Instant Pot Navratan Korma (Vegetable Korma)

This Restaurant Style Navratan Korma (Vegetable korma) recipe is a mildly spiced, slightly sweet, creamy-based delicious Indian Mughlai curry and gets its name Navratan (meaning nine gems) from the nine different veggies, fruit, and nuts used in it. This easy Instant Pot Navratan Korma recipe can be made in under 30 minutes for busy weeknights.

Check out my other favorite healthy vegetable korma recipes like Beetroot Kurma recipe and South Indian Style Vegetable Korma which are also made in Instant Pot.

What is Navratan Korma?

Navrathan literally means 9 gems. Korma, alternatively known as “kurma”, “khorma”, or “qorma”, is a dish originating from Central Asian culinary traditions.

You might see few variations in the 9 items used by restaurants or other recipes for navratan korma curry on the internet, but I usually stick to Carrots, Potatoes, Beans, Green Peas, Cauliflower, Pineapple, Raisins, Cashews, and Paneer.

Today I am sharing both the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker & Stovetop Pot Method of making this vegetable korma.

What other vegetables can I add in Navratan Korma?

You can use any veggies available in your house, some more veggies that you can mix and match to make this dish.

• broccoli
• zucchini
• baby corn
• sweet corn
• bell peppers
• tofu

How to Make the Navratan Korma in Instant Pot

Firstly, to a blender add all ingredients mentioned in the “FOR ONION CASHEW PASTE” section. Blend to a smooth paste without adding any water. Set aside.

Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it’s hot add cashews, raisins, and pineapple chunks. Saute for 2 minutes, Once the cashews are golden brown, take the cashews, raisins, and pineapple out and set them aside.

Adding pineapple is optional, so if you don't like the sweetness in the dish skip it.

Then, add the bay leaf, cumin seeds and let the cumin crackle.

Next, add the onion cashew paste and saute for 3-4 minutes or until the onion mixture turns light brown in color.

Then add the mixed vegetables.

Add the red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, water and combine well.

Furthermore, close the lid on the pot, set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure), and the timer to 2 minutes

Once the pot beeps, Do a QUICK RELEASE (QR)

Add the fried cashews, raisins, pineapple, cream, kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves), garam masala and stir well.

Lastly, adjust consistency at this stage, if curry is thick add some more water or milk, or cream.

Instant Pot Navratan Korma or Vegetable Korma is ready, serve with hot with pooris, chapatis, roti & parathas.

Stovetop Pot Method

Also for those of you who do not have an Instant Pot, you can still make the Stove Top Pot method. Instructions are below.

• Follow the same instructions till step 7 as for the instant pot recipe in a stovetop pot/Kadai and cook covered on medium high flame for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir 2-3 times in between to avoid burning.
• Note: When you are sauting onion-cashew paste, cook until the raw smell disappears and oil oozes out.
• Finally add the fried cashews, raisins, pineapple, cream, Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves), garam masala, and stir well.
• Authentic Navratan Korma is ready, serve hot with pooris, chapatis, roti & parathas.

Tips & Variations for Best Korma

• You can also add 1 large tomato while grinding onion cashew paste.
• Increase spices according to your preference. To keep white color gravy, you can add green chilies while grinding or add ground white pepper for making it spicy.
• You can also add nuts like pumpkin seed, almonds along with cashews and raisins for the korma.
• Pineapple is added for sweetness to the gravy, you can totally skip it. I have used canned pineapple chunks in this recipe.
• If your gravy has a thin consistency, don't worry just add 1 tablespoon of almond meal/flour or cornflour slurry to make it thick. Or just boil for some more time till you get desired consistency.

Recipe FAQs

More Instant Pot Curry Recipes

• Lauki Ki Subji
• Black Eye Pea Curry(Lobia curry)
• Chickpea Coconut Curry
• Mushroom Masala
• Potato Peas Curry

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for healthy & tasty video recipes. Looking for Instant Pot recipes, then check out my Instant Pot Recipes board on Pinterest.