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Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala (Dairy-free)

This healthy Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is dairy-free and comes together quickly in your Instant Pot. I've added cauliflower and carrots for extra nutrition, and you can conveniently cook a bowl of rice in the pressure cooker to save time.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Additional Time
10 mins
Total Time
33 mins
Servings: 6
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon Coriander
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless & skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt fine
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (like jasmine or basmati)
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1/2 head cauliflower chopped (about 1 pound)
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots peeled & chopped (about 3 carrots)
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk full-fat, canned

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine the onion, tomatoes with their juices, garam masala, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and maple syrup in the Instant Pot and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. (Alternatively, place the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, then pour the sauce into the pot.) Place the chicken on top of the sauce and season it with the salt.
  2. Arrange a 2.5-inch trivet (like this one) over the chicken and place a 7-inch oven-safe bowl on top. Add the rice and water to the bowl. Secure the lid and move the steam release valve to Sealing. Select Manual/Pressure Cook to cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
  3. When the cooking cycle is complete, immediately move the steam release valve to Venting to quickly release the steam pressure. When the floating valve drops, remove the lid. Use oven mitts to lift the trivet and the bowl of cooked rice out of the pot.
  4. Fluff the rice with a fork. Use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board. Add the cauliflower and carrots to the sauce. Secure the lid and move the steam release valve to Sealing. Select Manual/Pressure Cook to cook on high pressure for 1 minute. When the cooking cycle is complete, immediately move the steam release valve to Venting to quickly release the steam pressure. When the floating valve drops, remove the lid.
  5. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and stir them into the sauce. Stir in the coconut milk, then taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve warm over the rice. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 or 4 days.

Notes

  • There's a tested vegan option for every recipe that calls for meat in this book, so no one will have to miss out on these delicious recipes. Check out the vegan option below if you want to give it a shot! Even if you do eat meat, trying some vegetarian options every now and then adds variety to your diet and can help lower your weekly grocery bills at the same time.
  • Make it Vegan: Omit the chicken and instead add 3 cups cooked chickpeas or two 15-ounce cans rinsed and drained chickpeas. Decrease the salt to 1 teaspoon and cook on high pressure for only 4 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes to finish cooking the rice, then add the cauliflower and carrots as instructed.