Are you looking for easy and healthy instant pot recipes? Here is the collection of vegetarian instant pot recipes that are healthy, delicious, easy to make at home. And tips for making healthy recipes using an Instant Pot.
Contents :
What is the benefit of an instant pot?
Instant pot makes cooking easy and fast. Unlike stovetop pressure cookers, it doesn't require babysitting.
Homemade cooking is easy with proper planning and the use of the right gadgets. It is also cost-effective to cook at home from scratch.
And what about nutrients in pressure-cooked food? Like any other cooking method, pressure cooking destroys nutrients to some extent, but it is still better. You can read more about pressure cooker effects here and here.
As I always say, variety is the key. I do use other cooking methods. The instant pot comes in handy when you are out of time.
And cooking at home using any cooking method is always better as you know what went into your meal.
Is an instant pot good for vegetarians?
Yes, Instant pot is very much suitable for vegetarians and vegans. As beans and lentils are a significant source of protein for vegetarians, you can cook beans and lentils quickly and effortlessly using an instant pot.
And I love to cook one-pot meals using an instant pot, and they are so convenient on busy days.
You will not miss making meals at home even on your busy days with the Instant pot convenience.
Tips to make healthy meals using an Instant pot:
Though Instant pot is very convenient, I follow few things to make meals easily yet retain maximum nutrition.
- Do not pressure cook leafy veggies: They cook very fast, and many nutrients will be lost when cooked for a long time and under high pressure. So try to add left greens after the pressure cooking is done.
Coriander, mint, baby spinach leaves, Kale, and fenugreek leaves don't need much cooking. So you can add them after releasing pressure. The remaining heat will cook these greens.
Other leaves like amaranth, Rosella leaves can be added after the pressure release and sautéed for a couple of minutes.
- Soak the beans and legumes: Soaking beans and legumes make it easier for digestion. Soaking also reduces cooking time to almost 50%
Yes, it requires little planning, but it pays off. If you missed soaking, try cooking lentils that don't have an outer shell and are easy to digest.
- Chose veggies wisely while adding to curries or rice dishes. Veggies like broccoli, zucchini will lose their texture on pressure cooking. So do not use the pressure cook option if cooking only these veggies or add these veggies after the pressure release and cook on sauté mode.
Vegetarian Instant pot recipes:
Instant pot is one kitchen gadget using which you can make any meal. So here, you will find all healthy instant pot recipes suitable for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Instant pot is helpful for meal prep, so you will find some how-to guides to cook basic staples like millet, quinoa, and beans.
Even if you are not a vegetarian, you should try these recipes, and I am sure you will not be disappointed.
All these instant pot recipes are vegetarian (with vegan and gluten-free options), plant-based, and you can make them from scratch at home.
Each recipe has different variations and substitutes. So you can make them easily with whatever pantry staples you have handy.
I have made all these recipes using Instant pot 6-quart duo.
Here are my top favorite Instant pot recipes from around the globe that you should try today! There are many instant pot recipes on this blog, and you might be interested in them.
Instant pot steel cut oats
Who doesn't like quick breakfast? And these instant pot steel cut oats are so delicious, and you will love to eat them every day!
If you love savory breakfast, then you should try savory steel-cut oats.
Suitable for: Breakfast and dinner.
Quinoa pudding
Make this quinoa pudding that is a healthy and delicious alternative to your regular rice pudding. Have this a breakfast with lots of fresh fruits and nuts, or enjoy it as a guilt-free dessert.
Suitable for: Breakfast and dessert.
Instant pot black-eyed peas
This black-eyed peas curry is my favorite curry that you can serve as a side dish for rice, flatbread, and mashed potatoes. You can even have it as a soup for a busy day.
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Curried Adzuki beans
Adzuki beans cooked in a base of onion and tomatoes make a healthy weeknight meal!
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Vegan penne pasta
This Vegan penne pasta is easy to make with fresh tomato sauce (made at home from scratch) and will be ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for any meal and a kid-friendly recipe!
Suitable for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Pasta e Fagioli
Who doesn't love pasta? With pasta, beans, and veggies, this vegan Pasta e Fagioli is a meal by itself that is so easy, and you can make it even on busy weeknights or for relaxing weekends.
For the vegetarian version, you can top it up with some grated cheese!
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Kidney beans soup
Make this easy yet wholesome vegan kidney beans soup and enjoy it for your lunch or dinner. With few ingredients and an Instant pot, you can make this healthy soup at home even on your busy days.
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Kidney bean chili
Using an Instant pot, we can cook beans at home easily. Make this simple and flavorful vegan bean chili recipe at home from scratch with pantry staple ingredients.
Though chili tastes best with nachos, you can serve it with brown rice, quinoa, or millet to make it a meal!
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Indian Dahl
Instant pot makes the best dal, and this recipe is a keeper! Cook some rice along with dal using the pot in pot method, and your meal is ready in under 30 minutes.
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Vegetable curry
This is another quick and dump-and-go recipe with mixed veggies. You can have this mixed vegetable curry as a stew or have it with the side of quinoa, millet, rice, flatbread.
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Millet lentil porridge
This simple savory porridge, a perfect combo of grains and lentils, is very satiating and the best replacement for your sweet breakfast porridge. Don't worry if you do not have millets handy. You can make this recipe with rice or quinoa also.
Suitable for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Instant pot Khichdi
This Indian-style dump-and-go recipe with grain and lentils is perfect for beginners to use an Instant Pot. A very versatile recipe with grains, lentils, and veggies makes a nourishing meal in no time! You can use millets, quinoa, or rice to make this Khichari recipe.
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Brown lentils and rice pilaf
I love one-pot rice dishes as they make a light and nourishing meal in less time. This brown lentil and rice pilaf is wholesome with veggies and makes a perfect meal by itself.
Suitable for: Lunch and dinner.
Onion tomato curry sauce
Having a stock of this onion and tomato curry sauce in the refrigerator makes cooking easy on busy days.
And using an instant pot, you can make the sauce in large quantity and freeze it for later use.
Millet
Instant pot makes the best millet. Learn how to make fluffy millet and various recipes to use it.
Suitable for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Quinoa
Learn how to cook and season quinoa so that it will not taste bland at all. Serve this quinoa with vegan spinach tofu curry or Indian dal, or make a simple salad.
Suitable for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Kidney beans
Instant pot makes the best beans. With little effort, you can cook bans at home that will save you a lot of money and are healthy. And once you have cooked beans, make a salad, rice, chili, soup in no time.
Suitable for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Easy vegetarian Instant pot recipes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups quinoa (raw)
- 2.5 cup water or vegetable stock
- 1 cup finely chopped carrots
- ½ cup chopped beans
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp chopped ginger
- 1 tsp black pepper powder adjust according to your preference
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Chop the veggies and keep them aside.
- Wash the quinoa at least 2 to 3 times, drain the water completely, and keep it aside.
- Start the Instant pot in sauté mode.
- Once it is hot, add oil, bay leaf, and chopped ginger.
- Now add onions and let them fry for a minute.
- To these onions, now add the chopped veggies.
- Fry the veggies for a couple of minutes and add washed quinoa.
- Mix it once, add pepper powder, dried oregano and fry it for a couple of minutes.
- Switch off the Instant pot and add water to the inner pot. You can check the salt at this stage and adjust it if needed.
- Close the instant pot with its lid and cook it on manual or pressure cooker mode for 2 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the Instant pot beeps, switch it off and wait for the pressure to release naturally.
- Open the lid now and fluff it up.
- And easy quinoa pilaf is ready to serve!
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