Tomato Soup (Instant Pot)

From here

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 cup vegetable stock (250 ml)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian herbs or dried basil
• 6 sun-dried tomatoes (in oil)
• 4 x 15 oz cans of whole Italian tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup thickened cream or sour cream
• To serve: croutons and Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Turn the Instant Pot on and press the Saute button. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and onions and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring a few times, until slightly translucent and browned. Now add the garlic and stir, cook for 1 minute.
• Pour in 1 cup of stock to deglaze the pot. Stir and scrape the bottom with a spatula to prevent a possible BURN error that might happen if anything is stuck. Press Cancel to stop the Saute process.
• Add the tomatoes and all the juices from the cans. Follow with the remaining ingredients except for cream. Stir through briefly and pop the lid on top.
• Secure the lid and press the Pressure Cook/Manual button. Adjust the time to 5 minutes, on HIGH pressure. The Instant Pot will take about 10-12 minutes to come to pressure and then the 5-minute countdown will begin. Once the timer is done allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes and then use the quick release button/lever to let off the remaining pressure.
• Open the lid and stir the soup. Use an immersion stick blender to puree the soup. You can also use a food processor and puree the soup in batches, make sure to cool it slightly first.
• Finish the soup by stirring in the cream and tasting for salt. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and croutons or grilled toast on the side. Cheese toasties are fabulous with tomato soup!

Comments

• Goes well with grilled cheese sandwiches

Palak Khichdi (Instant Pot)

From here 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup short-grain rice Ambe mor or Kali Jeera or similar variety
• ½ cup mung dal
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 cups water
• 1 to 3 small green chiles use more or less depending on the spice level
• 1 pound baby spinach
• 8 garlic cloves
• ½ inch ginger
• 3 tablespoons ghee plus more for serving
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• freshly ground pepper optional for serving

Instructions

1. Rinse rice and lentils and drain the water.
2. Add rice, lentils, water, and salt to the Instant Pot insert and pressure cook for 6 minutes followed by 5 minutes natural pressure release. If using a stovetop pressure cooker, cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or 3 whistles.
3. In a large pot bring 8 to 10 cups of water to boil. Add green chilies and baby spinach and blanch for 1 to 2 minutes or just until all the spinach wilts.
4. Take out the spinach and chilies and run cold water over them so the spinach stops cooking further. Drain out the water completely.
5. Add garlic cloves, ginger, and blanched spinach and chiles to a blender and make a smooth puree. Tip - If you do not like the fibers from the spinach make sure to puree well. I enjoy the fibers in the khichdi so I usually blend just for a minute.
6. In a large pot heat ghee (Tip - I dry the pot used for blanching spinach and use for making the khichdi). Add cumin seeds and allow them to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Add finely diced onions and cook for 4 to 5 mins.
7. Stir in garam masala, salt, and spinach puree. Then add the cooked rice and dal (from step 1 above) with more ghee and mix everything together.
8. Serve immediately with more ghee and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Comments

Onions seem pretty optional...

Spinach Dal and Rice (Instant Pot)

From here

Ingredients

▢

• 1 tablespoon ghee
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 green chili chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• 4 curry leaves (optional)
• 1 tomato diced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups water
• ½ cup red lentils
• 4 ounces baby spinach
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ½ cups water

Instructions

1. Add ghee, cumin, turmeric, green chili, garlic, curry leaves, tomatoes, lentils, salt, and water. Give a quick stir.
2. Place the tall trivet inside the pot. Add rice, salt, and water to the stainless steel pot and place it over the trivet.
3. Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to sealing. Select Pressure Cook(Hi) and adjust the pressure cook time to 5 minutes. Allow 5 minutes of natural pressure release and then release the remaining pressure manually. Open the Instant Pot and carefully take out the rice bowl and the trivet.
4. Mix the lentils with a spatula. Add more water, to bring the lentils to desired consistency. Dal will thicken as it cools. Add chopped spinach and mix well. Cook on Sauté mode until the daal comes to a gentle boil.
5. Enjoy hot with steamed basmati rice.

