I am so behind the game (I’d say, a few years behind) but I finally got myself an Instant Pot and I’m beyond excited about all the Instant Pot recipe possibilities!! Even more exciting, that it’s October, and while it’s still about 80 F degrees during the day in Amman, and there are no pumpkins in sight, I’m so looking forward to the cozy recipes I’m going to be making using my Instant Pot.
What is an Instant Pot?
Great question. Instant Pot is a combined pressure cooker, slow-cooker, rice cooker, and yogurt maker designed to reduce cooking and prep time. The Instant Pot also has the ability to simmer, braise, slow cook, steam, and warm. The original Instant Pot was a 7-in-1 appliance. Today, You can find Instant Pots with 10-in-1 capabilities.
Which Instant Pot Did You Get?
I got theInstant Pot Duo V2 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Qt, 5.7L 1000 W, Brushed Stainless Steel/Black, 220-240v, Stainless Steel Inner Pot.
Is Instant Pot Sold In Amman?
The short answer is No. But with technology, and a little bit of research, I was able to get one shipped to me from Amazon UK. Sure, I paid a little extra for shipping and customs clearance. Also guaranteed delivery by DHL. But it was worth it. In the U.S. you can buy Instant Pot off of Amazon, or directly from the manufacturer’s website. (Another thing I miss about being in DC, fast, reliable, online shopping).
Is Instant Pot Dual Voltage?
Also, No. So don’t try to plug in your US Instant Pot anywhere the voltage is higher than 110v. That’s why I had to dig a little deeper to find one that is 220-240v compatible. Unfortunately, I wanted to get the bluetooth capable, Alexa-syncable Instant Pot, but it hasn’t yet been manufactured for European (220-240v) voltage, limiting my options. Pretty much the only two made for international voltage is the 7-in-1 and 6-in-1 versions. But I’m not even sad about it. Okay, maybe a little bit.
What Can I Make In My Instant Pot?
The possibilities are infinite. Just hop onto Pinterest and search “Instant Pot Recipes” and you will find hundreds of ideas with step by step recipes.
My first order of business, taking all the recipes I have that took forever and a half on the stove and repurposing them in the Instant Pot. Instant Pot Creamy Red Lentil Soup. If you’re looking for the stovetop Lentil Soup recipe, I have one!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Red Lentils
- 4 cups Chicken Stock (or 4 cups water with one packet powdered chicken stock)
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 small potato, peeled and cubed
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon Cumin
- Salt, to taste
- 1 Lemon
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the red lentils. Sift through them for any rocks (remove them, obviously) and then wash the lentils like you do rice – cover with water, and drain about 3 times. Drain the lentils and set aside.
- Turn the Instant Pot on to Sauté mode, do not cover
- Add the butter, onions and garlic and sauté until the onions become translucent
- Add in the potatoes, carrots and lentils and stir to combine
- Cover the veggies and lentils with chicken stock
- Add cumin and stir well
- Turn the instant pot off, then cover the instant pot and make sure the steam vent is set to sealed
- Put the instant pot on high pressure mode and set the time for 15 minutes.
- The instant pot will begin to heat, once it’s reached the right temperature for pressure mode, the timer will begin counting down.
- Once the timer goes off, you’ll want to do the quick pressure release to vent the instant pot. DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE COVER WHILE THE FLOAT VALVE IS UP.
- Turn the steam release handle from sealing to venting and wait for all the steam to come out, and the float valve drops. Alternately, you can use the natural release method, but it takes a bit longer. For natural release, you don’t need to do anything. The Instant Pot will depressurize on its own until the float valve drops. A natural pressure release can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.
- Remove the cover and use an immersion blender to create a creamy consistency. If you feel your soup is too thick, add more water and stir
- Serve hot with lemon and optional pita chips
