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Home » Recipes » Instant Pot

Authentic Pork Vindaloo Instant Pot Recipe

Published: Jun 11, 2022 | Updated: Aug 2, 2023 | Author: Neena Panicker

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Instant Pot Vindaloo Pinterest pin - vindaloo curry in copper dish with bread and secon dish in background - Paint the Kitchen Red

This spicy, tangy pork vindaloo Instant Pot recipe hails from Goa, India. I’ve adapted my mother-in-law’s authentic stovetop recipe for the pressure cooker. Instructions for chicken, beef, lamb vindaloo, and the stovetop are also included.

Instant Pot Vindaloo in a copper bowl with bread in the background - Paint the Kitchen Red

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Table of Contents


  1. Introduction
  2. – History of Vindaloo
  3. Ingredients and Tips
  4. – Key Ingredients
    – Recipe Tips
    – FAQs
  5. Cooking Instructions
  6. – Instant Pot Method
    – Stovetop Method
  7. Recipe Card
  8. Variations
  9. Related Recipes

ℹ Introduction

I didn’t grow up eating this classic Goan curry because I’m not from Goa. However, my husband’s family is Goan, and my mother-in-law Grace is an excellent cook. I adapted her authentic recipe for the pressure cooker.

Vindaloo (pronounced vin-duh-loo) is a popular dish in Indian restaurants, especially in the UK.  It has a reputation for being a hot and spicy curry.

At an Indian restaurant, vindaloo usually has a generic curry base, with vinegar and a whole lot of chili peppers thrown in. 

Sometimes, these dishes are so spicy that you don’t experience the nuanced flavors. Spiciness should not define the dish; it’s not supposed to be unbearably hot and spicy. 

Restaurant vindaloos can differ from traditional Goan pork curry in some other ways. Authentic vindaloo curry is made with pork, contains neither tomatoes nor vegetables, and is spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet.

➡ Have you tried my other Indian recipes? You may like Instant Pot Chicken Korma, Instant Pot Lamb Biryani, Instant Pot Chicken Curry, or Instant Pot Lamb Curry!

📚 History of Vindaloo

You probably already know that Britain ruled India for centuries. You may not know that the Portuguese arrived in India in the late 15th century.

Portugal established Goa as a colony in the late 17th century and ruled the state until the early 1960s.

The Portuguese introduced carne vinha d’alhos (pork with garlic wine), a relatively mild dish.

Local Indians changed the pronunciation to vindaloo. They added ginger, black pepper, tamarind, cardamom, and other Indian ingredients for more flavor.

Goans eat this pork curry with pao (pronounced pow), which means bread in Portuguese. You tear off a European-style crusty dinner roll and dip it in the curry sauce.

Authentic vindaloo is traditionally made with pork and doesn’t contain vegetables or tomatoes, distinguishing it from restaurant versions.

Ingredients and Tips

🧂 Ingredients You’ll Need for Instant Pot Pork Vindaloo

Instant Pot Vindaloo Ingredients  - turmeric, cloves, cumin, salt, Kashmiri chilis, brown sugar, black pepper, mustard seeds, vinegar, water, cinnamon, cardamom
Instant Pot Vindaloo ingredients continued - pork, onions, garlic, ginger, tamarind paste

💡 Recipe and Ingredient Tips


🧅 Onions

  • The key to flavor is golden brown onions, which require patience!
  • Pro tip: Don’t wash the blender after blending the spice mix – blend onions in it to capture all the flavors.
  • Sauté the onions in stages:
    • Initial liquid release (8-10 mins, with occasional stirring).
    • After liquid evaporation, watch closely to prevent burning.
    • Deglaze with water as needed, stirring constantly.
  • For a chunkier texture: Finely chop onions instead of blending.

🍖 Meat

  • Fattier cuts like pork shoulder or country-style ribs are best for the Instant Pot.
  • This is a versatile recipe. Try other cuts of meat (cut into small 1.5 to 2 inch pieces). Pork or Beef: 15 minutes, Chicken: 4 minutes, Lamb: 20 minutes.

