Instant Pot Kheer

Instant Pot Kheer

Posted on by Rebecca

I’ve had a weekend of craving more “traditional” Ramadan meals. A sign that I am properly missing the community of sharing and visiting this Ramadan. Normally when breaking fast with friends or family I can always rely on at least one person to bring along a big batch of Haleem, some Badam Milk or good old Carrot Sojee. I am a fan of the classics and if anyone is ever offering up a warm bowl of Kheer or Halwa I’m first in line with my plate 🙂 So this weekend I got to experimenting.

Let me start by saying, not all experiments are successful. I started by making a carrot Sojee, but converted our usual recipe with egg yolks, dessert cream and tons of sugar, and tried to cook it in my Instant Pot the same way all the vegan Sojee recipes had been cooked online. Suffice to say it didnt work, I ended up with the burn function and reverted to stove top. I need to play around more and adjust the sugar/water content to do it again (so watch this space). In the meantime, I tried a Gajar Halwa which came out perfectly! But that’t not why you are here. Lets talk about Kheer.

What is Kheer?

A creamy, classic, age old favourite, an Indian version of “Rice pudding” if you will. Indian desserts however, are always extra. So think of a sweetened version, with a little extra “zing” from the elachi and rose water. Every family has their own version, some people do straight rice, others do vermicilli or sago. I think adding a touch of sago to the rice to bring in another dimension. Some people like theirs a thinner consistency, to “sip”, others prefer a more pudding like texture. Whatever your choice, cooking this in the Instant Pot was easy breezy. I just chucked everything in and walked away.

Kheer requires a few essential ingredients, which makes it an easy dessert to whip together. Rice, milk and sugar. If you are dairy free to vegan, no problem, just substitute it for coconut milk for an exotic take. Its adaptable, if its a little chillier, like now, serve it warm (my preference), or if its hotter outside, serve it chilled.

The secret to cooking Kheer in an Instant Pot

How do you prevent the milk from burning or sticking? After my sojee disaster I was naturally a little hesitant, but I saw a tip online that worked a charm. Press the saute button, add a bit of water and get it steaming before adding in your milk mixture. It keeps the milk from sticking to the bottom.

Print Recipe

Instant Pot Kheer

Kheer, a delicious, creamy rice pudding that is the epitome of comfort food. Served either warm or chilled, this Indian classic requires 3 basic ingredients, which makes it easy to whip up at a moments notice. This version substitutes sugar with condensed milk which results in a creamier, smoother consistency.
Cook Time20 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: instant pot, kheer, kheer dessert, rice pudding

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup basmati rice soaked for 15 minutes
  • 2 cups full cream milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tin nestle condensed milk
  • 2 tsps rose water optional
  • 3/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 1/2 tblsp crushed almonds
  • 1 1/2 tblsp crushed pistachio

Instructions

  • Soak the basmati rice in cold water for about 15 minutes. Drain, rinse and set aside.
  • Press Saute on your IP and add in 1/2 cup of water. Once the water begins to steam, add in 2 cups whole milk and tin of Nestle condensed milk, stir through. Switch of Saute.
  • Add in your Rice, rose water, cardamom. Make sure no rice is stuck to the side.
  • Secure the lid, close the value and cook at high pressure for between 17 and 20 minutes (depending on the consistency you prefer)
  • Naturally release the pressure (don't quick release, you'll end up with splattered milk everywhere).
  • Lift the lid and press Saute, adding in your crushed almonds and pistachio (and saffron strands if using). Stir well until combined. Your Kheer will thicken as it cools down so if you prefer a thicker Kheer saute until you reach your desired consistency.
  • Serve warm or chilled. Top with a few sliced pistachio and almonds.
Mothers Day 2020 – Making the most of lockdown

Mothers Day 2020 – Making the most of lockdown

Posted on by Rebecca

For many of us Mothers Day will not be the same this year as a result of COVID-19. That familiar hug and brunch with the family will be replaced by Zoom calls and smaller, more intimate family traditions.

Most shops are still shut, but if you have budget to shop there are a couple of options out there to look at to make Mothers Day during lockdown an extra special occasion.

