Whether a novice or a pro, the first cooking equipment every Indian buys while stocking up a kitchen is a pressure cooker. Yes, we love our woks or kadhais, our non-stick pans and even those fancy grill pans that leave a pretty char mark on our grilled food. But no Indian kitchen is ever short of pressure cookers and you will find that most have more than just one. The reason behind this is quite simple.
Pressure cookers do to food you put in them the same thing that hours of cooking in a wok or pot does. In fact, there isn’t a better kitchen tool for those who love cooking quick meals, Indian or otherwise, other than a pressure cooker. Add the right amount of ingredients and everything from veggies and dal to the toughest of meats get perfectly cooked in a pressure cooker.
And isn’t that just what you need on a busy weekday when you are tired after a day’s work and looking forward to the quickest possible meal with great flavours? Yes, it is, especially if you like to eat Indian meals. This is also because Indian recipes, even the most elaborate ones, can be perfectly and quickly cooked in a pressure cooker.
Video Credit: YouTube/Chef Kunal Kapur
So, if you are hungry and want to cook a quick Indian meal for the family, don’t take any of the pressure. Let the pressure cooker do the work. Here are 10 Indian pressure cooker recipes you can try out with utter ease for your next meal.
1. Rajma Masala
This beloved Punjabi cuisine dish is one of the easiest things you can make in a pressure cooker, though you must remember to soak the rajma or kidney beans for at least three to four hours. Once that step is out of the way, all you need to do is heat oil in a cooker, add cumin seeds, bay leaves and chillies followed by onions, tomatoes and powdered spices. After sauteeing these for a few minutes, just add the soaked rajma, water, salt and pressure cook for three-four whistles.
2. Soya Pulao
The easiest one-pot meal in Indian cuisine, you can in fact prepare any pulao you choose to using a pressure cooker. We suggest a Soya Pulao because it is certainly more filling, nutritious and the perfect option for all, even vegans. To make Soya Pulao, just heat ghee in a cooker, add whole spices, and plenty of veggies like peas and carrots along with soya chunks. Saute these with powdered spices for a while, then add rice, water and cook for one whistle.
3. Chicken Curry
One of the easiest non-vegetarian dishes you can cook in a pressure cooker, Chicken Curry can be tailored according to regional flavours and preferences too. The simplest one to make could be with onions, ginger-garlic paste, salt, spices like turmeric, cumin and coriander and chicken cooked in oil and then for two whistles with water. You can also add coconut milk, curry leaves and mustard seeds to make it more South Indian or add yoghurt and biryani masala for a more Korma-like flavour.
4. Dalcha
The simple reason why this Hyderabadi favourite called Dalcha is perfect for pressure cooker meals is because it is usually cooked with a combination of lentils like chana dal and toor dal along with vegetables and meat to create a spicy one-pot meal. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan or non-vegetarian, you can easily enjoy Dalcha made with vegetables or meat, based on your preference. Don’t forget to add plenty of ghee and spices from Hyderabad though.
5. Mangsher Jhol
The simplest form of mutton curry from Bengal, this Mangsher Jhol is not only perfect for quick dinners on weekdays but also a great dish to have in your kitty for those times when guests may arrive suddenly. All you need to do is cook whole spices, onions, mutton pieces (preferably those with fat) and powdered spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric and red chilli. Add water and cook for four-five whistles or depending on the size of the mutton pieces. Garnish with ghee and Bengali garam masala before serving.
6. Panchkuti Dal
Also known as Panchratan dal, this Gujarati and Rajasthani dish is made with a combination of five pulses: urad, toor, green moong, masoor and chana dal. In addition, mild spices like cumin, coriander and green chillies are added along with some greens and veggies like spinach and carrots in winter. Just pressure cook these ingredients together and serve with a tadka on top.
7. Dal Makhani
Can one possibly make a dal makhani in a pressure cooker in a short time without taxing oneself? The answer is yes, if you are strategic about it. First, fry the whole spices, onions and rajma together, add water and cook for two whistles. Open up and add kali dal, cook for two more whistles, and then continue cooking with more spices, butter, cream and everything else you want until you have the perfect consistency.
Video Credit: YouTube/Shilpa Shetty Kundra
8. Yakhni Pulao
This Lucknowi delight usually takes hours to prepare, but with a pressure cooker handy, you can easily make one with zero hassles. Just cook the mutton pieces with onions, whole spices and enough water to make a good broth. Cook this mix for three whistles, then open up the pressure cooker and add the soaked rice, adjust the salt and pressure cook again for one whistle to get the perfect Yakhni Pulao within the hour.
9. Fada Ni Khichdi
Unlike rice-based Khichdis of India, Fada Ni Khichdi from Gujarat is made with a blend of broken wheat or daliya and lentils like moong dal. Because of this combination, Fada Ni Khichdi can be cooked in a pressure cooker for two whistles. You can add a tadka on top before serving along with vegetables like peas cooked with the khichdi, but do enjoy this one with some authentic Gujarati Kadhi.
10. Mutton Dhansak
This popular Parsi mutton dish is made with large chunks of meat and masoor dal, which makes it perfect for pressure cooking. Cook onions, garlic, green chillies and the mutton chunks in ghee, then add the masoor dal, powdered spices and tamarind paste along with plenty of water. Pressure cook everything for three-four whistles, then add some finishing touches before serving.