Looking for a quick and healthy meal for lunch boxes and other times when you’re on the go? This easy Instant Pot Thai peanut curry is the perfect make-ahead meal for times when you need a nutritious lunch to take with you. Plus this easy Thai curry recipe is the perfect meal when you are craving Thai takeout for dinner since you can whip it up in less time than it would take to go pick up your takeaway order.
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Instant Pot Thai Curry with Tofu (Vegetarian Lunch You Can Take With You)
One of my biggest challenges as a mom is making sure my husband and my kids have healthy meals that they can take with them for lunch at school and work. Their lunches need to be nutritious because I want them to have the fuel they need to make it through their days feeling good. I don’t love sending them with the same old sandwiches and salads all the time. As the weather cools down, I like to send them with something warm and hearty that reminds me of them how much I love them like this Instant Pot Thai peanut curry.
WHY MAKE THAI PEANUT CURRY IN THE INSTANT POT
With the Instant Pot Ultra and pot in pot Instant Pot cooking, you can save so much time when you’re prepping this Thai peanut curry. It cuts the cooking time down to under 10 minutes. Talk about fast!
Plus once you get the hang of your Instant Pot, it’s so easy to use to throw together this healthy Thai curry! Don’t be afraid of all the buttons and functions on your Instant Pot. This Instant Pot curry is beginner-friendly. And if you find yourself staring at your Instant Pot wondering what all the buttons do, you can check out our complete beginner’s guide to the Instant Pot, called Is the Instant Pot Worth it?
What is PIP - Pot In Pot Cooking?
If you’re new to Instant Pot cooking, you might not know what pot in pot cooking is. Pot in pot cooking can save you so much time when you’re making a meal that has two parts like this Thai peanut curry.
Pot in pot (also called PIP) cooking is a method of Instant Pot cooking that involves putting the liquid in the stainless steel liner and place the food in another, a separate vessel to cook. Then you set that vessel on the trivet, which allows it to steam. You want to make sure you are using an ovenproof, heatproof vessel for PIP cooking. I like to use a stainless steel container.In this case, we are using the steam from the curry sauce that will be cooking underneath the trivet to cook the rice.
Pot in Pot Tofu in Thai Peanut Curry Sauce with Rice
Now that you know what pot in pot cooking is, you can see how efficient it is to cook your rice and curry together. Using the pot in pot method of cooking keeps the preparation of this dish fast by letting you cook the rice at the same time as the curry and vegetables. Plus, you don’t have to bother with either cleaning your Instant Pot to use it again to make your rice. And you don’t have to wait for your pot to come to temperature twice.
To use pot in pot Instant Pot cooking to make this Thai peanut curry, you are going to put together the ingredients for the curry in the main liner of the pot. Then once they are combined, you are going to place the trivet so it is sitting on the liner full of curry ingredients. Next, you are going to set the stainless container that you’ve filled with rice and water on top of the trivet. At this point, you’re basically done and can put the lid on your Instant Pot.
Simple and easy.
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT THAI PEANUT CURRY
Now that you’ve got the pot in pot technique down, let’s talk about how to make this Instant Pot Thai peanut tofu curry with rice. It’s easy enough to do even if you’ve never made anything in the Instant Pot before. Let’s break it down into parts.
We’ll start by making the curry sauce. To do that, you’re going to combine coconut milk, peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, sriracha, sugar and water and whisk all together until smooth. A note on the coconut milk. Make sure you use the canned kind and not the kind you find sold with the plant-based milk in the dairy section of the store. I like this organic coconut milk by Thai kitchen . When you have all the ingredients whisked together and they are smooth, you can set the bowl aside for a minute.
Now that you’ve made the curry sauce, it’s time to saute your veggies. Just add the inner liner to your Instant Pot and press the saute button on your Instant Pot. When the display reads HOT, add the oil, chopped onions, bell pepper, and ginger and garlic and give it a good stir. After you’ve stirred your vegetables and let them cook for a minute, add the red curry paste to the pot. I really like this red curry paste also by Thai Kitchen Then you can grab the bowl with the coconut peanut sauce mix and pour that into the Instant Pot with the vegetables and curry paste. Give everything another stir to mix it together. Then you can add in your cubed extra firm tofu.
And now it’s time for the PIP cooking we’ve talked about. Fill a stainless steel container with basmati rice and 1 cup of water. Make sure you’ve washed your rice well before you add it to the container. Then set the trivet inside of the Instant Pot so the trivet legs are sitting in the mixture of curry tofu and vegetables. Place the stainless steel container on top of the trivet. At this point, you can seal the lid onto the pot and pressure cook high for 5 minutes.