🌶️ Spices

  • Freshly ground spices add excellent flavor. Use these approximate conversions if you want to use powders:
    • 6 whole Kashmiri chilies = 1 ½ tablespoon Kashmiri chili powder
    • 2 teaspoon cumin seeds = 2 ½ teaspoon cumin powder
    • 2- inch cinnamon stick = 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
    • 6 cardamom pods seeds only = ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
    • 1 tsp whole black pepper = 1 ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 8  whole cloves = ¾ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ½ tsp black mustard seeds = ¾ teaspoon black mustard powder
  • Spicier vindaloo: Add some more whole red chilies or chili powder.
  • Kashmiri chilies: They’re the secret to that gorgeous red color! If you can’t find them, substitute with milder red chilies + paprika for color.

🥘 Flavor Substitutions

  • Tamarind paste: Homemade tamarind is best, but store-bought also works. Remember, Indian tamarind paste is stronger than Thai – adjust accordingly!
  • Feni: The traditional recipe uses the Goan spirit feni (pronounced fay-nee), a powerful Goan spirit/liquor that isn’t readily available. I use brandy instead. Try adding it to a small portion first to see if you like it!

🛠️ Troubleshooting

  • Burn message: Add an extra ¼ cup of water and deglaze well.

❓ FAQs

If I want to double the recipe, do I need to double the pressure cooking time?

No, you can double the ingredients and keep the cooking time the same.

The vindaloo is too watery. What did I do wrong?

If the curry is too runny, there are two possible reasons. You may have added too much water, or the meat may have released a lot of liquid. Heat the curry in Saute mode for about 15 minutes to reduce the liquid. You can also add a bit of cornstarch mixed with water to thicken the curry.

Can I use Kashmiri chili powder instead of whole red chiliess?

Yes, you can use Kashmiri chili powder. Add about 1 to 2 tablespoons, depending on how spicy you’d like it to be. You can also use cayenne pepper or another type of chili powder. The quantity will depend on the spice level of the chili powder.

Can I make this recipe with bone-in chicken?

For Instant Pot chicken vindaloo with bone in chicken thighs, you might need to add some extra liquid. Pressure cook for about 10 minutes on High Pressure.

Can I make this curry ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this curry a day ahead of time. It tastes even better the next day.

Why do I keep getting the burn message?

Make sure that you deglaze the bottom of the inner pot really well before pressure cooking. Add extra water to the curry to prevent the burn message.

Cooking Instructions

⏲️ Instant Pot Method

  1. Grind whole spices
  2. Blend marinade ingredients
  3. Marinate the meat
  4. Blend the onions
  5. Add the onions to the Instant Pot
  6. Caramelize the onions
  7. Saute meat and add water
  8. Pressure cook and release pressure
  9. Reduce the sauce
Vindaloo Instructions 1 collage - spices whole and powdered - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • In a food processor or blender, pulse Kashmiri chilies, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, black pepper, whole cloves, and black mustard seeds until they become a fine powder.
Goan pork curry Instructions - add liquids and onion to spices and make into paste
  • Add the rest of the ingredients for the marinade: garlic, ginger, tamarind paste, salt, brown sugar, and white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
  • Blend to a smooth paste, adding water as needed to make sure the contents of the blender are able to move freely, but not too much. When you’re finished, the paste should be the consistency of pesto.
Vindaloo Instructions collage - meat in bowl, add spices, mix spices with meat
  • Marinate meat in this spice blend in a medium bowl and set aside for 15 minutes to (preferably) overnight.
Pork curry Instructions collage- onions in blender, onions blended
  • Blend the onions until the onions are smooth. I use the same blender I grind the spices in, without rinsing. The blended onions will get the color of the spice blend.
Pressure cooker vindaloo Instructions collage - oil in inner pot, onions steaming, onions bubbling
  • Turn on Saute mode, and heat oil once the Instant Pot has heated up.
  • Saute onions until the onion juice has evaporated, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Instructions collage - onions in 3 stages of cooking
  • After 8 to 10 minutes, the liquid will evaporate and you’ll be left with a thick paste.
  • Once the liquid has evaporated, stir more frequently to keep the onions from burning; they can burn in seconds!
  • If the onions stick to the bottom, add water one tablespoon at a time to loosen them.
  • After about 5 minutes, the onions will become a thick paste, caramelized and fragrant.
Goan pork curry Instructions collage -  add meat to onions, stir, add water
  • Deglaze with more water if there’s anything stuck to the bottom of the pot before adding the meat, and stir to loosen any brown bits.
  • Add 2 more tablespoons oil and marinated pork, chicken, or lamb.
  • Saute for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring well.  Press ‘Cancel’ and deglaze to make sure there isn’t anything stuck to the bottom of the inner pot.
  • Stir in ¾ cup water.
Instant Pot pressure cook instructions collage: close lid, program, float valve up, float valve down
  • Close the lid.
  • Select Pressure Cook mode and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
  • The display will go from On to 12:00. The float valve will go up after a few minutes. The display will count down to 00:00.
  • Do a natural release of pressure. Once the float valve goes down, the lid can be opened.