Go Traditional

Woolworths has their winter pyjama range out, which is always an annual Mothers Day gift in our home. Spoil mum with some of their PJ’s, some slippers and a super soft fleece blanket to snuggle up with. Or, if you are anything like me then the last 40 days have been spent living in sweatshirts and hoodies. Netflorist has a great range of personalised hoodies, gowns and cute socks to make mums day. Perfect for the colder weather we are heading into! I also adore this Charlotte Rhys scarf set which adds a little luxury back into life.

Shop Online

Why not stock up mums pantry for an online cooking course, or if you are living at home you can whip her up a MasterChef style 3 course meal.
You may not be able to take mum out for lunch or breakfast, but you can still support business by ordering through your favourite Restaurant through Uber Eats. Breakfast in Bed with croissants from Fournos or get some lunch delivered from our favourite Polpetta restaurant.

A pamper hamper is always a winner and thankfully bath and body products are considered essentials. Have a look at Netflorist’s range here for some super indulgent bath time treats. The Body Shop and Lush South Africa are also allowed to sell selected ranges.

Get Cooking

Top on a lot of mothers wishlists’ is an Instant Pot, and trust me when I say this is one gift that will make her life a whole lot easier! Spoil the special mother in your life by getting her one from YuppieChef and while you are there you can shop for more Level 4 goods, including some specialised tea and coffees!

Get Creative

Most households have had to tighten the belt financially, so if you are looking for a few more homemade options why not consider a “home spa”? Have a look at our homemade bath salts, with a little essential oil added in these are such a wonderful bath time treat. Pair them with some homemade bath bombs for the ultimate pamper experience.

If bath products aren’t her thing, have a look at these 3 easy DIY alternatives, with a few basic craft supplies you can create some wonderful keepsake treasures for mum.

Say it with flowers

Flowers have always been a traditional Mothers Day gift and the incredible Fields of Colour has the most exquisite, freshest flowers in town! They are open for delivery and for every Mothers Day order you place, they will add in a free face shield to keep mum safe. Now that’s innovative thinking! Available for Gauteng only.

Upgrade her home office

I think we can all agree that lockdown has turned our houses into home offices. Suddenly we realise all the supplies we need at home that make our life easier. Printers, computers, stationery. Logitech has a sleek addition to add to mum’s desk with this portable Pebble Mouse. It’s a modern and sleek mouse that fits into your lifestyle wherever you go, perfect for throwing into your handbag when you need to work remotely. This slim mouse comes in three pretty colours to suit any personality off-white, graphite and rose pink.

Cherishing the memories

You may not be able to have a photo shoot to mark the special day, but why not book one for the future? Robyn Davie Family Lifestyle Photography is running a promotion on the most exquisite photo books that would make an incredible gift, or book a shoot for a future date with Kate Rankin Photography.

Happy Mothers Day to all mother figures out there and up in Heaven. 2020 is certainly one for the books, so lets make the most out of every moment!

Bring On The Clean – With Housewife’s Cleaning Products

Bring On The Clean – With Housewife’s Cleaning Products

Posted on by Rebecca

Let’s face it, lockdown has pretty much brought out the inner “Martha Stewart” in us all. Whether its baking, cleaning or DIY-ing, we have all focused on things we usually wouldn’t have time to do ourselves. For a large portion of South African’s, that includes cleaning.

Now more then ever we are more focused on keeping things clean and hygienic, with an uncertain economy we are all more cost conscious but we also need to focus on supporting local. Enter Housewife’s Cleaning Products. A proudly South African brand that produces a full range of cleaning products, from a braai and grill cleaner, all the way through to a “spot stain remover”. It’s a proven fact that cleaning helps to curb anxiety, and with products that are so affordable, we can all get in on it!

I was sent the range to review pre-lockdown and over the past 40 days, I have been testing them throughout my home. There are a few “hero” products in the range that I would certainly recommend to anyone who is unsure where where to start.

Firstly the super economical, lemon scented, Housewife’s Dishwashing liquid, compares strongly to leading brands. Trust me, my sink has been used multiple times a day throughout this period and I have really been impressed with how long this lasted. The Thick Bleach is another winner and I use it on my toilets and down the drains to keep them fresh and deodorised. The Multi Purpose Cleaner is a fantastic all round surface cleaner and I have been using this on counter tops and bathroom basins. Our floors have been mopped daily (actually sometimes multiple times a day) with both the Floor and Tile Cleaner as well as the Pine Gels (my favourite being the lavender).