When the Instant Pot beeps, let the pressure naturally release for 5 mins and then do a quick release. Then remove the lid and carefully take the rice container out of the Instant Pot. Set it aside. Also, remove the trivet from the liner and place it in the sink to wash. Finish your Thai tofu curry by adding some chopped Thai basil or green onions and gently mixing them in. Add the rice to a bowl and spoon the curry over top. Serve it garnished with chopped roasted peanuts.
Can you add other veggies to this Instant Pot Thai Curry?
Yes! Add almost any vegetables you like. I love this curry as written. Particularly tasty vegetables to add include: But don’t be limited to my list! Add your favorite veggies to make this Instant Pot Thai curry your new favorite recipe.
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Snap peas
- Red bell pepper
- Potatoes
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Spinach
I love spicy food! How can I make this Instant Pot Tofu Curry Spicy?
This tofu curry will already have a little kick to it, but if you love your food hot and spicy you can easily make it more spicy. To really give your curry a kick, you could: Any of these ideas will give you more heat.
- Add more curry paste.
- Sprinkle in the optional red pepper flakes.
- Chop a Thai chili and add it to the vegetables.
- Add extra sriracha to the coconut peanut sauce to suit your taste.
CAN I SUBSTITUTE INDIAN PANEER FOR TOFU?
Yes. You can absolutely use paneer in place of tofu. Just keep in mind that if you are vegan, paneer is Indian cheese and not a vegan ingredient. However, this mild firm cheese has a similar texture to tofu and holds up very well in this dish. Because paneer doesn’t melt, you don’t have to worry about making a mess melting the cheesy paneer in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Thai Peanut Curry and Rice Recipe Video
WHAT IF YOU’RE ALLERGIC TO NUTS?
If you are allergic to nuts, you can still make this delicious curry. Omit the peanuts all together and use sun butter or tahini paste instead of peanut butter. It will still be absolutely delicious and allergy-friendly!
Do I have to use Basmati Rice in Instant Pot Thai Curry?
No, you can use other types of rice. I sometimes substitute jasmine rice . Jasmine rice is a long-grain, fragrant rice with a slightly floral taste and aroma. It is absolutely delicious with this curry.
What pairs well with this Peanut Curry Sauce with Tofu and Rice?
If you want to serve this tofu curry for dinner or make a whole Thai spread for dinner instead of serving this a fast lunchbox lunch, you could pair it with:
- Instant Pot Spicy Thai Noodle Bowls - For this pairing, I would skip making the rice and serve the curry spooned over the spicy noodles for a flavor explosion.
- Rainbow Thai salad Spiralized Salad - This refreshing, crunchy salad perfectly complements the bold flavors of this tofu curry.
- Coconut Rice with Cilantro. Slightly sweet rice that I would use as a substitute for the basmati rice balances out the big spices of the curry with its subtle sweetness.
How long will this Peanut Curry Recipe keep in the Fridge or Freezer?
This Instant Pot peanut curry recipe is a fabulous make-ahead option. The prepared curry will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days after you make it. And, if you want to make a batch of this for the freezer, you can! I would skip making the rice and just make the tofu and vegetables in the coconut peanut curry sauce. Just be aware that your frozen tofu may get a little spongy in the freezer.
Other Thai recipes that you will like
If you are a fan of healthy eating and have just purchased an instant pot, Try out our 80+Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipes. From Soups to Pasta and from Appetizers to Desserts and everything in between.
If you make this recipe, Don’t forget to come back and leave your feedback and star rating. We would be THRILLED if you would take a pic and tag us on Instagram @dbellyrulesdmind or Facebook @thebellyrulesthemind
Thai Peanut Curry (Instant Pot Tofu and Rice)
Looking for a quick and healthy meal for lunch boxes and other times when you’re on the go? This easy Instant Pot Thai peanut curry is the perfect make-ahead meal for times when you need a nutritious lunch to take with you. Plus this easy Thai curry recipe is the perfect meal when you are craving Thai takeout for dinner since you can whip it up in less time than it would take to go pick up your takeaway order.
