as broccoli, peppers, zucchini, peas
- 2 tbsp roasted cashew, (optional)
- 1 tbsp raisins or dates
Instructions
- Toss tofu, sweet potatoes in 1 tsp oil. Sprinkle in the spices and mix. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 C) for 20 to 25 mins.
- Blend the korma sauce ingredients with 1/2 cup water until coarsely blended.
- Add oil to the Instant Pot on saute. When hot, add the korma sauce. Cook for 2 minutes, to bring to a boil and simmer for another few seconds. This allows the pungency of the onion to cook out. Use 1/2 cup water to rinse out the blender and add to the pot. Mix well so there isn't anything stuck to the bottom. Close the lid
- Pressure cook at high pressure for 11 mins. Let the pressure release naturally.
- Open the lid and mix. At this point you can store this sauce. (Simmer with tempeh, seitan, vegan meat/chickin subs, some non dairy milk and salt depending on the addition used.)
- Add the baked tofu and sweet potato. Add the other quick cooking veggies (or a cup of cooked chickpeas), 1/4 cup or more non dairy milk(for saucier) and 1/4 tsp salt. Mix and cook on saute for 2-3 minutes to bring to a good boil and cook for another minute. Mix frequently to avoid sticking. Taste and adjust salt. Add a 1/4 tsp or more sugar/ sweetener if needed.
- Cancel and let the mixture sit in the pot for 5 mins so the veggies cook through and the flavors develop. Add 1-2 tbsp roasted cashews or other nuts/seeds and 1-2 tbsp of dried fruit such as raisins or finely chopped dates and mix in (optional).
- Garnish with cilantro and pepper flakes and serve over rice or Naan.Refrigerate(just the sauce or veggie korma) for upto 4 days. Freeze for upto a month.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious. To make the recipe easier & quicker I just blended the sauce ingredients & cooked the veg & tofu in it. Great recipe with a lovely delicate flavour. Thanks!
awesome!
Korma sauce is actually one of my favorites, even though I don’t consume it often! This dish looks absolutely marvelous. I would love to try this recipe out–I bet I’ll love it!
Loved this sauce and very easy to make. I used frozen broccoli, peas and roasted sweet potato and Califia farms unsweetened yogurt.
awesome!
This recipe looks great! This is probably a dumb question, but is it really ok to blend the bay leaf and cardamom pods and then eat them? 🙂
not a dumb question. its totally fine to eat them. you are probably already eating them if you are using authentic indian garam masala. its a powdered blend of these. If you see my linked recipe, i use whole spices and grind them. so theres powdered bay leaf etc in the blend.
Oh my goodness!!!! I made this tonight and life will never be the same!!! I had to put it away, I was making myself too full! I would eat this every day for the rest of my life! Bravo!
yay!!
Omg! Sooooo different from a lot of other dishes. I added red potatoes just cause we had sweet potatoes recently. I baked them with the tofu in the oven while steaming cauliflower, broccoli and green beans. Left out the clove and cinnamon yet hubby cut some fresh limes to squirt on top! So delicious, satiating, satisfying, sexy and yummy!
Our son comes over, eats meals from the vegan Richa website and then posts to his fitness website!
awesome!!
Hmm, interesting ☺ it’s kind of strange, that I’ve got an instant pot in my house, but I cook in it only hot, creamy soups and nothing other. I definitely must learn to use it better, because I started to write my blog only with creams and using an instant pot may help me to save a lot of time, when I’ll be cooking something!
I love the korma recipes in your first book, so I knew I would love this. It’s delicious! I did cauliflower instead of tofu, added red pepper in the last step, topped it off with some golden raisins and served it over basmati rice. The sauce has so much flavor! Thanks for another great entree 🙂
awesome!!
Hi Richa!
Do you think sunflower seeds would work as a substitute for the cashews/pumpkin seeds?
yes they will work. you might want to use lightly roasted sunflower seeds as thats a more pleasing flavor
Hi Richa,
Is there a replacement for poppy seeds in this recipe?
just omit them. there is enough flavor overall
Hooray! Finally a vegan korma recipe which isn’t just coconut! I’m allergic and too many vegan recipes for curries across the world use it as a base ingredient as soon as creaminess is required!
🙂 Many traditional kormas are actually coconut free. Kurma usually use coconut. look for traditional korma recipes and mostly they will be coconut free