The Best Aloo Gobi Instant Pot Stovetop

What is Aloo Gobi?

Indian Spiced Cauliflower and potato Curry (Aloo Gobi) is a popular Indian vegetarian side dish originating from the North Indian Punjab region cooked with onions, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. This is a staple dish made in most Indian homes, and you will find it on every restaurant menu. It is easy to make on the stovetop or in the pressure cooker. It takes only a few minutes to cook and can be enjoyed with naan or paratha. This recipe can be made in different ways, like dry, semi-dry, or gravy versions. Today, I have shown the dry version in this blog post. Another important thing to note is that the cooking times for potatoes and cauliflower are different. So follow the instructions to get a make perfect aloo gobi. Today, I am sharing how to make homemade aloo gobi with soft-cooked aloo (potatoes) and slightly crunchy gobi (cauliflower) in both Instant Pot and Stovetop Pan versions. Also, check my Air Fryer Aloo Gobi recipe.

Ingredients

Potato (Aloo): I have used 2 small potatoes cut into ½-inch pieces (about 1 cup). Cauliflower (Gobi): I have used 1 medium cauliflower head (about 1.2 pounds) cut into medium-sized florets (about 3 cups). Onion: I have used 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced (about ¾-1 cup). Tomatoes: I have used 2 small Roma tomatoes, diced (about 1 cup). Ginger-Garlic: Use freshly minced ginger and garlic for the best flavor. Green Chili: I have used 1 Thai chili, you can increase or decrease it according to your preference. Oil: I have used olive oil in this recipe, you can use any vegetable oil. Spices: I have used cumin seeds, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and garam masala. You can increase or decrease the spices according to your choice. Lime Juice: Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor. Coriander leaves (cilantro): for garnishing.

How to Make Aloo Gobi

Stovetop Pot Method

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Next, add green chili and minced ginger garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Next, add onions and saute until onions turn light brown. Takes about 3-5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes, and cook till the tomatoes are soft and mushy. Then add in all the dry spices – coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt. Cook for 2 minutes till the masala is cooked well. Then add potato cubes, and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water, and mix well. Cover and cook the potatoes for 3-4 minutes until they are half done. You may stir occasionally. Once the potatoes are half cooked, add the cauliflower florets and stir to coat the vegetables with the masala. Again, cook covered on medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes, until both potatoes and cauliflower are almost tender. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water if the pot becomes dry. Cauliflower should be slightly crunchy. Squeeze some lime juice and garnish with coriander leaves. Mix well. Aloo Gobi is ready, serve hot with chapatis, roti, parathas, or naan.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method

Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat oil, add cumin seeds, and let them splutter. Next, add green chili and minced ginger garlic and saute for 30 secs. Next, add onions and saute until onions turn light brown. Add chopped tomatoes, then add all the dry spices - coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt. Cook till the tomatoes are soft and mushy. Then add potato cubes along with ¼ cup of water and mix well. Cover the pot with a glass lid and let the potatoes cook for around 3-4 minutes. You may stir them once in between. Remove the glass lid, add ¼ cup of water to the pot, and deglaze it. There shouldn’t be any burnt bits at the bottom of the pot. Add the cauliflower florets and stir well. Close the lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (Low Pressure) and set the timer to 2 minutes. Once the pot beeps, Do a QUICK RELEASE (QR). Remove the lid away from you, add lime juice, and garnish with cilantro. Mix well. Note: After pressure cooking, if there’s excess moisture from the vegetables left, sauté it out until you get the desired consistency. Aloo gobi masala is ready. Serve hot with chapatis, roti, parathas, or naan.

What to Serve with Aloo Gobi?

Serve Aloo gobi masala as a side dish with roti, naan, paratha, poori, and cucumber raita. You can also pair it with dal tadka, or any flavored rice like ghee rice, jeera rice with salad on the side. It can also be used as filling in wraps or tacos, along with some coriander mint chutney and pickled onions.

Storing & Reheating

Storage: Leftover aloo gobi can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Freeze: Yes, you can freeze aloo gobi in a freezer-safe container or bags for up to 1-2 months. Reheating: Reheat your aloo gobi in the microwave oven, or stovetop pot until they are warm throughout.

Tips to make the best Aloo Gobi in Instant Pot

Different cooking times: Always cook potatoes till they are half done before adding cauliflower florets since both veggies have different cooking times. Large Cauliflower Florets: Cauliflower tends to cook very quickly, so use larger pieces in this recipe. Cook on Low Pressure: Cook on low pressure for 2 minutes, followed by a Quick Pressure Release (QR) when using Instant Pot. 8 quart IP: If you have an 8 qt or newer version of Instant pot, they are prone to giving the BURN message, so add an extra ¼ cup of water. It has a bigger surface area and might need more water for the pressure to build in. Note: I have not tested on 8qt. Heavy Bottom Pan: A heavy bottom pan or skillet with a lid would work best to make cauliflower potato curry for the stovetop version.

Variations

No Onion-No Garlic: You can make this cauliflower potato curry without onions and garlic as well. Spices: Adjust the spices according to your taste. To get the restaurant-style flavor, add crushed Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) at the end to aloo gobi. Protein: You can add plant-based proteins like chickpeas, paneer, tofu, or beans to this dish to make it a complete meal.