Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala

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This Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala is simple to make and loaded with veggies and nutrients. It’s naturally gluten free, dairy free, and vegan as well. All in all, it’s Indian comfort food made easier and perfect for meatless meals! I love serving this with freshly steamed rice along with some fresh cilantro for an extra tasty meal.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

I’ve been getting lots of requests for more Instant Pot recipes as well as meatless meals. So today is a 2 for 1 kind of situation. Or it may be more come to think of it because this Tikka Masala is vegan and Whole30 too!

I decided to go with cauliflower as the main focus in this luscious spiced sauce. It’s really is a great vehicle for all sorts of flavors. In fact the other day Tyler and I were discussing the never ending cauliflower trend. And I was wondering why it’s only growing in popularity.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

I was thinking that really what’s so special about cauliflower anyways… I mean it’s almost always the last one left on the veggie tray. But he made a good point by mentioning that cauliflower is kind of tasteless.

Not completely without flavor mind you. But it’s the kind of flavor that lends itself so well to so many different dishes. I guess it’s kind of like chicken in that regard, so versatile.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

Now let’s make this Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala step by step!

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

This recipe comes together quickly, so I like to have everything I need prepped before I start cooking.

The onion gets sautéed first, then the garlic and ginger are added in an cooked briefly. Then I like to add an extra step that makes this more like the restaurant versions. You scoop out the cooked onion mixture and blend it with the tomatoes.

This extra step creates a really nice smooth sauce. But I have to confess that sometimes I do skip this step and just continue on. It doesn’t take much time to blend the onion mixture with the tomatoes. But sometimes life doesn’t allow for an extra couple minutes. (Or let’s face it… sometimes I’m just in a hurry and not feeling it!)

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

Next we’ll add the blended tomato mixture is added to the Instant Pot along with the spices. Then pile on the cauliflower on top and stir.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

Finally the lid goes on the Instant Pot and you set it for just 1 minute of cooking time.

Keep in mind the Instant Pot tends to take about 10 minutes to come up to pressure. And it takes another 10 minutes to release pressure.

When I first started making things in the Instant Pot I always underestimated how long the pressurization part would take. So it’s good to have a basic idea of the overall cooking time!

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

From there, you add the coconut cream along with some additional garam masala. This little step of adding garam masala at the end is a real game changer.

I read somewhere, (wish I could remember the source) that because garam masala is a rather delicate spice mix that an authentic Indian recipe will stir part or all of it in toward the end of the cooking time.

This tip is definitely absolute flavor gold! Both my Butter Chicken and now this Cauliflower Tikka Masala are so much better now.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

To keep this Whole30, try serving it with any kind of veggie rice. Since cauliflower is already the star of the show, I’d go with butternut rice. I love it’s natural sweetness with the spices of Indian food. But to be completely honest, I like this best with freshly steamed rice, chopped cilantro, and toasted cashews!

I hope you get a chance to make this easy dinner soon. And if you do, I hope you’ll leave me a comment/rating below. I always love hearing from you here in the comments. And for all my Indian inspired recipes, head on over to the recipe index.

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Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala | Get Inspired Everyday!

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala


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5 from 14 reviews

Description

This Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala is simple to make and loaded with veggies and nutrients. It’s naturally gluten free, dairy free, and vegan as well. All in all, it’s Indian comfort food made easier and perfect for meatless meals! I love serving this with freshly steamed rice along with some fresh cilantro for an extra tasty meal.


Ingredients

Scale

8 cups cauliflower florets from 1 head cauliflower, 3 pounds

1 Tablespoon avocado oil

1 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon minced ginger

2 Teaspoons garam masala, split reserving 1 Teaspoon for the end, see notes

1/2 Teaspoon ground cardamom

1 Teaspoon each ground turmeric, cumin, coriander, and chili powder

1 Teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

1 can coconut milk, refrigerated, see notes

128 ounce can whole fire roasted tomatoes

Optional:

Freshly steamed rice, or butternut rice for paleo and Whole30

Chopped fresh cilantro

Chopped toasted cashews


Instructions

Prep the cauliflower into florets about 1″ in size and set them aside.

Turn a 6-quart Instant Pot on to the sauté setting and add the avocado oil. When the oil is just starting to shimmer, add the onion and sauté until the it begins to brown, about 5 minutes.

Then add the garlic and ginger, and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Turn the sauté setting off and scoop the mixture out of the Instant Pot and into a blender.

Add the spices using just 1 teaspoon of the garam masala reserving the other teaspoon for the end of the cooking time. Scoop the hardened cream from the top of the can of coconut milk and set it aside to reserve it.

Pour the leftover liquid from the coconut milk into the blender along with the fire roasted tomatoes and the salt. Blend until mostly smooth, then pour the sauce back into the Instant Pot.

Add the cauliflower florets and stir to partially cover. Secure the lid and pressure cook for 1 minute.

When the cooking time is done, use the quick release function, and when the Instant Pot is safe to open remove the lid.

Turn the sauté setting back on, and stir in the coconut cream along with the remaining 1 teaspoon of garam masala, simmer for 1 minute to combine the flavors.

Season to taste, and if you’d like to thicken the sauce slightly mix together 1-2 teaspoons tapioca starch with 2 tablespoon of water until smooth. Drizzle in small amounts of this mixture into the simmering tikka masala stirring constantly until the sauce thickens to your liking.

Serve immediately with your choice of sides.

Notes

I read somewhere to add a small portion of garam masala in at the end of the cooking time because it’s a delicate spice mix, and it’s a complete flavor game changer!

You don’t need to refrigerate the coconut milk if you have cans of coconut milk that have been sitting in your pantry for weeks because the cream will have separated. The only purpose of refrigerating the coconut milk is to more rapidly separate the cream from the liquid.

When cauliflower is too expensive, try broccoli instead.

  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Indian

32 thoughts on “Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala”

  1. I’ve been making this for months now! It’s delicious and easy to make. I do both cauliflower and broccoli, and I serve it with some pan fried tofu. The leftovers are great for lunch too!






    Reply
  2. This was a great recipe. After it was cooked I added in a can of chickpeas and heated. Served over basmati rice. Yum!






    Reply
    • You can still follow the recipe pretty much as written, but instead of sautéing in the Instant Pot, just sauté on the stove top. Then once the cauliflower is added simmer until tender and thicken if desired. I hope this helps, and be sure and let me know if you have anymore questions!

      Reply
  3. Excited. I have all the ingredients.. EXCEPT cauliflower.. (just finished our roasted cauli)
    I can remedy that though.. next grocery trip.. and I am making this!!!
    Super easy + great directions. Thanks!!






    Reply

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