Pine Gel has a bit of a “bad rep” in South Africa, for being a “cheaper” or a more “low budget” cleaning product, but I challenge this. When diluted to the right ratio, it creates a wonderful floor cleaning agent with minimum wastage and no residue and is an incredibly versatile multi-purpose cleaner. Housewife’s pine gel creates a wonderful foam, which for some reason always leaves me with a sense of satisfaction. Talking about floors, Housewife’s Carpet Cleaner is also on my #itsrecommends list.

Lastly, I also highly recommend the Grill and Braai Cleaner, having tested this on my most stubborn, grease riddled grills. Leave them to soak overnight and in the morning you’ll have a grill that looks new!

Overall, I have largely been impressed with this extensive range of cleaning products, seriously, they literally have every room and every appliance in your house covered. They even offer a range of luxury hand wash and bubble bath, so after burning all those calories cleaning, treat yourself to some me time with a bubble bath!

Housewife’s cleaning products are available through selected retailers, including Spar, PicknPay and OK Stores.

GIVEAWAY

I’m giving away a full range of Housewife’s cleaning products for you to try out yourself! Head on over to my Instagram page, and make sure you are following Housewife’s on social media to enter!

Ramadan Meals – Instant Pot Chicken Pulao

Ramadan Meals – Instant Pot Chicken Pulao

Posted on by Rebecca

We are well into the Islamic Month of Ramadan, a holy month where Muslims around the world fast for a full month. From pre-dawn to sunset, no food or drink is consumed and we take the time to reflect, to pray, to help those in need and to show gratitude for what we have. Personally, this Ramadan means more to me then ever before.

Each family, each culture have their own unique dishes that form part of Ramadan. From Suhoor (the meal before dawn), to Iftaar (the breaking of the fast) each home has their own special traditions. Over the next week, I’ll be showing you three easy Instant Pot dishes to create, that we feature during this month. Typically we look more towards foods that hydrate and don’t take long to make, such as soups. You will always find some on our table. I’ve featured some of our favourites like Chicken and Vegetable and butternut before, and will certainly be sharing two more favourites over the next week. Cooking soups in the Instant Pot is a breeze!

For now, let’s focus on the Pulao/Pilaf. Not quite a Biryani, but a close enough “cousin”. This is a super quick and easy mid week meal, and I have made mine with de-boned chicken thighs to make it even easier! This Instant Pot Chicken Pulao recipe requires just 15 minutes of prep work and results in flavourful chicken and wonderfully soft rice.

I have yet to master my mum in law’s Pilaf, every time I try to make it my husband says its not the right way, so I adapted my own and call it something different 🙂 The kids ate two big servings of this, so to me, that’s a winner!

A few tips:

  • Don’t forget to remove all whole spices before serving!
  • Your cook time may vary depending on the quality of rice you use.
  • Use a small size salad tomato to prevent any “soggyness”.

Print Recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Pulao

A quick and easy mid week meal that is packed full of flavour. This Instant Pot Chicken Pulao recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and results in flavourful chicken and perfectly cooked rice.
Cook Time21 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Chicken and Rice, Chicken Pilaf, Chicken Pulao, Instant Pot Chicken Pilaf, Ramadan Meals
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups Basmati Rice
  • 500 grams boneless chicken thighs or fillets
  • 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves crushed
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
  • 1 Cinnamon Stick
  • 2 Cardamom pods bruised
  • 4-5 whole cloves
  • 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp crushed ginger
  • 1-2 tomatoes chopped
  • 1-2 green chillies (whole or sliced)
  • 1 3/4 cups water
  • small pinch of saffron dissolved in a little water
  • handful of coriander leaves
  • oil/ghee to fry

Instructions

  • Wash the rice and soak it in water for about 15 minutes. Then drain.
  • Select the sauté setting on the Instant Pot. Once hot, add the oil, ghee, and onion. Sauté, stirring often, until the onions are golden brown. Deglaze the pan with a little water. You want your onions nice and golden because it will colour your rice.
  • Add the spices, garlic, and ginger and sauté for another minute until fragrant. Add the chicken and ¼ tsp of salt and fry until the chicken changes colour. Add the tomato and chili and sauté until the tomato softens.
  • Add in the rice, salt, and water and stir to combine. Scrape the sides of the pot and make sure all the rice is submerged in water.
  • Switch of saute setting and secure the lid, set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Pressure-cook on high setting for 6 minutes with a natural release of 15 minutes. Then manually release any remaining pressure by moving the Pressure Release to Venting. Fluff up with a fork.
  • Sprinkle the cilantro/mint over the top and serve with raita made of yoghurt, coriander, chilli.
Classic English Scones

