Tag Archives: Instant Pot

October 27, 2021 · 2:33 pm

Instant Pot Sausages, Cabbage, and Carrots

Autumn brings out the comfort foods, it seems. Here in the Hasty Tasty Kitchen, I’m always experimenting with easier, one–pot versions. After discovering delicious chicken apple sausages at my big warehouse store, I developed this one. It’s a healthy, hearty meal for two that’s a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors.

NOTE: I used my six quart Instant Pot, but the recipe works in any multi cooker or stovetop pressure cooker. Add cooking time for other methods.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces water for Instant Pot
  • 2 sausage links (3-4 oz each) cut into 1/2” slices
  • 1/2 head green cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 12 baby cut carrots
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • (Optional) 1/2 tsp bacon drippings

Directions

  • Pour water into the inner pot to the Instant Pot.
  • (optional) toss cabbage with bacon drippings.
  • Place all remaining ingredients in a steamer basket and place inside the Instant Pot above the water.
  • Seal pot, set at high pressure for 4 minutes.
  • After cook time, cancel. Allow pressure to drop on its own one minute before release. Carefully open pot.
  • Check seasoning and add salt/pepper as desired.
  • Using tongs, toss and serve.

This dish pairs well with a slice of cornbread. Enjoy.

Cabbage, sausage, and carrots.

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April 5, 2020 · 5:08 pm

Quarantine Cuisine Day #5 – Kung Pao Chicken

I craved Asian cuisine today, so I made Kung Pao Chicken and brown rice in the Instant Pot. I didn’t have hot peppers, hoisin sauce, or chili purée. Without the typical red chili peppers, my dish was milder than take-out. As for the condiments, I found recipes online and made my own.

We were pleased with the results. I focused on ingredients I had (fresh ginger root and fresh cilantro) and followed a Betty Crocker (Cookbook) recipe for low fat Kung Pao Chicken. I used frozen chicken thighs and modified it for the Instant Pot or any brand multi cooker.

RECIPE—Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken for Two

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbsp cold water
  • 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. Grated ginger root
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth (from cooking the chicken)
  • 1/2 tsp. sugar
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp Chile purée
  • 2 Tbsp hoisin sauce
  • Pressure cook chicken thighs in 1/2 cup water ten minutes. Allow pressure to drop on its own.
  • Mix a slurry of all other ingredients except broth, onions, celery, and peanuts. Set aside.
  • Remove chicken from pot and cut into 1” cubes. Reserve broth.
  • Using sauté mode, sauté onions, peanuts, and celery in 1/2 cup of reserved broth for five minutes.
  • Add chicken and stir.
  • Add the slurry and turn off Instant Pot. Stir until sauce thickens.
  • Serve immediately over 1/2 cup cooked brown rice.
  • (optional) Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

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April 3, 2020 · 2:51 pm

Quarantine Cuisine Day #3 – Grits

Breakfast. I’m a firm advocate of eating breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day because you are “breaking” the “fast” of sleep.

I’m also no fan of fasting. Those diets that involve fasting are not for me! Just as with any meal, I will need to be creative with breakfast if I stick with my vow to stay home 30 days.

We still have eggs and egg substitutes, so today I combined the two to make a lightened version of scrambled eggs. We have plenty of Jimmy Dean turkey sausage patties in the freezer, so I added those to the menu. But the star of today’s breakfast was grits.

I blogged previously about making grits in my pressure cooker.(No Grits , No Glory)

Today I needed only a cup of grits so I adjusted the recipe accordingly.

INSTANT POT GRITS FOR TWO

  • 1 cup water in the pot of the cooker (the grits are cooked in a bowl on the rack within the pot of the cooker)
  • 1/4 cup old fashion grits
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 Tbsp (1 pat) unsalted butter
  • Salt to taste
  • Cook grits under pressure 5 minutes.
  • Turn off cooker. Allow pressure to drop completely on its own.
  • Carefully open cooker and remove bowl using silicone mitts or potholders.
  • Stir grits vigorously.
  • Serve immediately

This recipe produces one cup, or two half-cup servings. If you need more or larger servings, simply double the recipe.

In conclusion, I strive to vary our menus while meeting this thirty-day challenge. I don’t want my quarantine routine to turn into a rut.

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February 27, 2020 · 2:20 pm

Beef and Mushroom Stew

We love all meat yet try to limit our consumption of red meats. So I developed a recipe for beef stew that uses only half a pound of meat. By adding a pound of mushrooms, I boost the umami taste. I sneak in more vegetables, too.

This is a pressure cooker recipe that’s easily adapted to slow cooking. By using the pressure cooker, we get that cooked all day flavor in about half an hour.

Recipe

Beef and Mushroom Stew

Makes 4 one-cup servings

  • 1/2 pound beef (chuck or round works) cut into 1” chunks
  • 1 pound mushrooms, sliced and cleaned
  • 1 cup broth + 1 Tbsp (reserved for slurry)
  • 2 tsp. Oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 2 small red or gold potatoes, sliced or cubed
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced or sliced
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground pepper

Directions:

  • Preheat cooker pot.
  • Add oil.
  • Generously salt and pepper the beef.
  • Brown the beef on all sides, then remove from pot and set aside.
  • Sauté onions, garlic, and mushrooms 1 minute.
  • Add cup of broth, deglaze bottom of pot, and return the beef to the cooker.
  • Seal and cook under high pressure for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, prepare slurry by combining Worcestershire sauce, reserved broth, and cornstarch.
  • Remove pot from heat (or hit Cancel if using electric) and allow pressure to drop on its own.
  • Carefully open pot and add potatoes and carrots. Reseal.
  • Bring to pressure and cook 1 minute under pressure.
  • Remove from heat, allow pressure to drop 5 minutes on its own, then release remaining pressure.
  • Carefully open the cooker and check vegetables for doneness.
  • Stir slurry again right before adding it to the pot. Return to heat (or use sauté mode on electric models) just until sauce thickens.
  • Remove from heat immediately and check for seasonings. Add salt and pepper if needed and serve.
Beef and Mushroom Stew

Adding fresh chopped parsley before serving adds flavor. Unfortunately, I was out of parsley when I cooked this stew today. Next time …

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