Broccolli with Ginger and Cumin and Water for Cooking Vegetables

A few recent questions have centered around adding water for cooking in the instant.  I  combined the general questions. This post featuring a brocolli recipe, tells you all about how I work with water in the instant pot. Your bonus for reading through this is a simple and flavorful broccoli recipe. I also re-tested this beans and carrots recipe. This was meant to be a week with all sorts of things to do and then we found out Benji our cat has advanced lymphoma.

This time it does look like he is very sick, please do keep him in your thoughts as we deal with the news.

Cooking Vegetables in Instant Pot like this Broccoli

Timing

I love cooking vegetables in the instant pot. My preferred setting is 0 minutes on low pressure for most vegetables. Yes, you got that right. Now, while zero minutes, sounds almost impossible, the truth is that it obviously takes longer, and the pressure cooking reduced the vegetables to fork tender softness in no time at all. Then there is the water.

Most people are surprised when they see the amount of water in my vegetables recipes. If you have a duo or an ultra (I have noticed that they are more sensitive to “sensing” water in the vegetables). But, the key is that vegetables have a lot of natural water in them. When I am cooking vegetables, I am accounting for that. Depending on the vegetable, I have been able to actually get done with no water.

Now, if the instant pot registers a “burn” message. Shake things up, and add water about a tablespoon at a time, to let it sense the water. Believe me, this will work. This broccoli was done in under 15 minutes, all prep included. On most days I am not even back before the kids start eating their dinner. Yes, I am working on that! However, when I am around dishing up freshly made vegetables goes a long way for me to feel right about everything.  On the brighter side, spring does seem to be knocking on our door.

Other takes on Broccoli in the Instant pot include this simple stir fry and of course, this streamlined creamy pasta with broccoli.

If you like this recipe and want more ideas, do join my Indian Instant Pot Facebook group and Legume Love Group. Of course Instant Indian is ready for pre-order, joining its siblings The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles and Spices and Seasons.

Do not forget to get social with me, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and even Youtube.