Try this Instant Pot Massaman Curry with Beef recipe today. It's so easy to make, delicious, and you won't be disappointed. Serve this curry with Instant Pot Brown Rice or Instant Pot White Rice.
Massaman curry is probably my favorite type of curry dish that originated from Thailand. The curry dish is usually made with fragrant spices that give it rich and aromatic flavors. It can be prepared with any type of protein of your choice such as meat or tofu.
In my opinion, the taste of Massaman curry is somewhat similar to Panang curry, or the famous Indonesian beef rendang, especially when it's cooked using beef. The massaman curry however has a much thinner consistency compared to beef rendang.
Instant Pot Massaman Curry with Beef
This Instant Pot Massaman curry recipe is made of massaman curry paste, fish sauce, coconut milk, cardamom, cinnamon, beef, small potatoes, and onion.
I cooked this massaman curry in an instant pot to speed up the process. I am sure that this recipe works great on the stove and slow cooker as well.
Unlike many other Asian recipes I've featured in this blog, this Masaman curry uses a pre-made paste that is available at most any Asian grocers. This pre-made paste will make your cooking easier and reduce the number of ingredients you have to use.
The Best Massaman Curry Paste
I highly recommend using this Maesri Masaman Curry Paste that you can purchase for around $1.50 per can or $4.99 per 14 oz jar. I think it's the cheapest and the best pre-made Masaman curry in the market by far.
Cooking with pre-made curry paste can be tricky so you must do each step properly. To get the most out of this meal I like to make a few adjustments which bring the dish to the next level, even better than what you'll find in a Thai restaurant.
How to Make Beef Massaman Curry in an Instant Pot
Step 1. Brown the Beef
- Cut the beef into large chunks (about 3x3 cm).
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil and brown the meat for about 2-4 minutes on each side. Transfer the meat to a plate and set it aside.
Step 2. Pressure Cook
- Bring ½ cup of coconut milk to a boil. Add the curry paste, then stir to combine. Be sure to scrape all the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the remaining coconut milk, beef, cardamom, cinnamon, and fish sauce to the pot.
- Secure the lid then select the "Manual" setting. Cook for 30 minutes at high pressure. Once the cooking cycle is completed, let the pressure release naturally.
- Add potatoes and onions into the pot. Secure the lid then select the "Manual" setting. Cook for 5 minutes at high pressure, with quick release.
FAQ and Cooking Tips
Beef chuck is the best type of meat you can use for stew. It's tougher than the sirloin but it will get more tender and juicier the longer you cook it. It's cheap and it's also the best type of meat to cook in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
You can cook this Massaman curry in a slow cooker. Simply follow the same cooking steps below and cook the curry on low for 7-9 hours low or 4-5 hours on high heat. You can put the potatoes and onions about halfway through cooking so they become tender and not soggy.
You can cook this Massaman curry recipe on the stove. Simply follow the same cooking steps and add about 1½ of low sodium broth into the mixture. Cover the pot and cook on low heat for about 2 hours or until tender. Check and stir often. Add extra liquid if necessary. Add potatoes and onions, cook for a further 25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
First, let the leftover curry cool down to room temperature but no longer than 2 hours. Place the leftover in an airtight container. Properly stored, it can last 3-4 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Check Out More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Instant Pot Mussels in White Wine
- Instant Pot Indian-Style Rice
- Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
- Pressure Cooker Osso Buco
- Instant Pot Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
- Instant Pot Ground Beef and Rice
- Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! I'd appreciate it.
Follow me on Pinterest and subscribe to receive free weekly recipes.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Massaman Curry with Beef
Ingredients
- 1¾ pound beef stew or beef chuck (cut into large chunks - about 3x3 cm)
- 2 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil (add more if necessary)
- 4 oz (1 can) massaman curry paste
- 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
- 2½ cups coconut milk (a good quality)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamon
- ¾ pound small potatoes (about 10 pieces)
- ½ yellow onion (cut into large strips)
- roasted peanuts
- chopped red chilies
- white rice
Method
- Heat 2 tablespoon of oil. Working in batches, cook beef until browned on all sides. Transfer the meat to a plate and set it aside.
