Introduction
The Instant Pot—an electric, programmable pressure cooker—has quickly become one of the most popular kitchen appliances on the market. If you grew up with a traditional stove-top pressure cooker, you’ll be amazed at how far pressure cooking has come.
Gone are the days of the scary, rocking pressure regulator on stove-top models. The Instant Pot is whisper quiet while it cooks foods under pressure. It’s also extremely versatile. With a wide range of programmable settings, it does the job of a traditional pressure cooker as well as a slow cooker, rice cooker, and yogurt maker.
Indeed, the range of foods you can cook in the Instant Pot is nothing short of mind-blowing. It’ll turn out both a pot of chili and the loaf of cornbread to go alongside it, a kid-friendly macaroni and cheese that’s ready in a snap, and a silkysmooth cheesecake that will be the envy of every home baker.
This cookbook will tell you how to make those dishes and more. It includes seven chapters of recipes that range from globally inspired dishes to retro American classics with modern updates. You’ll also find how-to instructions for such staples as rice, beans, and broth, as well as directions for flavor-boosting add-ins to keep in the freezer for fast weeknight cooking from scratch.
Once you are comfortable with all of the buttons on the Instant Pot, you’ll discover that using it is much like cooking in a pot on the stove. It has settings to sauté and brown (especially useful when starting soups, stews, and braises), to pressure steam (great for getting vegetables done fast), and even to make yogurt. Plus, once a dish has finished cooking, the Instant Pot will keep it warm for up to 10 hours.
I’ve done my best to include a broad array of recipes to please omnivores and vegetarians alike, as well as folks who are staying gluten-free or dairy-free. There are dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and for luscious desserts and between-meal snacks. And I’ve tested every recipe in my own kitchen to make sure it is not only foolproof but also delicious.
When I wrote these recipes, I wanted them to be both intuitive and easy to follow. To make sure I’ve delivered on that goal, I have included clear instructions at every step so you’ll never have to guess which button to press. Decoding the buttons is the main hurdle to learning how to use the Instant Pot, and I’ve eliminated that obstacle in this book. You’re bound to get the hang of things after making just a handful of dishes, and using the Instant Pot will soon be as second nature as stove-top cooking.
CAJUN CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE JAMBALAYAA filling one-pot rice dish with chunks of chicken thigh and slices of spicy andouille sausage, jambalaya is one of my husband’s favorite dishes. It’s easy to throw together for dinner, and I’m happy to make it often, especially when we’re tired of the usual soups and stews. If you like, add seeded and chopped bell pepper and/or celery with the onion. A bottle of hot sauce on the table is mandatory. Frank’s RedHot is my pairing of choice.
serves 4
1 tablespoon avocado oil or other neutral oil with high smoke point
6 ounces andouille sausage (2 links), sliced
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (4 thighs), cut into 1-inch pieces
Select the Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and heat the oil. Add the sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for about 3 minutes, until slightly softened. Add the rice, bay leaf, and spices and sauté, stirring often, for 1 minute longer.
Add the broth, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken and stir to combine, scraping down the sides of the pot to make sure all of the rice is covered with the cooking liquid.
Secure the lid and set the pressure release to Sealing. Press the Cancel button to reset the cooking program, then select the Poultry setting and set the cooking time for 10 minutes at high pressure.
Let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes, then move the Pressure Release to Venting to release any remaining steam. Open the pot and serve the jambalaya immediately.
Copyright © 2017 by Coco Morante. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