If the curry is too thin, turn on Saute mode and reduce the gravy until you get your desired consistency. If you wish, you can thicken with cornstarch mixed with cold water (about 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water).

Serve with crusty french bread, naan, or Instant Pot rice: basmati rice, jasmine rice or brown rice.

♨️ Stovetop Method for Vindaloo

  1. Blend the marinade.
  2. Blend the onions.
  3. Saute onions till golden brown.
  4. Saute the meat briefly.
  5. Stir in water, cover, and cook until meat is tender.

See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.

Instant Pot Vindaloo L1 - Paint the Kitchen Red

Instant Pot Vindaloo

Instant Pot Vindaloo is a spicy, tangy Indian curry from the state of Goa in India. This is an authentic Goan Indian family recipe that comes from my mother-in-law and was adapted for the Instant Pot.
4.75 from 8 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 374
Author: Paint the Kitchen Red
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Equipment

  • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
  • Blender
  • Large Bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 6 whole Kashmiri chilies stems removed
  • 2 tsp  cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 2- inch cinnamon stick
  • 6 cardamom pods seeds only
  • 1 tsp  whole black pepper
  • 8  whole cloves
  • ½ tsp  black mustard seeds
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoon tamarind paste or homemade tamarind paste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar
  • Water for spice paste + ¾ to 1 cup water + more for deglazing
  • 1 ½ lbs boneless country style Pork ribs (or boneless skinless chicken thighs or beef chuck, or lamb) – Cut into 1 ½ inch pieces (⅔ kg)
  • 3 cups onion chopped
  • 4 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Brandy optional *

Instructions
 

Marinade

  • In a food processor or blender, pulse Kashmiri chillies, cumin seeds, turmeric, cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, black pepper, cloves and mustard seeds until powdered. 
  • Add garlic, ginger, tamarind, salt, brown sugar and vinegar.
  • Blend to a smooth paste, adding just enough water to make sure the contents of the blender are able to move freely. When you’re finished, the spice paste should be the consistency of a thick pesto.
  • Transfer spice blend to a large bowl and marinate meat in spice paste for 30 minutes to (preferably) overnight.
  • Blend the onions in the same blender/food processor, without washing the jar. The blended onions will get the color of the spice paste. If you don't want to blend the onions, chop them finely.

