Introduction
Preparing home-cooked meals is one of the best things you can do for your health, and using an Instant Pot makes it easy and convenient to incorporate cooking into any lifestyle. This electric, programmable pressure cooker has long been an indispensable tool in my kitchen, especially when it comes to healthy cooking.
Healthy cooking means different things to different people. For me, the most important part is starting out with wholesome ingredients, and this book takes the guesswork out of choosing the right groceries. Its recipes draw from a palette of mostly whole-food ingredients, including fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables and fruits; beans; whole grains and whole-grain flours; grass-fed dairy; lean proteins; healthy oils and fats; and moderate amounts of natural sweeteners. When cooking starts with good ingredients, you end up with good food.
You’ll find that when you use the Instant Pot, there is always some built-in downtime. That’s what I love most about this appliance: once you’ve closed the lid and selected a cooking program, you’re free to get on with your day, tend to other kitchen tasks, or just relax for a bit while your meal cooks itself. It’s changed the way I think about meal preparation and time management for the better, since there’s so much more flexibility than with stove-top or oven recipes. Whether I’ve planned ahead or need to whip up dinner.
In the chapters to come, you’ll discover recipes for every meal of the day. Hearty breakfasts, vegetable-spiked rice and pasta dishes, and belly-warming soups are just the beginning. There’s even a whole chapter of vegetarian main dishes (great if you eat a plant-based diet or you’re just looking to incorporate some meatless Mondays into your routine), and some healthy spins on dessert favorites, such as cheesecake and chocolate cake brownies. And, of course, you’ll find tried-and-true Instant Pot classics, including super-creamy mac ’n’ cheese (surprise, it’s vegan!), smothered chicken (full of flavor yet skinless to cut down on calories and saturated fat), and a rib-sticking steak and bean chili to satisfy big appetites.
Once you get comfortable with your Instant Pot and its possibilities, it can be a real joy to venture beyond the classics and try out flavor combinations from around the world. After all, many international cuisines are packed with healthy recipes if you just know where to look. Beet Borscht (page 75) is a light yet comforting soup, and it’s absolutely loaded with vegetables. Italian Braised Green Beans and Tomatoes (page 219) takes advantage of a few fragrant spices and cooks in just minutes. Chicken and Mushroom Goulash (page 166) is the epitome of the one-pot meal, with protein and vegetables cooked together.
Before you jump into the recipe chapters, I encourage you to check out the rest of this introductory section. Whether you’re an Instant Pot novice (welcome!) or an old pro, you’ll find some new information here. I’ll go over the basics of how to use your Instant Pot and all of its functions; review the best tools, accessories, and pantry staples; and chat about shortcuts and tricks for getting healthy food on the table.
The purchase of an Instant Pot often comes with the hope of preparing more healthful, home-cooked meals. In our modern, busy lives, this versatile appliance can truly help you to accomplish your nutritional goals and feed your household nourishing meals. I hope that this cookbook provides you with plenty of guidance and inspiration, and helps you to make healthy Instant Pot cooking part of your routine.
I wish you a rewarding pressure cooking journey!
Copyright © 2019 by Coco Morante. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
