Pressure cookers have been around for centuries and are a staple in many kitchens. These handy kitchen appliances have been a game-changer in many households, making cooking faster and more efficient. Pressure cooking involves cooking food in a sealed container that traps steam, which raises the temperature above the boiling point of water. This results in faster cooking times and allows food to retain its nutritional value.
Benefits of using a pressure cooker
There are many benefits of using a pressure cooker. First, as mentioned above, it significantly reduces cooking time. For example, cooking a beef stew that would usually take 4-6 hours on a stove-top can be done in 45 minutes using a pressure cooker. This is because the pressurized steam penetrates the food, cooking it from the inside out. Second, pressure cooking preserves the nutrients in the food as the cooking time is much shorter, and there is less water used in the cooking process. Third, a pressure cooker is energy-efficient as it uses less energy than a stove or oven, making it an eco-friendly appliance.
Brief overview of the recipes
In this blog, we will provide you with five delicious and easy pressure cooker recipes that you can try at home. These recipes are perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to cook a meal quickly without sacrificing taste or nutrition.
Recipe 1: Pressure Cooker Beef Stew
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup diced potatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the beef stew meat until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the beef broth, carrots, celery, potatoes, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaf, and the browned beef stew meat.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then use the quick release valve to release any remaining pressure.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water until smooth.
Add the cornstarch mixture to the pot and stir until the sauce thickens.
Serve hot with your choice of bread or crackers.
Serving suggestion: Serve hot with crusty bread or over a bed of rice.
Recipe 2: Pressure Cooker Chili
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the ground beef until browned. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and the browned ground beef.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and serve hot.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with shredded cheese and diced avocado. Serve with a side of cornbread.
Recipe 3: Pressure Cooker Chicken and Rice
Ingredients:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup long-grain rice
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the chicken breasts until browned. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the rice, chicken broth, peas, corn, oregano, and the browned chicken breasts.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and remove the chicken breasts.
Fluff the rice with a fork and mix in the peas and corn.
Slice the chicken breasts and serve over the rice.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with a side of steamed broccoli.
Recipe 4: Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup dried green lentils
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the onions and garlic until translucent.
Add the dried lentils, carrots, celery, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and serve hot.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with a dollop of Greek yogurt and chopped fresh parsley. Serve with a side of crusty bread. In your pressure cooker, sauté the onions and garlic until translucent.
Add the dried lentils, carrots, celery, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and serve hot.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with a dollop of Greek yogurt and chopped fresh parsley. Serve with a side of crusty bread.
Recipe 5: Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
Ingredients:
2 pounds chuck roast
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup diced potatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the chuck roast until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the beef broth, carrots, celery, potatoes, tomato paste . pressure for 30 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and remove the bay leaf.
Mix the cornstarch with a little water and stir into the stew, cooking for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
Serve hot with a side of crusty bread.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a side of crusty bread or mashed potatoes. In your pressure cooker, sauté the ground beef until browned. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and the browned ground beef.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and serve hot.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with shredded cheese and diced avocado. Serve with a side of cornbread.
Recipe 3: Pressure Cooker Chicken and Rice
Ingredients:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup long-grain rice
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the chicken breasts until browned. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the rice, chicken broth, peas, corn, oregano, and the browned chicken breasts.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and remove the chicken breasts.
Fluff the rice with a fork and mix in the peas and corn.
Slice the chicken breasts and serve over the rice.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with a side of steamed broccoli.
Recipe 4: Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup dried green lentils
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the onions and garlic until translucent.
Add the dried lentils, carrots, celery, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and serve hot.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with a dollop of Greek yogurt and chopped fresh parsley. Serve with a side of crusty bread.
Recipe 5: Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
Ingredients:
2 pounds chuck roast
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup diced potatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the chuck roast until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the beef broth, carrots, celery, potatoes, tomato paste . pressure for 30 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and remove the bay leaf.
Mix the cornstarch with a little water and stir into the stew, cooking for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
Serve hot with a side of crusty bread.
Recipe 5: Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
Ingredients:
2 pounds chuck roast
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup diced potatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In your pressure cooker, sauté the chuck roast until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
Add the beef broth, carrots, celery, potatoes, tomato paste. pressure for 30 minutes.
Once done, release the pressure and remove the bay leaf.
Mix the cornstarch with a little water and stir into the stew, cooking for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
Serve hot with a side of crusty bread.
Serving suggestion:
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a side of crusty bread or mashed potatoes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pressure cookers are a great addition to any kitchen. They offer a convenient and efficient way to cook meals while preserving their nutritional value. We hope that these five pressure cooker recipes have inspired you to try something new and to experiment with your pressure cooker. Don’t be afraid to get creative and customize these recipes to your liking. With a little bit of practice and patience, you’ll be a pressure cooker pro in no time!
If you’re looking for additional pressure cooker recipe ideas, there are many resources available online, including blogs, cookbooks, and social media accounts dedicated to pressure cooking. So, go ahead and explore the world of pressure cooking, and discover all of the delicious meals you can create with this versatile kitchen appliance! more