Instant Pot Instructions

  • Select the Saute function of the Instant Pot.
  • When the inner pot has heated, add 2 tablespoons oil.
  • Saute onions until the onion juice has evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • ** Once the liquid has evaporated, stir more frequently to keep the onions from burning; they can burn in seconds!
  • If the onions begin to stick to the bottom of the Instant Pot, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to deglaze.  Keep stirring and adding water as needed, but only a little at a time.
  • After about 5 minutes, the onions will become a thick paste, caramelized and fragrant. 
  • Turn off the Instant Pot and deglaze with more water if there’s anything stuck to the bottom of the pot, stirring to loosen any brown bits.
  • Select the Saute function again.
  • Add 2 tablespoons oil to the inner pot and add in the marinated meat.
  • Saute meat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. 
  • Deglaze if needed, to make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom of the inner pot.
  • Press Cancel.  Add ¾ cup water and stir to combine. 
  • Close the lid and pressure cook.
    Pork or Beef: 15 minutes, Chicken: 4 minutes, Lamb: 20 minutes.
  • Allow the pressure to release naturally (NPR).   [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods]
  • If the curry is too thin, heat in Saute mode and reduce until it gets to your desired consistency. You can also thicken the curry with a cornstarch slurry (mixture of 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon cold water.)
  • Transfer vindaloo to a serving dish. Serve with crusty bread, naan or rice.

Stovetop Instructions

  • Heat oil in a dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat. Saute onions until the onion juice has evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. (Once the liquid has evaporated, stir more frequently to keep the onions from burning; they can burn in seconds! If the onions begin to stick to the bottom of the pot, add hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to deglaze.  Keep stirring and adding hot water as needed, but only a little at a time.)
  • Keep sauteing till the onions are caramelized and golden brown in color.
  • Add some more oil and stir in the marinated meat. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Stir in half cup of hot water for chicken and one cup water for pork or lamb. Reduce the heat to medium low. Cover and cook until meat is tender. (Check and stir occasionally to make sure the curry doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Add more hot water as needed.)
    Chicken: cook for 20 minutes or until tender.
    Pork, beef, or lamb: cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours. After one hour of cooking, taste and adjust with more sugar, salt, vinegar as needed.
  • Transfer vindaloo to a serving dish. Serve with crusty bread, naan or rice.

Notes

  • Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. minced garlic, cut up meat, etc.
  • Instead of blending the onions, you can finely chop the onions.  In that case, your curry might be less thick.
  • * If you have access to the Goan liquor called feni, finish with 1 to 2 tablespoons after cooking is complete.  You can also substitute brandy for the Feni.  I suggest adding a little bit to one serving and taste before you add it to the entire dish.
  • If using store-bought tamarind paste, different tamarind pastes have different strengths.  The Indian version is much stronger than the Thai version.  If using the Indian version, decrease the quantity.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 374 kcal | Carbohydrates: 10 g | Protein: 26 g | Fat: 25 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7 g | Trans Fat: 2 g | Cholesterol: 95 mg | Sodium: 468 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 4 g
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Indian
Main Ingredient pork
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Vindaloo Variations

While pork is the traditional choice for vindaloo, this recipe works well with other meats. Chicken provides a lighter option, while lamb adds a robust, slightly gamey flavor. Beef makes this a hearty, satisfying dish.

Meat TypeCut
(1.5 lbs / 680 g)
Pressure Cook Time
(High Pressure)
PorkBoneless country-style ribs or shoulder15 minutes
ChickenBoneless, skinless thighs4 minutes
LambCubed lamb20 minutes
BeefChuck, cubed15 minutes

✏️ Tips for variations

  • Cut the meat in 1.5 inch pieces for even cooking
  • Adjust spice levels to your preference
  • Allow for natural pressure release after cooking
  • If the curry is too thin, reduce it using the Saute function after pressure cooking

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Comments

  1. NICOLE says

    May 23, 2020 at 11:40 am

    Hello!
    I commented last year about adding tomatoes to the vindaloo. It actually turned out so yummy so thank you for the response to that. It has been a while and my husband is craving vindaloo. I only have boneless chicken breast and boneless chicken thigh. How would I adjust the times for the different meat?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      May 23, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      Hi Nicole, thanks for checking back in – I’m glad you like the recipe. If you cut the chicken into small bite-size pieces you can pressure cook for 4 minutes. If you don’t cut it, cook it for about 7 minutes. The breast might overcook, though because thighs cook much better in the IP.

