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    Home » Recipes » Main Course

    Papaya Potato Curry in Instant Pot

    Published: May 20, 2022 by Shilpa · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    5 from 8 votes
    Easy and delicious Bengali-style curry made with chunks of green papaya and potatoes that are cooked in a spicy masala base is perfect for weeknights. Making this papaya curry in an Instant Pot is a breeze and you can pair it with Basmati rice or roti.
    papaya potato curry.

    Papaya potato curry step-by-step recipe with video and photos.

    Jump to:
    • About this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • How to select papaya
    • Useful tips
    • FAQs
    • Bonus
    • Recipe card
    • Comments

    About this recipe

    Green papaya and potatoes cooked in a spicy masala base is a delicious Bengali-style curry that is perfect for cold winter nights. This traditional curry is made with chunks of papaya and potatoes cooked in whole and powdered spices. Making this comforting curry in the Instant Pot saves a lot of time and gives perfect taste and texture.

    Traditionally, red lentil fritters (called masoor dal bora) are added to this peper dalna. However, I am skipping it here, to make it super simple to make yet very delicious. You may also add a handful of peas to this curry. It can be paired with both steamed rice and roti. This spicy papaya potato curry also goes well with earthy red rice.

    Raw papaya is a very healthy vegetable and is associated with numerous health benefits. It is known to improve digestive health and cleanse the body. The enzymes in green papaya help break down protein, fats, and carbohydrates.

    This curry is a great way to include this healthy vegetable in your diet. Read on for ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and tips on how to select green papaya for this curry. Find my full collection of Indian potato recipes here.

    Ingredients

    papaya curry ingredients with labels.

    Green Papaya: Use firm bright green papaya. Read below to see how to select green papaya.

    Potatoes: Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into medium-sized cubes.

    Onion and ginger: They are used in the masala base.

    Spices: The whole spices I use are cumin seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon, and dried chili. The powdered spices I use are cumin powder, chili powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala. You can replace the cumin seeds with panch phoran.

    Step-by-step instructions

    Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add oil. Add cumin seeds, dry red chili, bay leaves, and cinnamon. Saute for a few seconds (step 1).

    Add onion and potatoes. Saute for 3 minutes, until the onions soften (step 2).

    Add ginger and saute for a few seconds (step 3).

    Add cumin powder, chili powder, and turmeric. Add ¼ cup water and mix well. Saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally (step 4).

    papaya potato curry steps 1-4.

    Add the papaya and 1½ cups of water. Mix well (steps 5,6).

    Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to pressure cook mode for 4 minutes. Do a natural release of pressure for 10 minutes, then do a quick release (step 7).

    Add garam masala and mix well (step 8).

    papaya potato curry steps 5-8.

    How to select papaya

    Green papaya is just unripe papaya that is used mostly in savory dishes. Green papaya is firm with white flesh unlike the ripe ones (which are orange and have soft flesh). Select green papaya that has bright green skin. The skin should be smooth without any spots and have a uniform green color throughout.

    If there are yellow or orange patches on the skin, it means that papaya has begun to ripen and may not be suitable to make this dish. If you plan not to use the green papaya immediately after buying it, store it in the refrigerator to avoid ripening it.

    Useful tips

    Soak the papaya cubes in cold water for 10 minutes. This will help remove any bitterness in it. Drain all the water before using. You may also parboil it for 2-3 minutes; however, I have skipped it here and just soaked it.

    Add a little water after adding powdered spices. Else, the spices will burn and make the curry taste bitter.

    The sauce of this curry is thin and runny. If you would like a thicker curry sauce, reduce the amount of water to one cup. After pressure cooking, lightly mash 2-3 chunks of the potatoes to add thickness.

    Click here for my collection of Instant Pot Indian curries.

    pawpaw curry.

    FAQs

    How to cut papaya for curries?

    To prepare the papaya for this dish, wash and peel the skin. Remove the crown. Cut it into half lengthwise and remove all the seeds. Then, cut the halves into quarters and remove the white portion in the center. Cut the papaya into medium-sized cubes.

    How to serve this pawpaw curry?

    This curry tastes best with plain steamed rice. You can also pair it with roti.

    papaya potato curry.

    Bonus

    This papaya potato curry is:
    - unique, delicious, and healthy
    - very easy to make
    - freezer-friendly

    peper dalna with basmatic rice.

    Recipe card

    papaya potato curry.

    Papaya Potato Curry in Instant Pot

    Easy and delicious Bengali-style curry made with chunks of green papaya and potatoes that are cooked in a spicy masala base is perfect for weeknights. Making this papaya curry in an Instant Pot is a breeze and you can pair it with Basmati rice or roti.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Author: Shilpa
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 5
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium raw papaya
    • 2 tablespoon oil
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 2 dry red chili
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 2 small sticks cinnamon
    • 1 medium onion thinly sliced
    • 2-3 medium potatoes cut into cubes
    • 1 inch ginger finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder or cayenne
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 teaspoon garam masala
    • 2 cups water divided

    Instructions

    Prep

    • Wash and peel the raw papaya. Cut them into cubes
    • Soak them in cold water for 10-15 minutes.
    • Drain the water and set them aside.

    Making the curry

    • Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add oil.
    • Add cumin seeds, dry red chilli, bay leaves, and cinnamon. Saute for a few seconds
    • Add onion and potatoes. Saute for 3 minutes, until the onions soften.
    • Add ginger and saute for a few seconds.
    • Add cumin powder, chili powder, and turmeric. Add ½ cup water and mix well.
    • Saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Add the papaya and saute for 1-2 minutes.
    • Add 1½ cups of water. Mix well.
    • Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to pressure cook mode for 4 minutes.
    • Do a natural release of pressure for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.
    • Add garam masala and mix well.
    • Serve hot with roti or rice.

    Video

    Notes

    See the tips section for useful tips to make this dish.
    Nutrition Facts
    Papaya Potato Curry in Instant Pot
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    162
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    6
    g
    9
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Sodium
     
    20
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    546
    mg
    16
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    26
    g
    9
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    6
    g
    7
    %
    Protein
     
    3
    g
    6
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    726
    IU
    15
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    56
    mg
    68
    %
    Calcium
     
    51
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. nancy says

      May 29, 2022 at 5:38 pm

      5 stars
      ive never used papaya in my curry before but it was nice!

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