Toss everything into the Instant Pot
Set the Instant Pot to ‘manual’ mode for 3 minutes – and it’s soup!
When wildlife threw a “let’s gnaw-the-drain-hoses under the dishwasher” party while we were away for two weeks on scuba adventure (see video below) – taking any last vestiges of ‘ease’ out of kitchen clean up – we had to scramble.
A scramble to not only keep ahead of the flood of water pouring out onto the kitchen floor, but to get creative about simplifying the dish washing process until the dishwasher gods – for truly the dishwasher is a divine invention – would once again bless our kitchen.
It took a full week between the call to appliance repair, damage assessment, getting parts ordered, and having them installed so that I was back in push-button clean dishes heaven again. Sounds small, I know, but for someone like me who loves to eat – but cooking and cleanup, not so much – this presented its own set of challenges.
Enter the Instant Pot
My Instant Pot, already a close buddy because it makes food preparation so quick and easy, became my new best friend. You already know I’m a big fan of this food-prep wonder, the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. (See My new kitchen buddy: Instant Pot electric pressure cooker review). One of the reasons is that along with ease of food prep, it streamlines kitchen cleanup with a recipe such as ‘3 Minute Vegetable Soup’: 1 pot, a cutting board, and a sharp chopping knife are all I need. Add two bowls in which to serve the soup, two spoons for the obvious, and that’s all you need to clean up after.
If you have yet to discover the joys of the Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker, no time like the present when holiday rush can have you hopping with a pile of ‘urgent’ obligations! It’s typically a time when you can put yourself last, am I right? That means taking care of your health with good, nutritious food and daily exercise can be challenging.
Countdown cook time is only three minutes.
3 Minute ‘Dishwashers Down!’ Vegetable Soup Recipe
- 1 head celery
- 1 head kale
- 1 cup dried mushrooms
- 4 large carrots
- 1 large onion
- 6 cloves garlic, pressed or shredded
- 2 quarts water
Additional seasoning suggestions added after cooking:
- 1/4 cup white miso paste mixed with 1/2 cup hot water from the soup pot (or substitute your favorite savory seasoning)
Instructions:
1. Put the water in the Instant Pot
2. Quickly chop the head of celery and carrots into bite-sized bits and add to the pot
3. Slice or tear the kale into edible mouthfuls and add to the pot
4. Toss in the cup of mushrooms.
5. Once you’ve got everything in the Instant Pot, set on ‘Manual’ mode for three minutes. When the timer goes off after the 3 minute countdown, release the steam valve on the lid to stop the cooking process.
6. Scoop 1 cup of the hot liquid out of the pot and mix the miso paste in. Return to the pot, stir, and serve.
Tips on how to make things even speedier:
- To really get things quickly underway, put a quart of water into the Instant Pot and set to ‘Saute’. This way the Instant Pot starts heating the water while you quickly chop and add the vegetables
- Instead of knife-chopping the vegetables, you could use a food processor which would hasten the chop segment yet expand the clean-up time needed. Remember, I was minimizing kitchen cleanup so I opted for the knife and board
- Get all the vegetables prepared over the weekend or when you have a little more time, and store in a container in the refrigerator. Then when it’s dinner time, simply assemble everything in the pot, push the button, and go
Easy add-to-the-pot tips
Sharon Klupt-McRae says,
I love to throw in spice blends for more flavor, too, and sometimes a bit of tomato paste. For a heartier meal, I’ll stir in some precooked beans or leftover grains and after the veggies are done. It’s amazing how much easier life is when you have the right tools in the kitchen!
Your suggestions? Add them below!
Potato Palooza Salad with the help of Instant Pot
To get the Instant Pot at a $45 discount:
- Go to the Instant Pot store here.
- To get $45 off (the retail price is $151 – $159, so you take $45 off of that),, enter this code in your order form:
fitquickies
P.S. Check out the Potato Palooza Salad recipe here.