      Reply
  2. Bill Whisman says

    May 12, 2019 at 8:37 am

    I have made this recipe several times and it’s absolutely fantastic. I am in medical sales and call on a Dr. from India. I brought this dish into the office and everyone went crazy over it, especially the doctor! I’m now not allowed to bring lunch without the addition of Pork Vindaloo!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      May 15, 2019 at 9:10 am

      Bill, that’s awesome!! And it’s so wonderful to hear that you’re sharing the recipe with others!

      Reply
  3. Chris says

    April 01, 2019 at 8:48 am

    3 stars
    This was mediocre for vindaloo…. At best.

    I am always trying new recipes to see if I can improve this one missed the mark. The sauce needed a lot of reduction yo get a decent consistency and it was missing some flavors that I can’t put my finger on just now. The quest continues

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      April 01, 2019 at 11:32 am

      Chris, I’m sorry you were not satisfied with the recipe. If you’re comparing it to a restaurant recipe, it’s likely that it may not taste the same because many restaurants modify the recipe from the traditional e.g. by adding tomatoes. Regarding the quantity of liquid, it’s a fine line you have to walk between having enough liquid to come to pressure vs having too little and getting a burn error. I add just enough liquid to the marinade to blend it but no more. If your marinade is too liquidy and you add liquid to pressure cook also, you can have too much liquid. Good luck with the quest!

      Reply
  4. Jen says

    February 24, 2019 at 11:36 am

    This recipe looks amazing, I can’t wait to try as my husband LOVES Indian food. I am new to instant pot, but recently made a Chicken Tikka Masala recipe (which my husband likes!) and have have many of the spices, but in ground form… What would be the measurements for the spices already ground?
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      February 24, 2019 at 4:37 pm

      Hi Jen, it’s a bit hard to say exactly but here are estimates:
      Kashmiri chili powder – 1 to 2 Tbsp depending on how spicy you want it. I would start with 1 Tbsp and taste. The spice will mellow a bit after pressure cooking.
      Cinnamon powder – 1 tsp
      Cardamom powder – 1/4 tsp
      Cloves powder – less than 1/4 tsp
      Cumin powder – 2 tsp
      Black pepper powder – 1 tsp or to taste

      Hope your husband likes the recipe!

      Reply
  5. Albert Chin says

    February 16, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    Making this for the third time in 3-4 weeks. This dish has been growing on me. I wasn’t fully convinced after the first try because I was eating it with plain basmati rice. I now eat it was basmati rice pilau which adds more flavor. I really like the spiciness as well. I’ve passed on this recipe to some family members hoping they will also enjoy it.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      February 18, 2019 at 9:58 am

      Thanks for your comment, Albert, and for sharing your experience 🙂

      Reply
  6. Nicole says

    January 24, 2019 at 6:31 am

    5 stars
    Hello!
    I tried this vindaloo recipe and we loved it! My husband loves vindaloo and this is the first vindaloo recipe I have made that he loved. I have been working on more indian cooking as we are adopting our daughter from India. My question is about ingredients. I know you said ,traditionally, tomatoes are not used, but my husband loves the vindaloo from the indian restaurant with tomatoes and feels like he misses it with this recipe even though he loves this one. In his head he wants tomatoes. Haha Would it be terrible to add a tomato product (ie. Sauce, fresh tomatoes, etc) thanks for the recipe and the help 🙂
    Ps. I am making this again Saturday
    Nicole

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      January 24, 2019 at 1:43 pm

      That is such a great comment, Nicole! If you want to add tomatoes, I would suggest sauteing the onions, add a cup of chopped tomatoes and saute some more until the tomatoes are fried well and the oil starts to separate. And then proceed with the recipe. Adding the tomato may require some extra liquid to prevent sealing issues. Same goes for tomato sauce or paste and those have a higher chance of causing sealing issues so definitely some extra liquid. Good luck! And congratulations on the new addition to your family!

      Reply
  7. Calbob says

    November 27, 2018 at 9:02 pm

    5 stars
    We are big fans of Indian food. Wow! The Vindaloo is fantastic.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      November 28, 2018 at 12:23 pm

      Thank you for the comment!! It’s a great recipe – the key is to get the quantity of liquid just right so it’s not too watery but will come to pressure.