Classic English Scones

Posted on by Rebecca

You cant get much better then a quintessential English scone. Except when it’s a scone served the day before Ramadan begins, knowing that its your last afternoon tea for a while. The last time I had a proper English scone was sitting in the prettiest Tea Garden at Watersmeet House in Devon, surrounded by the most glorious green forest. So I thought we should recreate a classic English Tea.

There are so many different variations of scones, the debate is not only whether you put your cream or your jam on top, but its also e on whether you use buttermilk or not. My gran (and mum) make scones with soda water, which adds to the rise and produces a soft and fluffy texture. I adore the buttermilk scones as well, it creates such a moist cake. Lock-down however, had other plans.

There are some tips to getting the perfect scone:

  • The trick to a good scone is to not overwork your dough at all.
  • Crumble the butter in, either using the tip of your fingers or a butter knife and then mix it with the softest touch. Love your scones.
  • Make sure your cutter is nice and sharp, a clean edge helps it rise nice and high.
  • By using buttermilk, your scone will have a higher rise. I didn’t have any so made do with what I had.

Alright, I’ll get on with the recipe, because I know that’s the real reason you are here. This recipe is adapted from the Queen of English baking, Mary Berry.

Print Recipe

English Scones

Scones make the perfect afternoon tea treat. Soft, fluffy and best served warm.
Cook Time15 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: English
Keyword: Cream Scone, English scone, scone
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 450 grams self-raising flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 75 grams ice cold butter cut into cubes
  • 50 grams castor sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 250 ml fresh cream (you can use full cream milk as well)
  • pinch of salt
  • egg to brush the top
  • clotted/ whipped cream to serve
  • strawberry jam to serve

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven to 200 Degrees Celsius (205 to be exact)
  • Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Add in the chopped butter, and rub butter into the flour mix using your fingertips until a fine breadcrumb consistency. You can also "cut" the butter through with a knife.
  • Beat the eggs into a measuring jug, then add the milk. Make a well in the center of the flour and stir the egg and milk into the flour – you may not need it all – and mix to a soft, sticky dough.
  • Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface, knead very lightly to form a thickness of about 2 cm.
  • Cut into as many rounds as possible with a a 5 cm cutter and place them on the prepared baking trays. Brush the tops of the scones with a little extra milk, or any egg and milk left over.
  • Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the scones are well risen and a pale, golden-brown colour.
  • Serve with your choice of cream and jam.
Ramadan Activity Pack For Children

Ramadan Activity Pack For Children

Posted on by Rebecca

It’s that time of year again, the holy month of Ramadan. We are pulling out our Ramadan Calendar and creating a special corner for all things festive.
Ramadan is a chance for us to improve ourselves, to be thankful for what we’ve been given and to show generosity and kindness to others. This year it’s certainly taking a new course, with the majority of South African’s spending it in lock-down, Taraweeh will be spent at home due to Corona virus.

In previous years we have created a little Ramadan corner, where we keep all our books, arts and crafts and activities for the boys. While we craft, alot, it’s not always possible to sit down with the boys to do something with them and seeing as thought this year we will be home bound a bit more, I wanted an activity pack to keep them busy. You can find a list here with some of our favourite activities to teach children about Ramadan as well as the values so important to us.

You can find out more about some of our favourite Ramadan Traditions here, as well as a list of our favourite books here.

I’ve been working on a printable activity pack for you. It’s an ever growing resource and i’ll add to it as the years and months go by, but it’s a starting point, and I hope that it can bring joy to children around the world. There are 10 easy to do activities for children up to the age of about 7.

Download your Free Ramadan Activity Pack here.

Download My Free Ramadan Activity Pack Download

Ramadan Mubarak Everyone! I hope you find this pack useful. If you print it out and use it please feel free to share amongst the community, and tag me in your pictures!

The Only 3 Ingredients You’ll Ever Need To Clean Your House

The Only 3 Ingredients You’ll Ever Need To Clean Your House

Posted on by Rebecca

What if I told you that you would only ever need 3 things to clean your house?

