Great Food You Can Make With An Instant Pot

With the world’s growing population, not everyone can afford a huge living space where you can have a large kitchen to store many different appliances. The Instant Pot offers a solution to that problem by being one kitchen appliance that can do many tasks, aside from cooking a complete meal. If you’re still not convinced, you can check out Instant Pot Life for reviews and resources to help you get the most out of your Instant Pot.

That said, here are some recipes you can try with an Instant Pot:

For Breakfast: Cinnamon Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a great breakfast food option. It’s healthy and versatile, and you can add your choice of fruits and toppings for extra flavor. But, for this article, we’re making a cinnamon version, and it’s very easy to make.

To make it even healthier, you can add blueberries and cashews. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, which is good for heart health, as well as fighting infections and cancer. Cashew, on the other hand, is a source of good cholesterol, which is also good for the heart.

Ingredients:

8 cups of milk

2 cups of steel-cut oats

1 ½ cups of chopped, roasted, and unsalted cashews

1 pint of blueberries

2 tbsp. of butter

1 tsp. of vanilla extract

1 tsp. of salt

½ cup of light brown sugar

½ tsp. of ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. of ground nutmeg

Procedure:

1. Put all the ingredients inside the slow cooker except for the blueberries and cashews.
2. Stir it inside the pot so they’re well-mixed.
3. Set the cooker. You can go high for two hours or low for four hours.
4. Top with blueberries and cashews once done.

For Lunch: Beef and Broccoli

Beef and broccoli is a simple recipe that’s perfect for lunchtime. If you’re fond of the beef and broccoli on Chinese restaurants, maybe it’s time for you to cook one at home. It’ll save you some money from having to order takeout all the time. You can even cook garlic mushroom quinoa as a side dish.

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs. of steak, thinly sliced

1 head of broccoli, chopped

3 tbsp. Of olive oil

3 tbsp. Of sesame oil

1 small onion

3 cloves of garlic

¾ cup of beef broth

⅓ cup of soy sauce

⅓ cup of brown sugar

1 tbsp. of cornstarch

Procedure:

1. Sauté the meat in the olive and sesame oil inside the Instant Pot for about 1-2 minutes or until it turns brown.
2. Add the garlic and onions and keep sauteing.
3. Add in the soy sauce and the broth. Let it boil for a few minutes.
4. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.
5. Let the meat go tender by putting it on high pressure for about 10-12 minutes.
6. Mix the cornstarch to 2 tablespoons of water and add it inside the Instant Pot to thicken the sauce.
7. When the beef is cooked, and the sauce is thick, add the broccoli and cook for another 2 minutes.

For Dinner: Salmon with Garlic Potatoes and Greens

If you plan a romantic date night for your significant other, salmon and garlic potatoes is a great meal to prepare. It’s also great to cook for a family of four and enjoy a simple dinner at home. You can also make Instant Pot desserts for a sweet-tooth satisfaction at the end of the meal.

Ingredients:

1 ¼ lbs. of small red-skinned potatoes, quartered or halved

1 cup of water

4 tbsp. of unsalted butter

4 center-cut salmon fillets with skin on, 3/4 to 1 in. thick, center-cut

¼ tsp. of paprika

½ tsp of grated lemon zest, save wedges for serving

4 cloves of garlic, minced

4 cups baby spinach and arugula

Ground pepper

Kosher salt

Procedure:

1. Place the potatoes and water inside the Instant Pot with two tablespoons of butter and add half a teaspoon of salt and pepper. Put the steam rack over it.
2. Rub paprika and lemon zest on the top and sides of the salmon. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Place the salmon on the rack on its skin-side.
4. Close the lid and set it on high pressure for about 3 minutes, and then release the pressure.
5. Remove the rack with the salmon and set the cooker to normal heat and sauté the potatoes. Add the garlic and continue to stir until the potatoes soften.
6. Add the remaining butter and then season with salt and pepper.
7. Use a fork to smash the potatoes.
8. Add the baby spinach and arugula and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Then, season with salt and pepper.

Final Thoughts

The Instant Pot is a savior for those who aren’t masters in the kitchen. There might be a slight learning curve to learn how to use the Instant Pot, but it doesn’t take a master chef to use it for everyday home-cooked meals. Try the different settings to see which recipes you can come up with yourself.