7 Summer Recipes to Make in the Instant Pot

 

One of the dreamiest aspects of owning a pressure cooker such as the Instant Pot is that it helps you keep the oven off and the A/C soothing during the dog days of summer. Without further ado, here are seven dreamy dishes you can make in the comfort of your cool home, just by pressing a few buttons. (For more inspiration, check out our cookbook.) Happy (pressure) cooking.

 

1. Sriracha Deviled Eggs

 

A lot of people don’t realize that the Instant Pot makes pitch-perfect hard-boiled and soft-cooked eggs, and that their shells tend to be easier to remove than with traditional cooking. This makes for non-chipped whites and a prettier presentation for your best deviled egg recipes. That should include these Sriracha-spiked beauties, which mingle cayenne, Dijon mustard and paprika to great effect.

 

2. Blueberry-Pecan Cheesecake

 

Another IP surprise? Cheesecake. Luscious, tender, uniformly-cooked cheesecakes include this blueberry-and-pecan number. Pecan and graham crackers make up an easy crust, and the topping comprises fresh blueberries spiked with zingy lemon zest and blueberry preserves.

 

3. Ratatouille with Polenta

 

Summertime is ratatouille time. The tomatoes, eggplant, squash and zucchini bloom in jewel tones at the market. Basil grows in big bunches, and is plentiful and cheap. Most ratatouille, however, takes hours to cook. Not this one, which is ready in 15 minutes. If you happen to have two Instant Pots, you can make polenta in one, and the ratatouille in the other, but it’s easy enough to use the stovetop to pull this one off.

 

4. Kale and Artichoke Dip

 

Why restrict the delights of artichoke dip to the winter time? This cheesy, bubbly dip is just the thing for cool summer nights, and you can make the whole darn thing in your pressure cooker. A whole head of kale is tucked in there, too; think of it as a cheesy salad, if you like.

 

5. Thai Chicken Noodle Bowls

 

A 20-minute marinade is the only prep these gorgeous Thai noodle bowls require. And oh, is that marinade good: fish sauce, fresh ginger, chile paste, sesame sauce and peanut butter mingle for all the flavors you know and love in Thai cuisine. You’ll use a reserved portion of that same marinade for saucing the cooked chicken and rice noodles. Light, bright, and lightly spicy, it’s enormously satisfying.

 

6. Pasta with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella

 

Making pasta in your Instant Pot can be right up there with cheesecake for the “mind blown” factor. Yes, you can cook the noodles and the sauce at once in one pressure cooker. And it’s fabulous. Here’s how.

 

7. Pulled Pork Sandwiches

 

Sure, you could turn on your oven in August or September and torment the whole family for hours as you heat your home, slow-cooking a pork shoulder. Or you could make yummy, sloppy pulled pork sandwiches in an hour and a half in your Instant Pot. Brown sugar, cumin and chili powder are the keys to an unctuous rub that becomes a lush sauce. You won’t miss the heat from the oven.