The pressure cooker is one of the most useful tools in an Indian kitchen. From comforting dals to flavourful pulao and hearty curries, it can help simplify everyday cooking while reducing the number of utensils you need.

If you think a pressure cooker is only meant for rice and dal, think again.

Here are 10 delicious vegetarian recipes that you can prepare using a pressure cooker.

1. Dal Tadka

Dal is a staple in Indian households and one of the easiest dishes to make in a pressure cooker.

Ingredients

• 1 cup toor dal

• 2 tomatoes, chopped

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 green chilli

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• Salt to taste

• 2–3 cups water

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 2–3 garlic cloves

• 1–2 dry red chillies

• 1 tablespoon ghee

Method

1. Wash and soak the dal for a few minutes.

2. Add dal, tomatoes, onion, green chilli, turmeric, salt and water to the pressure cooker.

3. Cook until the dal becomes soft.

4. Mash the cooked dal lightly.

5. Heat ghee in a small pan and add cumin, garlic and dry red chillies.

6. Pour the tadka over the dal.

7. Serve hot with rice or roti.

 

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2. Vegetable Pulao

Vegetable pulao is a quick one-pot meal packed with vegetables and aromatic spices.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice

• 1 cup mixed vegetables

• 1 onion, sliced

• 1 green chilli

• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

• Whole spices such as cumin, bay leaf, cinnamon and cloves

• 1½–2 cups water

• Salt to taste

• 1 tablespoon oil or ghee

Method

1. Wash and soak the rice.

2. Heat oil or ghee in the pressure cooker.

3. Add whole spices and sauté briefly.

4. Add onion and cook until lightly golden.

5. Add ginger-garlic paste and vegetables.

6. Add the drained rice, salt and water.

7. Cook according to your pressure cooker's instructions.

8. Allow the pressure to release before opening.

9. Fluff the rice gently and serve with raita.

 

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3. Rajma Masala

Rajma masala is a comforting North Indian classic that pairs perfectly with steamed rice.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rajma, soaked overnight

• 2 onions, finely chopped

• 2 tomatoes, pureed

• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon chilli powder

• 1 teaspoon coriander powder

• ½ teaspoon garam masala

• Salt to taste

• Oil

• Water

Method

1. Drain the soaked rajma.

2. Add rajma, water and a little salt to the pressure cooker.

3. Cook until the beans become soft.

4. In another pan, heat oil and sauté onions.

5. Add ginger-garlic paste and tomato puree.

6. Add the spices and cook until the masala is well cooked.

7. Add the cooked rajma and mix well.

8. Simmer until the gravy reaches your preferred consistency.

9. Finish with garam masala and serve with rice.

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4. Chole Masala

Chole is another delicious vegetarian dish that becomes much easier to prepare with a pressure cooker.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight

• 2 onions

• 2 tomatoes

• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

• 1–2 green chillies

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 1 teaspoon coriander powder

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon chilli powder

• 1 teaspoon chole masala

• Salt to taste

• Oil

Method

1. Pressure cook the soaked chickpeas until tender.

2. Heat oil and add cumin.

3. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden.

4. Add ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes.

5. Add all the spices and cook the masala.

6. Add the cooked chickpeas.

7. Mix well and simmer until the gravy thickens.

8. Serve with roti, puri, bhatura or rice.

 

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5. Vegetable Khichdi

When you want something comforting, simple and wholesome, vegetable khichdi is an excellent choice.

Ingredients

• ½ cup rice

• ½ cup moong dal

• 1 cup mixed vegetables

• 1 onion

• 1 tomato

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• Salt to taste

• 1 tablespoon ghee

• Water

Method

1. Wash the rice and dal together.

2. Heat ghee in the pressure cooker.

3. Add cumin and let it splutter.

4. Add onion and sauté.

5. Add vegetables, tomato, turmeric and salt.

6. Add rice, dal and sufficient water.

7. Pressure cook until everything becomes soft.

8. Mix well before serving.

9. Serve hot with curd, pickle or papad.

 

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6. Aloo Matar

Aloo matar is a simple everyday Indian sabzi that works beautifully with roti or paratha.

