Name: Instant Pot Navratan Korma
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 100 grams Green beans ((1 cup, chopped)); 100 grams Cauliflower ((florets)); 1/2 cup Peas; 125 grams Potato ((3/4 cup, small cubes)); 100 grams Carrot ((3/4 cup, diced)); 10-12 Cashews ((raw, unsalted)); 2 tbsp Raisins; 1/4 cup Pineapple ((cubed)); 2 tbsp Pomegranate seeds; 300 grams Onion ((3/4 large yellow onion)); 15 count Cashews ((raw, unsalted)); 2 cup Water; 1/4 cup Heavy cream ((or coconut milk for vegan)); 1 tsp Ginger paste; 1 tsp Garlic paste; 1 tsp Serrano pepper ((or green chili as per taste)); 1 tbsp Oil; 1 Bay leaf; 2-3 Cloves; 1 tsp Coriander powder; 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder; 1 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder; 1/2 tbsp Organic cane sugar

5 from 4 votes

Jump to Recipe

Navratan korma is an Indian mixed vegetable curry made in a creamy white sauce that is sweet and mildly spicy in taste. It is gluten-free and vegetarian but can be easily made vegan. Check out how to make navratan korma in the instant pot with zero-minute pressure cooking.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Navratan korma is a very popular Indian vegetable curry and is commonly served in restaurants with Indian bread like naan. It can be served for lunch, dinner, parties, and potlucks. As it is mild in spiciness and has a bit of sweetness, it is enjoyed by kids too!

Although it may look very complicated to make at home, it is very easy to make navaratan korma in the instant pot. Once all the vegetables are chopped, it can be cooked in less than 30 minutes. This instant pot navratan korma is gluten-free and can be easily made vegan.

If you are looking for a mixed vegetable curry then this navratan korma recipe in white gravy is a must-try. It is made on festive or special occasions. You may also like mixed vegetable casserole and grilled veggie wraps.

What does navratan mean?

Navratan is a Hindi word and is made of two words, "nav" meaning nine, and "ratan" which means gems. Navratan means nine gems.

Ingredients

Navratan korma is an Indian vegetable curry made with nine gems or ingredients like vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Navratan korma is a mixed vegetable curry made in a creamy white gravy. Some heavy cream or coconut milk is added for additional creaminess.

The white gravy is made from cashews and onions. A few basic spices like coriander powder, cumin powder, and some basic whole spices. Adding a little bit of sugar gives a perfect sweet taste to the curry. Some serrano pepper or green chilies are added as per taste.

The nine gems or ingredients can be easily adapted based on what you have at hand. I like to use cauliflower, potatoes, peas, carrots, green beans, cashews, raisins, pineapples and pomegranate seeds.

You can always add more or less vegetables than just nine. Sometimes, I add paneer and bell pepper too, and skip the pineapple if I don't have it. Overall navaratan korma is a versatile Indian curry and any combination of veggies, fruits, and nuts tastes amazing!

Can I use frozen vegetables for navratan korma?

While fresh vegetables are always preferred, navratan korma curry can be made with frozen vegetables easily. Many times I use store-bought ones, however, I also like to chop my fresh veggies and store them in the freezer for later use. I use them to make this delicious vegetable curry and other dishes.

Is navratan korma vegan?

Navratan korma is made in a cashew onion curry with some spices and vegetables. Some heavy cream is added for a creamy taste, however, it can easily be substituted by coconut milk. So it is very easy to make navratan korma vegan.

Instructions

To make sure the vegetables cook perfectly, chop them about bite-sized. Potatoes must be cubed to about a centimeter in size so that it cooks evenly in the instant pot. Once all the vegetables are chopped, navratan korma can be made in the instant pot in about 30 minutes

The pot-in-pot method works great to speed up the process of making navratan korma in the instant pot! In the liner, pour two cups of water, chopped onions, and cashews. Place a trivet in the liner.

Steam-cook vegetables in the instant pot

Place all the vegetables (no nuts or fruits) in a steamer basket and place it on the trivet. Lock the lid of the instant pot with the pressure valve in the sealing position. Select high-pressure mode for zero minutes.

For zero-minute pressure cooking, once the instant pot comes to pressure the silver pin will rise up and then the instant pot will turn off. Perform a quick release by turning the pressure release knob to the venting position and allowing the pressure to release until the silver pin drops.

Open the lid and remove the steamer basket. All the veggies will be well cooked, if the potatoes or any vegetable is a little hard, it will be fine once it is simmered in the gravy.

step by step navratan korma in instant pot.

Making white curry paste

Transfer the onions, water, and cashews from the instant pot liner into a blender like Vitamix along with some serrano pepper or green chilies. Blend everything into a smooth paste.

As the paste is ready and the veggies are cooked, it is relatively easy to make the white gravy for navratan korma. At this point, the gravy can be made in the instant pot or on the cooktop in a saucepan.

Cooking navratan korma

Turn the instant pot on saute mode on normal setting and once it is hot, add some oil. Add some cashews and raisins and saute them for a few seconds and then add a bay leaf and a few cloves.

Pour the blended cashew onion paste along with some ginger garlic paste and saute it for a few minutes. Mix in the spices and stir it with a spatula. Allow the gravy to come to a boil. Now add all the vegetables except pomegranate seeds and continue to cook for about five minutes.

Ensure that all the veggies are cooked well, mix in some heavy cream or coconut milk, and then press cancel to come out of saute mode. Navratan korma in creamy white gravy is now ready. Garnish it with some cilantro leaves and pomegranate seeds.

Serving suggestions

Navratan korma is best when served hot with naan. It can be served with a variety of other Indian bread like roti, poori, or paratha as well. Mixed vegetable korma can also be served with plain basmati rice or rice dishes like cumin rice and pulao.

If you like navratan korma, you can check out these Instant Pot vegetarian Indian recipes.

Storage

Navratan korma can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It is a nutritious curry with a lot of vegetables and can be made ahead of time for meal planning. Just reheat the curry before serving.

Navratan korma can also be stored in the freezer for a month. When you are ready to eat, simply thaw it in the microwave and then reheat it either in the microwave or on the cooktop. If it ends up less liquid, you can add some water and cream to get the desired consistency.