Ingredients
- 14oz Organic Tofu/firm
- 1 medium onion / chopped finely
- 1/2 red bell pepper/ diced finely
- 1 tablespoon ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon garlic/ finely chopped
- 3 tablespoon red curry paste
- few Thai basil or green onion/ chopped
- Ingredients for the sauce
- 1-1/2 cup Coconut milk
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce/ or tamari
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoon sriracha
- salt to taste
- 1Tsp oil
- Half lemon or lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes / optional
Rice
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1 cup of water
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, sriracha, sugar and water and whisk all together until smooth.
- Press the saute button and when HOT add in the oil, chopped onions, bell pepper, and ginger and garlic and give it a stir.
- Add in the red curry paste and the coconut and peanut sauce mix and mix everything together.
- Add in the tofu cubes.
- In a Stainless container (PIP) add rice and wash it properly till the water runs clear.
- Add water and salt to taste.
- Carefully place the trivet and place the rice on it.
- Place the lid and pressure cook high for 5 minutes.
- When the pressure cook beeps. Let the pressure naturally release for 5 mins and then do a quick release.
- Carefully remove the rice container and the trivet from the pressure cooker and keep it aside.
- Add some chopped Thai basil or -green onions and lemon or lime juice and gently mix it.
- Serve it in a bowl with rice and garnish it with chopped roasted peanuts.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Royal White Basmati Rice, 20 Pound -
Mealthy MultiPot 9-in-1 Programmable Slow and Pressure Cooker
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Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1
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Stackable Steamer Insert Pans with Sling - Instant Pot Accessories for 6, 8 Qt - Stainless Steel Food Steamer for Pressure Cooker & Pot in Pot Accessories - Cook 2 foods at Once
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 544Total Fat 40gSaturated Fat 24gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 1mgSodium 200mgCarbohydrates 20gFiber 4gSugar 7gProtein 20g
All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. We are not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on TheBellyRulesTheMind.net should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though we try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of our ability, these figures should still be considered estimates.
Ammy says
I'm really excited to try this but the recipe isn't showing up anymore! Does anyone have it written down?
Soniya Saluja says
HI, sorry for the inconvenience. just press jump to the recipe ans you can see and print the recipe .
Isabel says
The sauce tasted very good when I mixed it up but I got a burn alarm right away when I turned it to pressure cook. I follow the instructions exactly, using a 6qt instant pot. When I opened it up, the whole bottom of the pot was covered in burned black stuff. I finished cooking the rice and curry on the stove in separate pots and it was delicious. Is there a way to avoid the burn alarm?
Neely says
@Isabel, this happened to me too!!!
Saralyn says
I made this for the first time tonight and it was so good! Every meal I've made from your site has been a winner. Thanks so much for another great recipe!
Soniya Saluja says
Hello Saralyn, we are so glad to hear that :) hope you try other recipes too. Xoxo
Kelli says
This looks so yummy! I would like to make it with brown rice, but I know it takes longer than white in the instant pot. If I do the PIP method and put it on for long enough to cook the brown rice, will that affect the curry? Will the tofu get mushy and fall apart?
Niti Aggarwal says
Which red curry paste did you use? I am looking for something without any fish oil.
Soniya Saluja says
Hi niti, we love using maesri brand they their green , red, panang and masamman curry paste is vegetarian and without fish oil. Check your local Asian store like, hmart, lotte
Lori says
This meal was soooo delicious. I did get the burn notice, but added more water. Only problem with this recipe is the fact that it was so good, I have none leftover.
Soniya Saluja says
Loriiii, we are so glad to hear your feedback back! It's the same whenever we .ske the recipe at our home. In future do adjust the water ratio accordingly so you don't get the burn notice ;)
sands says
i want to make this to bring camping this weekend to share with some friends, but i'm currently not eating any sugar. would this still taste good without it? thanks for your help!
Tb says
Can you make this with chicken?
Soniya Saluja says
Yes you can the time remains the same.
Marcy says
I don't have an IP, can this be made stove top by chance? This recipe is making me want to finally purchase one though! But in the meantime, I'm wondering if it would be do able in the crockpot or stove top?
Thanks!
Soniya Saluja says
Hi marcy, yes you can make it on stove top. The Instant pot helps if you are Makin rice in the same pot.. Just follow the steps and instead of pressure cooking place a lid and cook it on medium flame for 10 minutes. Stir in intervals.you can add your choice of veggies too. Hope this helps!
Dawn says
Can you use potatoes in place of tofu or paneer. Food allergies ??♀️
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Dawn ,s
Certainly you can use potatoes. But the pressure time would change.Peel and dice them pressure cook it for 5 minutes. Hope this helps. P, you can add mushroom, zucchini it any other veggies of your choice
Nancy says
Just made this for a second time and I doubled it because it is insanely delicious!!! I have pinned several of your recipes to try! Noodles are definitely next!