      Reply
  8. Julie says

    November 21, 2018 at 7:52 pm

    5 stars
    I love this recipe! The difference that the real spices make is noticeable and the wonderful tang of vinegar is my very favorite taste in your Vindaloo. I’m going to try more of your recipes now – thank you for sharing your gift!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      November 22, 2018 at 6:38 am

      What a great comment to receive on this Thanksgiving day 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe. It’s more special because it’s a family recipe.

      Reply
  9. Dennis Borges says

    November 18, 2018 at 7:46 am

    Glad I found your Instant Pot recipe for pork Vindaloo. It is the Catholic Goans that once fish and veg Hindus, were forcibly convert ed by the 16th century Inquisition. Over the centuries, these Goans transformed and adapted Portuguese non vegan recipes. I am a direct Goan descendant living in Canada for the past 50 years and authentic Goan foods are perfect for Christmas day and our freezing winters. There are thousands of us in Toronto, hoping our Canadian born children and grandchildren will include our food traditions beyond the Christmas season
    I wish you to know that your narrative on the history is spot on and the recipe authentic. Maybe I am sensitive on one issue. Goa was a possession of Portugal. They plundered our natural resources like iron ore. If a colony, Goa’s majority today would be people of Portuguese origin, like in Brazil. Canada Australia and the US were British colonies.
    I have sent your link to my Goan kindred, as many of them of the older generation were never taught their history. I am approaching 73, a widower and thanks to you, I live to learn that others love our cuisine. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      November 18, 2018 at 9:09 am

      It’s really great to hear from a true Goan and I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. Yes, colonial history is such a messy one isn’t? Thank you for your kind words, Dennis!

      Reply
  10. Rex Ribultan says

    August 19, 2018 at 11:58 am

    Hi Neenah,
    I have a mini and was wondering if your Vindaloo recipe will fit in the 6 quart Instant Pot?

    Thank you very much.

    Respectfully,
    Rex

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      August 19, 2018 at 1:14 pm

      Hi Rex – did you mean “fit in the 3 quart”? I don’t own a 3 quart, but the most important thing to remember is that your contents should not go past the 2/3 full mark. I would venture a guess that the quantity of food in the recipe as written would not go past that mark, but can’t say for sure. Sorry!

      Reply
  11. Victoria Benoit says

    February 26, 2018 at 9:33 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! That’s the only word to describe the vindaloo story and recipe. I tried and it came out great. This is my first time cooking in instant it and I was very proud of it but the credit goes entirely to you. Thank you. I will look you up on dishes.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      February 27, 2018 at 7:59 am

      Hi Victoria! There are some recipes that are truly special and this is one of them because it comes from my dear mother in law. So your comment was, in turn, special too! The other recipe that’s special to me is my mom’s homestyle chicken curry that I adapted for the Instant Pot, which you might like and you could add some chili powder to make it more spicy. Thank you for your kind words!

      Reply
  12. Ivan Robichaud says

    January 24, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    Hi, I have powdered kashmiri chilies. How much do you suggest using ?

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      January 25, 2018 at 10:24 am

      Great question, Ivan. I would say that each Kashmiri chili grinds up to about 1 1/4 tsp of powder. So 6 chilies would be 7 1/2 tsp, which is about 2 1/2 Tbsp. Which kinda seems like a lot! I would err on the safe side and add 1 Tbsp when you’re grinding the paste. Then taste and add another Tbsp if you’d like to. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  13. Joe Varghese says

    November 28, 2017 at 1:18 pm

    Hi Neena .. I made this again today and it was amazing .. also tried Chicken Cafreal and that turned out pretty good. Have you tried making Chicken Cafreal in the Instant Pot? Perhaps give it a shot and give us the perfect recipe (with your mother-in-law’s help of course)

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      November 28, 2017 at 4:03 pm

      Hi Joe – awesome! I think I need to work on Chicken Cafreal then 🙂 Will have to ask Grace for some help on that because I’ve actually never cooked it, just eaten it!