- Bring ½ cup of coconut milk to a boil. Be sure to scrape all the browned bits from the pot to add flavors and to prevent burning. Add curry paste, fish sauce, cinnamon, cardamom, and the remaining coconut milk. Stir well.
- Add the remaining coconut milk, and browned beef back to the pot. Secure the lid then select the "Manual" setting. Cook for 30 minutes at high pressure then let the pressure release naturally. Adjust seasoning with salt, black pepper, fish sauce, or sugar if necessary.
- Add small potatoes (whole) and onions into the pot. Secure the lid then select the "Manual" setting. Cook for 5 minutes at high pressure then quick release. Serve with chopped peanuts and white rice.
Lauren Vavala says
Massaman curry is my favorite! I've always had it with chicken so I can't wait to try it with beef this week! I love this recipe has potatoes too - definitely going to fill us up!
Rika says
Thanks, Lauren!
Sharon says
Making this curry in the Instant Pot leaves the beef so tender and leave it so flavorful.
Rika says
Thanks for your comment, Sharon! I agree, the Instant Pot makes the meat really tender.
Biana says
Yum! I love complex flavors, and this dish sounds perfect. And Instant Pot makes it so simple to make.
Katie Crenshaw says
This is a delicious and flavorful beef recipe. The detailed instructions to make it in the Instant Pot are so helpful. Cooking it in the Instant Pot makes is so much easier.
Rika says
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback, Katie! I agree, the Instant Pot makes it easier.
Kristina Tipps says
This was a great change to my usual IP recipe rotation. Very good!
Rika says
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Kristina! I am glad that you liked it.
Carol Streleckis says
My family enjoyed this dish. It was easier for me because I had ordered a Massaman Curry spice packet from Savory Spice which was a real time saver. It called for two cans of coconut milk and coconut oil to heat the spices which were in paste form after adding water. I browned the meat in the coconut oil in my cast iron skillet before using it in the sauce. I prefer sautéed onions, so they were also cooked in the coconut oil after the beef was removed from the skillet and added to my Instant Pot along with the browned meat and the coconut milk. I only had to add two tablespoons of fish sauce and a few shakes of cayenne. After 10 minutes of NPR, I added a pound of potatoes which were cut into small chunks along with about two cups of bite sized carrots which were cooked for six minutes followed by a quick release. The beef was so tender, and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. I know I cheated using the spice packet, but the ingredients were perfect to use with this recipe without shopping for Indian spices which are not in my pantry.
Rika says
Hi Carol,
Glad that your whole family enjoyed the dish! Also, thanks for sharing what you did with this recipe as I'm sure other readers will find your comment useful. The extra potatoes and carrots make this Massaman curry even heartier. I love trying new curry paste and always have pre-made paste ready in my pantry for last-minute dinners. Whatever works for us is a good thing! I'll definitely check out the spice packet from Savory Spice, it sounds like a winner.
Best,
Rika
Carol Streleckis says
Thank you for this delicious restaurant quality recipe! Your directions were easy to follow. I checked so many sites today to find one that suited my needs. Cooking the beef for 30 minutes made it so tender. I used coconut oil to brown my meat and bloom the spices. I used two cans of coconut milk. I added extra potatoes and also carrots. I cooked them for six minutes after giving my Instant Pot 10 minutes of natural release time. Bon Appétit!
Rika says
Hi Carol,
Thanks for sharing your feedback. I am glad that you liked this Massaman curry recipe. The instant pot definitely makes it easier to make very tender meat. I love the idea of using coconut oil to brown the meat. I am sure it adds richness and aroma to the dish. Likewise, Bon Appétit!
Best,
Rika
Skip says
Exactly what I was looking for-a quick enough for a week night Massaman.
It’s no fault of the recipe as I added extra things, but cauliflower and carrots just disintegrated into the curry. I don’t know if larger pieces or a shorter second cooking time would help.
Rika says
Hi Skip,
So glad you liked it and found it quick enough for a weeknight! Thanks for the tip about the veggies! I’ve had that happen too. Larger chunks or a shorter simmer should definitely help them hold up better next time.
Best,
Rika