Thank you!
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Nancy, so happy to hear your feedback :) it's loved recipe on our blog. Awesome..do share your experience with us when you make the noodles ? too xoxo
Berit says
I’ve been wanting to try this for a while. My daughter recently became vegan, so I gave it a try. Super delicious!!! I added mushrooms and broccoli. I was nervous about the PIP method, since I’ve never done it before, but it worked perfect! Will definitely make again!
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Berit, so glad to hear that you enjoyed the Thai curry! Thanks for sharing your feedback with us ? hope you try other Recipes from our blog.xoxo
Sarah says
Would this be doable in a crockpot?
Thanks!
Jessica L says
Has anyone done this on a delay start? I'm worried about the rice getting too mushy...
Betty P says
Could you give instructions on cooking without an InstaPot?
Amber says
If I want to use chicken instead of tofu, would you add time to the cook? Is five minutes enough for small cut up chicken breast?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Amber, no time change! Just add sma pieces with onions and saute it for 1 minute and continue. Do share your feedback with us :)
Nancy says
As soon as I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it! It is absolutely delicious! I made it with chicken. At the end I thickened the sauce. It was a little runny for my liking. Will definitely be making this again! Thank you
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Nancy, we are so glad to hear that you enjoyed this Thai curry. Hope you try other Recipes from our log.xoxo
Monnie says
This looks fantastic! Can I just use any stainless steel bowl or do I need to get a set of the stackable ones?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Monnie, Thanks, you can use any stainless steel bowl that fits in your IP on the trivet.
Kathleen Schneider says
Made this twice.... restaurant worthy delicious! Tonight I used leeks since I had no peppers and cut down on the sriracha....it is so good!!!
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Kathleen, so glad to hear your feedback ?❤️ hope you try other Recipes from our blog xoxo
Heather says
I made this about a week ago and my husband and I both loved it. I used chicken thighs and light brown sugar in place of coconut sugar which is what I had available. I’m planning to make it again this week and will double the recipe for more left overs! Also looking forward to trying it with tofu. Thanks!!
Sadie says
I made this tonight and we loved it!! Any way to make it a bit less spicy?? If I do only 1 tablespoon on Siracha, will it affect the flavor??
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Sadie, we are so glad to hear that you loved the Thai peanut curry.. you can cut down Sriracha sauce or even skip it in the beginning. Add if need after it's cooked as needed.
Heather says
I only have green curry paste on hand. Has anyone tried it that way?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Heather, you can definitely make it with green curry paste.. it tastes yummy too?♀️??
Radhika says
How will this taste without the sriracha sauce? I want this to be spicy but not too spicy?
robinsnestof5 says
I made this tonight, and my family all LOVED it! Just a couple notes: The directions in the post call for lime juice, but it is not mentioned in the printable recipe. Nor does it say how much to use. And there is no measurement for the oil either. We skipped the lime (I didn't even know it was supposed to be there), and used about a Tablespoon of oil. Also the printed recipe doesn't say to saute! We subbed maple syrup for the sugar. And like I said, we all LOVED it! I will be making this often! Thanks for the recipe.
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Robin, So glad to hear your feedback ?? Thanks for pointing out the missing stuff in the print section. Hope you try other recipes from our blog and share your experience with us in future too❤
Dave Hudson says
Please, more curry dishes like this! We loved this dish and I'll make again and again. We're aiming to eat whole-foods, plant-based, no meat, oil, or dairy and this worked well w/ no oil. Thanks, very much.
Soniya Saluja says
Hey Dave, Thanks for sharing your feedback with us :) We have lots if recipe's which can easily be made plant based . Try our brown lentil curry or Mexican rice and beans for example. Keep sharing your thoughts with us.
Melanie says
How many servings does the recipe make?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Melanie, it makes 4 servings . Enjoy and do share your feedback with us.
Monique Boea says
Is it ok if I don't cook the rice with it? Will I need to adjust the time?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi monique, you can skip the rice. No changes in the time.
Monique Boea says
Did you change the cooking time or any of the directions when using chicken?
Soniya Saluja says
hi monique no changes in the time
Natasha says
My family feels that Instant Pot recipes are bland and lack spiciness. Not anymore. I made this recipe and they raved about how flavorful it was. They are already asking for me to make it again. Thank you for an easy flavorful tofu recipe.