      Reply
  14. Bill says

    November 11, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    HI,
    I just found your site. It is just what I needed to perfect my instantpot cooking.
    My cooking is very eclectic I will try just about any style of cooking. I have been
    searching for a gumbo recipe to try. I heard it is difficult to make a roux in the pot
    your gumbo recipe makes it look easy. I have made lots of gumbos, cajun and creole
    recipes that call for a roux no problem. I will try your gumbo, but without the tomatoes.
    Cajuns use of tomatoes in gumbos is not looked upon with gusto. Will get back to you
    when I prepare this for family and friends.

    Bill

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      November 11, 2017 at 10:31 pm

      Hi Bill – thanks for your comment. I try to make all my recipes so that you can cook the entire recipe in the Instant Pot. That being said, you might find that cooking the roux in a saucepan is a bit quicker. I hear you about the tomatoes – I know it’s ‘controversial’ but it tastes really good – I suppose mine’s a creole version 🙂 Hope you like it!

      Reply
  15. Chris says

    October 22, 2017 at 5:27 pm

    Neena, just finished the vindaloo, great flavors but the sauce is pretty runny. I followed recipe, any ideas?
    Thx, Chris

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      October 22, 2017 at 6:47 pm

      Hi Chris, I would cook it on Saute to thicken it. Sounds like your spice paste may have been thinner than mine, so the 3/4 cup water may have been too much. It’s a fine line because if you have too little water, the Instant Pot won’t seal. I hope you’ll give it another try.

      Reply
      • Chris says

        October 23, 2017 at 11:08 am

        I added some cornstarch to thicken, perfect!

        Reply
        • Paint the Kitchen Red says

          October 25, 2017 at 7:47 am

          I’m so glad it worked out for you in the end, Chris.

          Reply
  16. Barbara Schieving says

    October 22, 2017 at 7:19 am

    Looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      October 22, 2017 at 8:26 am

      Thank you Barbara!

      Reply
  17. sandra says

    October 21, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    Sorry, I left out an important detail in my question!

    How do you get the seeds out of the tiny cardamom pods? Just crush them or?

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      October 21, 2017 at 2:31 pm

      Hi Sandra, great question. You could use powdered cardamom, but it won’t taste as fresh. To remove the seeds, just use the back of a spoon to press down on the pod and break it open and then remove the seeds. Yes, they are tiny!

      Reply
  18. sandra says

    October 21, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    I’m really looking forward to trying this one! I love Vindaloo! The background story for the dish was very interesting.
    A question for you. How do you get the seeds out of those tiny looking pods?

    Reply
  19. Joe Varghese says

    October 20, 2017 at 6:24 am

    Wow Neena .. what an amazing post .. I’ve been making vindaloo all these years but never thought about the origination of this dish. Thanks for all the info .. I am definitely trying this out and I do have a bottle of “Kaju Feni” that I managed to bring from my last trip to India. I am stoked to try out your recipe. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for posting this!!!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      October 20, 2017 at 7:18 am

      Hi Joe – loved your comment! I too have a bottle of Kaju Feni that somehow ended up in my suitcase from India 🙂 I’d love your thoughts on the end result. If you’re used to spice, you might want to try upping the chillies – with 6 it was spicy but very bearable. Enjoy.

      Reply
  20. Marion Cook says

    October 18, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    I loved your recipe…and your story. I found your recipe after a Facebook Instant Pot Member mentioned this…and I had to find out what it was.
    I will need to go on a shopping adventure to find what I need to make it.
    Can’t wait !

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      October 18, 2017 at 5:04 pm

      Hi Marion – thanks so much for commenting! I haven’t had a chance to post the recipe to Facebook! I’m going to try and share it today. If you go to an Indian grocery store, you’ll find everything you need. If you’ve never been to one, you can contact me if you have any questions! Prices at Indian stores are much more affordable than regular grocery stores. Let me know how it goes please!

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Neena Panicker, and welcome! I am the creator, photographer, and author of recipes and tips at Paint the Kitchen Red. I live in the glorious west in Salt Lake City, Utah with my family.

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