Comments

• Easy enough to cook the rice separately
• Use less water (half as much) for a thicker soup (preferable)
• Step 0 should probably be sauté the butter, cumin seeds, turmeric, green chili, garlic, curry leaves

Kakdi Koshimbir / Indian Cucumber Salad

From here

Ingredients

• 4 small Persian cucumbers
• 1 tablespoon ghee (butter)
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds lightly crushed in the palm of your hand
• ⅛ teaspoon asafetida hing (optional)
• 1 small green chili sliced lengthwise
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons peanuts roasted and ground
• 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped finely for garnish

Instructions

1. Peel the cucumbers, finely dice and keep in a medium bowl.
2. Heat ghee in a small saucepan over medium heat. Lightly crush cumin seeds in the palm of your hands and add to the hot ghee. Allow the cumin seeds to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Add hing and green chili and cook for another 30 seconds.
3. Pour the tempering on the chopped cucumbers. Add salt, sugar, peanuts, and cilantro. Mix well and serve immediately.
4. If making ahead of time, hold on the salt and sugar and add them just before serving. This helps the cucumber not release too much water. Leftover koshimbir can be refrigerated for a day.

Green Gazpacho

Adapted from here

Ingredients

• 2 medium cucumbers
• 1 medium white onion
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 medium avocado
• 1/4 bunch fresh parsley
• 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup water
• 5 oz walnuts
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Remove the ends from the cucumber and slice it in half lengthwise. Scrape the seeds out with a spoon and then chop the cucumber into chunks. Remove the seeds from the bell pepper and also cut it into chunks. Dice the onion. Add the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, and garlic (peeled) to a food processor. Process until the vegetables are minced.
2. Pull the leaves from about 1/4 of the parsley and cilantro bunches. Add the leaves to the food processor along with the olive oil and the flesh from the avocado. Purée until smooth.
3. Add the water, one tablespoon of lemon juice, and one teaspoon of salt. Purée until smooth again. Taste the soup and adjust the salt or lemon juice if desired.
4. Serve immediately or chill until ready to eat.

Comments

Other potential ingredients: celery, chiles, spinach, basil, greek yogurt, arugula, mint

Gochujang-Sesame Noodles

From here

Ingredients

• 8–10 oz. fresh or dried wheat noodles (such as lo mein, udon, or ramen)
• Kosher salt
• ¼ cup gochujang
• 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. light or dark brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. tahini
• 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 bunch broccoli rabe, coarsely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• Handful of torn basil leaves, plus sprigs for serving
• Toasted sesame seeds and lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

1. Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cool running water.
2. Whisk gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, tahini, sesame oil, and 2 Tbsp. water in a small bowl to combine; set sauce aside.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add broccoli rabe and garlic; season with salt and lots of pepper. Cook, tossing often, until broccoli rabe stems are crisp-tender and leaves are wilted, about 2 minutes. Add reserved sauce and cook, stirring often, until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Add noodles and a handful of basil and toss gently until sauce clings to noodles, about 1 minute.
4. Divide noodles among bowls and top with sesame seeds and more basil. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

Comments

Spicy!

Peanut Chicken Summer Roll Bowl

From here

Ingredients

• Salad
• 4 cups shredded romaine or cabbage
• 4 carrots, shredded
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro or Thai basil, chopped
• 1/2 cup diced mango
• 2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped
• 1/3 cup peanuts, chopped
• 4 ounces vermicelli rice noodles, cooked
• 1-2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 avocado, chopped
• Dressing
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2-3 tablespoons chili sauce (sambal oelek)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, carrots, green onions, cilantro, mango, cucumbers, jalapeños, and peanuts.
2. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add water, as needed to thin.
3. Pour 1/2 the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Divide the salad between bowls. Top each with noodles, chicken, and avocado. Drizzle over more dressing. Tip: I take scissors and cut the noodles up, then toss everything together with the dressing.

Comments

• Blend the peanuts in the blender for the salad before combining the ingredients for the dressing in the blender
• Shred carrots with cheese grater (or peel them)
• Did not include chicken in the pictured dish