Having a healthy, delicious meal ready in minutes is every parent’s dream. But it doesn’t just have to be a dream—it can be your reality. Thanks to the miraculous invention that is the instant pot (plus some choice ingredients) you can have these flavourful family favourites ready before you dash off to speech therapy or skating lessons. Your instant pot does a lot of the hard work for you, so you can spend your “cooking” time loading up the dishwater and setting the table instead.
- A hearty South Asian stew
Forget everything you thought you knew about stew. Haleem is not your typical unidentifiable school-cafeteria special. Instead, it’s a twist on stew you’ll want to make again and again.
This Pakistani/Indian dish is a thick stew made with various grains, lentils, and meat that is traditionally a time-and-labour-intensive meal. Each component is usually cooked separately, then mixed together and cooked over a long period of time to achieve maximum flavour. Using National Haleem Recipe Mix and an instant pot means this once very hands-on recipe is much more hands-off and requires less than 30 minutes of prep time.
The result? A thick and luscious stew with an addictive texture and explosion of flavour.
- A warming lentil curry
Looking for a warming lentil curry this winter season? Try Daal Makhni, a lovable lentil dish that’s perfect served with rice and naan. Now, imagine having this family favourite ready in less than 15 minutes. Grab your trusty instant pot and National Daal Makhni Recipe Mix and get ready for a lentil curry simmered in butter that is sure to please even your pickiest eater (and if not—more for you!)
To your instant pot, add one half cup of green lentils, one half cup of yellow lentils, one half cup of split green lentils, one half cup of white lentils, one chopped medium onion, one chopped tomato, three whole green chilies, two tablespoons of coriander leaves, three quarters of a cup of fresh cream, one quarter cup of butter or margarine, two tablespoons of oil and one packet of National Daal Makhni Recipe Mix. Select the ‘Manual/Pressure Cook’ setting and cook on ‘High Pressure’ setting for 20 minutes.
- A light-yet-satisfying dessert
Have you ever had rice pudding? It’s basically the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth without indulging in anything too heavy. Kheer, a Pakistani and Indian rice pudding, is a great introduction to this heavenly dessert. The best part? You can throw your ingredients in the instant pot when you sit down for dinner, and dessert will be ready and waiting by the time your dinner is done. Just pour one litre of milk into your instant pot, add one packet of National Gajar Kheer Mix, select the ‘Porridge’ setting and set a timer for 20 minutes on ‘High Pressure’. There you have it: an indulgent dessert that isn’t too sweet.
Which recipe will you try first? Grab your instant pot and get speed-cooking.