Ok, apart from a good dish-washing liquid, with three simple ingredients, you can pretty much clean your entire house, top to toe.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my cleaning products, kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, oven cleaner, floor cleaner, stovetop, window… you get my drift, the amount of products avaliable can all get a little overwhelming right? At a time where money is getting tighter and trips to the shops may not be as frequent, with these three things (and a bit of salt), you can get by.

  • Vinegar
  • Bicarbonate of Soda
  • Lemon
AdobeStock

Bicarbonate of Soda

An all around “freshener” and fantastic abrasive, this is a MUST have in every cleaning cupboard. We use it everywhere, not just for cleaning but for activities with the kids, to make scrubs for the bath, the possibilities are endless. Just SOME of its uses include:

  • Eliminate all fridge odours by keeping a little open in the fridge on the back shelf.
  • Remove grease from baking sheets – Make a little paste out of vinegar and bicarb and scrub.
  • Keep your mattresses fresh – sprinkle baking soda directly onto mattress to remove any dirt/moisture. Click here for a tutorial, under home hacks.
  • Keep mustiness at bay by popping a little into your cupboard or drawers.
  • Freshen up your flowers by adding a teaspoon of baking soda at the bottom of the vase.
  • Polish your own silver – one of the most popular hacks that I’ve done! Baking soda and hot water are miracle workers when it comes to shining your silver, you can check our hack here. It makes the most amazing “science” experiment for kids too.
  • Clean your bowl, by scrubbing a 2/1 ratio of baking soda and olive oil, you can leave your toilet bowl as shiny as new.
  • Clean your oven – again, by creating a paste out of baking soda and vinegar, rub it into your oven and leave to sit overnight. A simple wipe down with a cloth in the morning will have your own looking like new.
  • Clean your sink – Wet the sink, sprinkle baking soda over the surface, and scrub, then rinse. Use a soft brush and the same paste on the rim. Line the sink with paper towels that you’ve soaked in white vinegar. Leave them there for 20 minutes.
  • Relieve your itch. For insect bites, mix baking soda with a little water and rub onto bites, rashes from ivy etc. The number of times my mum used this on me growing up.
Shutterstock

White Vinegar

  • Dustbin deodoriser – Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into dustbin to help absorb odours.
  • Freshen up and clean your kitchen drain by throwing some baking soda down the pipes and then flush it with white vinegar.
  • Soften and freshen your laundry – With Vinegar? Yes I have tried this, and it is true ! You won’t have vinegar scented towels either. Simply add a cup into your wash water, it softens the water and you will see the world of difference in your towels.
  • Clean your shower head – tie a bag filled with vinegar to your shower head to remove any limescale build up. Leave it to soak overnight for any hard to remove stains.
  • Clean your carpet – Remove carpet stains with a mixture of 2 tablespoons salt dissolved in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Let the solution dry, and then vacuum to remove. For tougher stains you can add 2 tablespoons borax to the mixture.
  • Clean your dishwasher – Similar to the shower head, vinegar works a wonder to remove any build up of detergent or water residue. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into your dishwasher and run on empty with hot water.
  • Wash your windows – Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water to keep your windows streak free.
  • Battling with mosquitoes? Use the same window cleaning mixture to spray around window frames where mosquitoes may enter through. We have done this a few times and I am convinced I noticed a difference. It supposedly works against ants too.
  • Shine your glassware – My mum used to own a hiring company and swore by this – by adding a cup of vinegar to your wash water your glasses will sparkle!
  • Clean your grout – By mixing cornstarch, bicarb of soda and yep, vinegar – you can create the most amazing paste to clean the grout in between tiles.
  • Descale your kettle – we all love fancy glass kettles, but the limescale build up on the element can be unsightly. Pour in some white vinegar and leave to sit, or boil the vinegar up a few times to remove the build up. Just remember to rinse your kettle thoroughly afterwards 🙂
  • Make your own kitchen cleaner – By mixing citrus peel (or some essential oils) and vinegar and leaving it to sit for about a week, you can make a great all purpose cleaner. We haven’t tried this yet but its something my Gran used to do when they lived on a farm.

