The Instant Pot: this year’s multi-tasking, wonder-appliance has landed. It made its debut in countless stores, and at first, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. What can this thing do that my regular pots and pans can’t? But now I’m certain the trend is here to stay because smart chefs and cook-savvy moms everywhere are raving about just how easy and adaptable it is to use (like a Swiss army knife kitchen tool for your food). Not only is it a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and rice cooker all in one, but it’s also a yogurt maker, can saute/brown food, and act as a steamer and a warmer as well. This thing has a lot of power, and when used right, creates the most delicious—and healthy!—recipes, often in a fraction of the time of traditional cooking.
Ready to cook up an instant storm in your pot? We’ve collected some of our favorite recipes to help you get a scrumptious dinner on the table, right now!
Curried Cream of Broccoli Soup
Michelle Tam of NomNomPaleo adapted this delicious-looking soup from a stove-top recipe—her precise directions for using the Instant Pot makes this cold-weather staple even easier!
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, or fat of choice
3 medium leeks, white parts only, cleaned and trimmed and roughly chopped
2 medium shallots, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon Indian curry powder
Kosher salt
1.5 pounds broccoli, chopped into uniform florets
¼ cup peeled and diced apple
4 cups bone broth or chicken stock
Freshly-ground black pepper
1 cup full-fat coconut milk
Leftover Kalua Pork, crisped in pan (optional)
Chives (optional garnish)
For the full recipe, head over to Michelle’s gorgeous site here.
Black-eyed pea topped sweet potatoes
Even vegetarian and vegan meals are made easier with the use of the Instant Pot (doubling in this recipe as a pressure cooker). This 20 minute recipe yields incredible flavors, and is packed with nutrition as well! You don’t have to be a strict vegetarian to enjoy a meatless meal once in awhile, and this one looks perfect. Laura at Hip Pressure Cooking has an array of cooking tips and recipes for the Instant Pot cook.
For the full recipe and tons of useful tips, head over here.
Pork-Stuffed Calabacita Squash
Cassy Joy Garcia of the Fed and Fit blog grew up eating “Calabacita,” a name for a Mexican squash soup with shredded beef or pork. She took her family recipe and spun it into this healthy and hearty dish, perfected by the Instant Pot. (She also includes instructions on making this with a slow-cooker and Dutch oven, as well). If you aren’t a fan of zucchini, you can swap in butternut squash, like the opening photo of this article shows.
For the full recipe, head right on over here.
Instant Pot Bolognese
Short on time, but got a family full of big appetites? Try this simple and savory (and kid-pleasing!) bolognese recipe from Instant Pot Eats. Serve it over spaghetti noodles, spiraled zucchini, or steamed vegetables, and you’ve got a complete meal that’s full of nutrition and flavor.
Find the full recipe here.
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Beef Stew
Michelle over at NomNomPaleo is just such a whiz with her Instant Pot that we had to feature two of her beautiful Instant Pot recipes. This one is a classic, but faster! This filling beef stew is a breeze to make, and the meat is almost guaranteed to be divine. Follow Michelle’s step by step instructions on making this, and you won’t be disappointed.
Find the recipe on her blog here.
Cranberry Braised Turkey Wings
This gorgeous and festive recipe seems like something that would take much, much longer than the 35 minutes (start to finish!) it requires. Laura at Hip Pressure Cooking has detailed and creative recipes that are much more than the standard comfort food. These turkey wings are perfect for a weeknight, or a gathering with friends, and since they’re so quick to make, you can impress anyone in a hurry!
Check out the full recipe (and lots of tips on pressure cooking!) here.
Instant Pot Cashew Butter Chicken
Amy Rains at Wholesomelicious knows how to make healthy taste, well, tasty. And she’s not afraid to use her Instant Pot to draw deeper flavors out of ordinary ingredients. If you’ve got about 10 minutes to spare, this nourishing and tantalizing meal can be on your table tonight! Throw a few ingredients in the Instant Pot, come back 10 minutes later, and you’ve got yourself a meal.
Find the entire (and wonderfully simple!) recipe here.
And today we celebrate...