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Natasha,Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Hope you try more recipes from our blog. xoxo
Danny Sands says
Any advice if cooking PIP with brown rice?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Danny , unfortunately brown rice takes 15 mins to cook so it won't work with this recipe. Try our lentil curry which we have made pip method using brown rice https://thebellyrulesthemind.net/instant-pot-brown-lentil-curry-whole-masoor-dal/
Kristy Bailey says
Hi ladies, thanks for the heads up on the PRINT link - not sure how I intially missed that! Question: if you are cooking the curry portion only (no rice), what are the Instant Pot cooking instructions?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Kristy, that's great you found the recipe. If you don't want to make rice the time doesn't change. Just skip the rice step .you ca add additional 1/2 cup coconut milk if you want more gravy. Do share you feedback with us.
Kristy Bailey says
Maybe I'm missing it, but there is a consdensed recipe for this that is printable? is there a link above that I missed?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Kristy, yes there is a recipe card at the bottom of the post where you can print it .Hope you find the PRINT button :)
Hannah Marsden says
Yum, delicious. I got the burn notice but managed to get past it and it was so good!
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Hannah, so glad to hear the you loved the thI peanut curry! Next time you can add1/2 cup extra water to avoid the burn notice. Xoxo
fatssugarssalt says
Currently devouring this! Sooo good. I did get a burn notice but I added about a cup of water to the sauce but it's still so powerfully flavorful! I burned my tongue trying to eat this as quickly as possible!
Soniya Saluja says
Hi there, So glad to hear that you are devouring this thai curry :) this is one of my family favorites too! So I have noticed the peanut butter consistency is the reason for burn notice. Hope you try other recipes from the blog xoxo
Andy says
What happened to the lime juice mentioned earlier in the recipe, i.e. how much and when do you add it?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Andy,
As mentioned in the recipe, the lime juice is added towards the end.
Hope you enjoy the Thai Curry!
Anne says
Hi, just tried this recipe it looks delicious, but I got a burn notice. Any ideas where I went wrong. Used a Pyrex for pip.
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Anne, as mentioned in the notes make sure you stir it nicely after you add the peanut sauce. Next time you. ab add 1/4 cup water extra to the recipe. Glad you liked the recipe.
Cindy Ring says
Could you substitute some Thai red chilis for the sriracha sauce?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Cindy, yes you can definitely substitute sriracha and use thai red chillies.
Do share your feedback with us after you try it❤
Ami says
Does the time to cook with PIP method remain the same (5 mins high pressure) even if I were to double the quantity of rice and curry?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Ami, yes the time remains the same when you double the recipe or cut the recipe into half. Just make sure you add 1/2 cup of extra water in the curry. The gravy thickens up nicely. (I have doubled the recipe and works well)
Rani says
How do i make the red curry paste?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Rani, I have used store bought red curry paste. Its easily available in Walmart or any other grocery store like Harris tetter or Safeway
Barbara says
Can I use real chicken in place of the tofu and still cook it for just 5 minutes with a NPR?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Barbara , yes you can. Just add small pieces of of 1 breast piece with the onions and saute it for 1 minute and proceed.. many of our readers have made it and shared their experience.
april mcnosky says
made this & added chicken and some left over sweet potato I already had...super yummy! i think next time i'll add in some carrots too. I love thai food, and have lived in Thailand previously but am new to cooking thai food AND instant pot cooking, this was super easy and extremely flavorful. thanks for the recipe!
Margaret Smith says
I had no idea you could freeze this. Thanks!
Richa says
I tried this with tofu and added lots of other veggies.. it was delicious! 5 stars for the taste and ease of cooking! It is indeed better than restaurant style thai curry! I added veggies such as green beans, okra, red/green bell peppers and tofu as my protein.
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Richa, so glad to hear that you live the recipe :) it's one of our family favorites too! Loved that tou incorporated all the veggies in this delicious thai curry. Hope you try our other recipes too.xoxo
Sara says
Nom!! I am making this tonight - I can't wait and I love that it's so easy in the Instant Pot. Thanks!
Soniya Saluja says
Awesome! Do share your feedback with us.
Charla H says
Oh yum! What a great vegan dish this is.
Andrea Metlika says
Love how quick and simple this is to make. I also like how versatile it is with different veggies.
Beth says
Two things I'm good at: always busy and never knowing what to do for lunch! This just solved both my problems - thank you!! Easy and delicious!
raiatodd says
Oh my goodness that looks so delicious! That sauce has me drooling!