Lemon

  • Scrub your wooden chopping boards – Cut a lemon in half and run across your wooden chopping boards with some sea salt. It cleans any grease or dirt on your wooden board and leaves it smelling wonderful!
  • Clean your microwave – Chuck some lemons into a bowl of water and pop it into the microwave to steam. Wipe down the steam once complete.
  • Clean your cast iron pots – This worked wonders, lemon is the most ingredient thing to remove rust. Rub sea salt and half a lemon all over your pan to clean. Rinse and make sure you dry and oil your pans to prevent any future build up.
  • Taps – There is nothing like a shiny, streak free tap. Cut a lemon in half and rub it all over the tap, finish by wiping it down with a clean, microfibre cloth.

There you have it! With these 3 essential items you can literally spring clean your home. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you to go “all natural”, I use day to day cleaning products just like everyone else, but working together with some of these things has made my life a lot easier and I hope it does for you too!

Easter Craft Ideas

Easter Craft Ideas

Posted on by Rebecca

Easter is around the corner and I think we all have a little more time on our hands to do some arts and crafts with the kiddos.

I have 5 simple art and craft ideas to create some Easter themed artwork to brighten up your days. The key thing you will need in all of them are recyclable items. Egg cartons, toilet rolls etc. From paper crafts to egg decorating ideas​, these Easter crafts for kids make excellent art projects for toddlers, preschoolers, and children of all ages. Some of my favourite Easter memories growing up was sitting around the table painting and dying eggs with my mum, so I want to recreate those memories with my children. Making things special, with everyday items from around the house.

I also have a wide range of non sugar alternatives for Easterto have a read through, with some cute activity and gift ideas.

Egg Carton Easter Bunnies

We first made these about 2 years ago and they have proved a hit ever since. Simply glue two egg cartons together with some hot glue at one end (or tape), and paint. Grab some googly eyes and pom poms for a nose and you have an Easter bunny! Fill the cavity with your favourite mini eggs. You can also make mini chicks by swapping out those bunny ears for feathers.

Carrot Playdough

Make up a batch of homemade playdough, and fill up small icing bags to get a carrot shape. These are perfect treats for the Easter table, or to give away to class mates.

Make your own “Hatch Animals”

These were so much fun to make! Save all your plastic egg shells, they really are invaluable with kids around. I filled a few with mini finger puppets or any collectable style toy, wrap it in some air dry clay, leave to dry and paint/decorate as you wish. The kids aren’t allowed to peak inside the egg before they finish!

Toilet Paper Crafts

Would it be an activity list without these? Last year we made some little bunnies and chicks out of toilet paper rolls, which recently the boys actually asked me to make again. So whip out those pipe cleaners and empty toilet rolls and get crafting.

Toilet Roll Stamps

These were an absolute winner! So easy to make and we had such fun stamping and decorating. Cut up some toilet roll and attach “ears” or “wings” with some glue. Stamp away 🙂

What are some of your favourite Easter themed crafts? I’d love to have a look and get some inspiration ! Drop a comment below .

For more fun idea’s and some great Easter themed printable activities, check out Momsartelier .

Pantry Staples – Instant Pot Butter Bean Curry

Pantry Staples – Instant Pot Butter Bean Curry

Posted on by Rebecca

A simple, quick and delicious recipe for Butter Bean/ Lima Bean Curry. This curry literally has a cook time of under 10 minutes in the Instant Pot. It’s packed full of protein and is meat free, making it the perfect dish for “Meat Free Monday”.

Serve this up for a hearty and comforting weeknight meal, and you can just adjust the chilli content to suit the family. Butter beans are creamy, full beans that don’t have an obtuse flavour.

I know we are allowed to go out to get essentials during lockdown, but to be honest, I don’t want to. As much as I can I chose to stay home, minimising the risk to my family, and to others. So we are using our pantry essentials as much as we can, and it’s allowing me to get a bit more creative in the kitchen. So if you are looking for a vegan option to add to your weeks routine, print out this super easy recipe and let me know how it goes.

And yes, you read that right, this curry is ready in less then 15 minutes total. I love pressure cooking.

