Instant Pot Indonesian Curry Chicken (Kari Ayam)

The popular Indonesian Curry Chicken (Kari Ayam) is pressure-cooked in the multi-purpose Instant Pot and fall-off-the-bone meat in a fraction of the time!

Yes, I have joined the Instant Pot Cult! Not sponsored you guys! I purchased it because I’m curious to try out this magic pot that people have been raving about in the foodie communities.

Instant Pot Duo 6 Quart

My first exposure to Instant Pot was last year when I saw a friend of mine posted on her Instagram on various meals she prepared using Instant Pot. I was like…whatever! Just another gimmick that probably will die off in a year or two! Only that it doesn’t. This thing is so popular now that when I walked into Target on two separate occasions, I saw two moms had Instant Pot in their shopping carts. Immediately, it sent me into thinking…huh, this must be a sign that I need to give this magic pot a try and well…you know how the story goes from here.

Here’s the first recipe I shared on this blog using Instant Pot, Indonesian Curry Chicken or we call it Kari Ayam.I’ve made Kari Ayam before without Instant Pot and so I wanted to compare how it’s like using Instant Pot to prepare it. I simplified the recipe a little bit for this Instant Pot version as I know the majority of people who own Instant Pot seek convenience and can’t be bothered to go hunting for turmeric leaves and galangal roots 😉 If you know what I mean! But, you won’t be disappointed by this Instant Pot version. It tastes so good and makes you feel like you spend lots of time making this. My husband loved it!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT USING INSTANT POT TO PREPARE THIS?
1. The fact that I can use its “Saute” feature with the pot, so everything is made in one pot
2. I don’t know about you, but I had always felt a bit intimidated by using a pressure cooker, but the pressure cooker feature in Instant Pot is easy enough for a dummy like me to operate without having to injure myself!
2. Chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender in 15 minutes. I usually cook it for close to 1 hour on stove-top.

I love the ability to saute

Just finished cooking in Instant Pot (coconut milk not added yet)

EVER WONDER WHY YOUR CURRY THAT HAS COCONUT MILK IS FROTHY OR NOT SMOOTH?
Because you boil the coconut milk/cream. Once it’s boiled, coconut milk will turn frothy and makes your curry not smooth anymore. I added the coconut cream at the end of cooking time once it’s done pressurized. This is one of the tips that my moms keep reminding me when cooking with coconut milk, whether you do it with Instant Pot or stove-top. Never boil the coconut milk on high heat, unless you are making something like Rendang, in which the meat is slowly cooked along with coconut milk.

Adding the coconut cream last is crucial

hmm….smooth and creamy

I love how the Kari Ayam turned out. The meat was still tender and fall-off-the-bone in half the time! Pretty impressive! I will be Instant Potting A LOT you guys! But fret not, I’m not trying to sell you, if you don’t have Instant Pot, I will still include the regular cooking method without Instant Pot in every recipe (if there isn’t one already).

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Instant Pot Indonesian Curry Chicken

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings 6 servings

5 from 5 reviews

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Ingredients

  

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• 2.5 -3 lbs bone-in skin-on drumettes and wings (see notes) separate the drumettes and wings, discard the tip
• 2 Tbsp cooking oil
• 1 medium onion peeled and sliced
• 3 cloves garlic peeled and diced
• 6 kaffir Lime leaves tear the edges to release flavor
• ¼ cup curry leaves optional
• 1 Tbsp turmeric powder
• 1 small star anise
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose chili sauce (or use 1 Tbsp paprika powder) see notes
• 1 cup water
• 3 Roma tomatoes halved
• 1 cup coconut cream
• Salt to taste

Recommended cooking equipment

• Instant Pot
• Medium - large pot with lid

Instructions

 

• Turn on the Saute mode on the instant pot, when it displays HOT, add in cooking oil. Add onion, garlic, chili paste (if using) and saute until they are soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add star anise, kaffir lime leaves, curry leaves, turmeric powder and stir fry for another minute. Add the chicken pieces in there and stir to mix everything. Pour in the water. Add tomatoes. Close the lid of the Instant Pot. Make sure the steam release handle is turned to SEALED. Press the Pressure Cooker button and use the -/+ button to set it to 15 minutes.
• The pressure mode takes about 5 minutes to get "ready" before it will start the actual cooking time. At the end of cooking time, use "Quick Release Pressure" method. Turn the steam release handle to VENTING and wait to let it releases all the steam and pressure, it will make that "hissing" sound. Once you don't hear that anymore, make sure the float valve near the steam release handle is all the way down (usually it is). If it's still up, wait! It's still pressurized. 
• Remove the lid and stir in the coconut cream and give it a good stir. Season with salt to your taste. Serve immediately or keep warm in the instant pot if you are not ready to serve yet

Notes

If you use bone-in big drumsticks or thighs, increase the pressure cook time to 25 minutes. If you use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breast that is cut into bite-size, you can pressure cook in 7 minutes! The all-purpose chili sauce I made is not spicy at all because they are made with large dried Mexican peppers and it gives nice rich red colors without the heat. You can definitely add in 2-3 Thai chili to make it spicy

Did you make this recipe?Please leave me a comment below and tag @whattocooktoday and #WhatToCookToday on Instagram

Don’t have Instant Pot? You can find the Kari Ayam recipe using regular stove-top method here