Ingredients

• 3 potatoes, cubed

• 1 cup green peas

• 1 onion

• 2 tomatoes

• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon coriander powder

• ½ teaspoon chilli powder

• Salt to taste

• Oil

• Water

Method

1. Heat oil in the pressure cooker.

2. Add cumin and onions.

3. Add ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes.

4. Add the spices and cook the masala.

5. Add potatoes and peas.

6. Add a little water and salt.

7. Cook according to your pressure cooker's instructions.

8. Allow the pressure to release naturally as appropriate.

9. Garnish with coriander and serve.

 

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7. Vegetable Biryani

You don't always need a large pot and multiple utensils to enjoy biryani. A pressure cooker can help simplify the process.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice

• 1½ cups mixed vegetables

• 1 onion, sliced

• 1 tomato

• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

• Whole spices

• Biryani masala

• Mint and coriander

• 1½–2 cups water

• Salt

• Oil or ghee

Method

1. Wash and soak the rice.

2. Heat oil or ghee in the pressure cooker.

3. Add whole spices and sliced onion.

4. Add ginger-garlic paste and tomato.

5. Add mixed vegetables and biryani masala.

6. Add drained rice, salt and water.

7. Cook according to your pressure cooker's instructions.

8. Allow the pressure to release.

9. Open and gently fluff the biryani.

10. Garnish with fresh mint and coriander.

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8. Sambar

A pressure cooker makes preparing sambar convenient because the dal and vegetables can be cooked efficiently.

Ingredients

• 1 cup toor dal

• Mixed vegetables such as carrot, beans, pumpkin and drumstick

• 1 tomato

• 1 small onion

• 1–2 green chillies

• 1–2 tablespoons sambar powder

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• Tamarind pulp

• Salt

• Oil

• Mustard seeds

• Curry leaves

Method

1. Wash the dal and add it to the pressure cooker with turmeric and water.

2. Add the vegetables and cook until tender.

3. Mash the dal lightly.

4. Add sambar powder, tamarind pulp and salt.

5. Bring everything together and simmer.

6. Prepare a tempering with oil, mustard seeds and curry leaves.

7. Add the tempering to the sambar.

8. Serve with idli, dosa, rice or vada.

 

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9. Vegetable Kurma

Vegetable kurma is a creamy, aromatic curry that pairs well with roti, paratha, dosa or rice.

Ingredients

• Mixed vegetables

• 1 onion

• 2 tomatoes

• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

• Coconut paste or coconut milk

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon coriander powder

• Whole spices

• Salt

• Oil

Method

1. Heat oil in the pressure cooker.

2. Add whole spices and onion.

3. Add ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes.

4. Add vegetables and spices.

5. Add coconut paste or coconut milk along with appropriate water.

6. Cook according to your pressure cooker's instructions.

7. Allow the pressure to release.

8. Stir gently and adjust the consistency.

9. Serve hot with roti, paratha or rice.

 

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10. Masala Rice

Masala rice is perfect for those days when you want a quick and flavourful meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice

• 1 onion

• 1 tomato

• 1 cup mixed vegetables

• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

• 1 green chilli

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon garam masala

• ½ teaspoon cumin

• Salt

• Oil

• Water

Method

1. Wash and soak the rice.

2. Heat oil in the pressure cooker.

3. Add cumin, green chilli and onion.

4. Add ginger-garlic paste and tomato.

5. Add vegetables and spices.

6. Add rice and mix gently.

7. Add water and salt.

8. Cook according to your pressure cooker's instructions.

9. Let the pressure release before opening.

10. Fluff the rice and garnish with coriander.

Make Everyday Vegetarian Cooking Easier

A pressure cooker can do much more than prepare dal and rice. From rajma and chole to pulao, khichdi and vegetable biryani, it can become one of the most versatile pieces of cookware in your kitchen.

The key is choosing cookware that is sturdy, convenient and designed for everyday cooking.

With the right pressure cooker, preparing wholesome vegetarian meals can become simpler and more efficient.

Explore Praylady pressure cookers and bring more variety to your everyday kitchen.