Print Recipe

Butter Bean Curry

This highly nutritious curry has a total cook time of 6 minutes in your pressure cooker. Butter beans/ lima beans are delicious cooked in curry and served with rice or roti for a deeply satisfying meat-free dish.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Bean Curry, Butter Bean Curry, Lima Bean Curry
Servings: 4 people

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 cans butter beans
  • 1 tsp ginger & garlic paste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tsp chilli Powder
  • A few sprigs of Thyme
  • 2 cloves
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 cinnamon Stick
  • 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 tomatoes grated
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 large potatoes quartered
  • oil to fry
  • 1 cup water
  • handful of green beans

Instructions

  • Set your Instant Pot to "saute" mode
  • Add in oil, onion, cinnamon, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cloves, bay leaves and ginger garlic and braise onion until soft.
  • Add in chilli powder, turmeric, coriander + cumin powder, salt and fry until fragrant
  • Add in tomatoes
  • Add in potatoes and about a cup of water (to just cover potatoes).
  • Set to Manual, Seal vent and set to 4 minutes
  • Quick Release and add in your green beans and canned butter beans
  • Lid back on and seal, setting manual time to 2 minutes
  • Quick pressure release and if need be saute to thicken sauce.

Notes

If you are using dry beans as opposed to canned you would soak them overnight and cook in the same time. The beauty of the Instant Pot is you can cook beans without soaking, if you go this route your cook time will be about 25 minutes, just remember to only through in the potatoes and green beans closer to the end.
Instant Pot Dhal

Instant Pot Dhal

Posted on by Rebecca

This warm, comforting Dhal is the perfect recipe for a pick me up. We are definitely in a time of uncertainly, and while a large portion of South Africans have already started to “social distance” themselves, the reality is that this hasn’t even started to hit us yet! The main of social distancing is to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading, so if that means us not going into the grocery store, so be it. We’ve stocked up on pantry essentials, but are we used to cooking with them?

I bet my husband is secretly thanking my “Zimbabwe ways” now. You see my parents grew up in a war situation. Commodities were hard to come by and you had to learn to do what you could with the basics. So I grew up with frozen butter in the freezer and the pantry was always stocked with the basics, every item of food was saved and rehashed into another meal, so nothing was wasted. It just makes you realise how much food is typically wasted.

Together with Instant Pot, I’ll be focusing on some pantry essential meals over this next month.

Lets start by looking at my one go to. Lentils. Dried lentils can keep for years in a packet and are rich in iron and folate and an excellent source of protein. Dhal used to take a good hour or so to cook on the stove, with constant supervision to make sure it doesn’t burn. Cooking Dhal in my Instant Pot had honestly revolutionised the way I make it, and I will never do stove top again!

You can choose to add meat, or cook them plain, but very few ingredients are needed for a good dhaal. Some onion, grated tomato and spices are your core base.

When cooking in the Instant Pot, just remember to add enough water, otherwise the “burn” function will kick in.

Let me know your thoughts, but I guarantee once you try Dhal in your IP, you’ll never cook it any other way!

Print Recipe

Instant Pot Dhal

In times when we are relying more on pantry essentials, this Dhal made in an Instant Pot, is quicker then ever to cook.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: dhal, dhal and rice, instant pot, instant pot dhal, pantry essentials
Servings: 4 people

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 medium Onion finely chopped
  • 1.5 cups red lentils (oil dhal)
  • 1 Medium chicken (cut into pieces)
  • 1 cinnamon Stick
  • 2 cardamom Pods
  • 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
  • 3 grated tomatoes
  • 2 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1/2 tsp tumeric
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 whole green chilli (slit)
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1.5 tsp cumin/coriander mix

Instructions

  • Marinade chicken with ginger/garlic masala
  • Switch your Instant Pot onto Saute mode.
  • Braise your sliced onion in oil, with cumin seeds, cinnamon stick and whole slit chilli, cardamom pods
  • Add in your 1.5 cups red lentils
  • Add in your spices : salt, red chilli powder, cumin/coriander mix, tumeric
  • Add in your grated tomatoes
  • Add in your chicken pieces
  • Pour over approx 2.5 cups of water, and make sure there is no dhal stuck on the bottom, otherwise the "burn" function will come up.
  • Set to pressure cook for 25 minutes, with a 5 minute natural release.
  • Open the lid and de-bone any chicken if need be. If you prefer your dhal smoother (we do), you can blend it a little with a hand blender.
  • Serve with some thin sliced, cripsy potatoes (aloo fry), rice and some kachumber (cucumber, onion, tomato and coriander)