P.P.S. Here’s a short video of our scuba adventure, which Greg filmed while unbeknownst to us the critters were having a chew field day under the dishwasher in our kitchen back home:
Beautiful video Lani – please let Greg know how evocative his photography is. And you’re quite right sometimes humans do get their best attempts sadly wrong. The more we travel the more we see that. And speaking of that we’ll be in Bonaire in January. Looking forward to those amazing rays. They and the turtles are my own person fabs underwater. Oh and the stoplight parrot fish.
Thank you again – amazing pics.
Dianne
Hi Dianne!
January? Fantastic! Have a wonderful trip. And I can’t wait to tell Greg your comments! I love his movies too!
Thanks so much,
Lani
Great post, Lani…I have been making Instant Pot veggie soup like this too; so soothing and quick for dinner! I love to throw in spice blends for more flavor, too, and sometimes a bit of tomato paste. For a heartier meal, I’ll stir in some precooked beans or leftover grains and after the veggies are done. It’s amazing how much easier life is when you have the right tools in the kitchen!
Hi Sharon!
Thank you SO much for adding your quick addition suggestions! Perfect and I appreciate your generosity.
What are you favorite spice blends? I’m partial to curry vindaloo these days!
Lani
I love Vindaloo curry too! Sometimes I’ll add a general all purpose seasoning like the ones by Simply Organic and Frontier Organics Salt-free Garlic & Herb seasoning, or Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute. I also love Herbs de Provence and for more of an Indian flair, garam masala. Frontier Organics makes one called “Herbs of Italy” that’s really good and there is always Mrs. Dash. I really think spices are an important ingredient to keep things interesting, plus they provide even more antioxidant benefits!
Gee Sharon – what a great source of inspiration and creativity you are! Thank you!
Lani, you never fail to inspire! What a great way to make the best of a “natural” situation. Yes, I love Instant Pot also, and hubby appreciates the cleanup from the one-pot meal. Like you and Chef AJ, I’ve learned it’s easier to just press “Manual” and set it for the right cook time than to use the default category buttons like “soup” or “rice.” I make a separate pot of a brown rice and barley mix, sometimes adding in millet, farro or other whole grain. If I make the grain in the morning, we don’t even bother to reheat it. Just put some in the bowl, ladle the hot soup over it, and there’s a wonderful meal after a good hike. I am loving mild white or chickpea miso these days; such a nice addition to a hot soup. I like spice so I often throw in a home-grown hot pepper or some red chili pepper flakes at the point of making the soup. Thanks for this 3-minute recipe! I’ll be making it this week at the cabin. Hugs, – Karen
Karen, I adore your suggestions and thank you so much for sharing! I know everyone else coming by this post will benefit from your additions.
Thanks for your enthusiasm for plant-based living and I appreciate your kind words!
Lani
Lani. Thanks so much for this great soup inspiration. I have the stove top pressure cookers and can’t wait to get back to them after a year and a half without a kitchen. I feel for ya, girl. Such a great idea. I have made something similar with some cut up cooked Yukon Golds, some navy beans, and some ready made salsa too. I love all the ideas your posters have made too. Now, I’m inspired.
Lynn,
Year and a half without a kitchen? Have you been traveling or simply extensively remodeling? Fill me in!
I love Yukon Golds! Just bought a bag. I’m thrilled that you like the ideas and I agree the additional ideas from posters are great!
Lani
This soup sounds great. I do not have a pressure cooker, any suggestions for making it on the stove top?
Hi Farah!
Certainly – you could just put everything in the pot and simmer until done! 15 minutes perhaps?
Still quick and easy!
Lani
Great post Lani! I would love to try this healthy recipe. I am always in the gym because I love working out and with this, I also need to eat healthy.
Looks like a good recipe. The great thing about soup is that it can be saved as a complete meal for next time, making for an even easier kitchen clean-up!
Very good article. I’m going through a few of these issues as well..
Thank you so much for wonderful recipes! What I love about your website most of all is that you post not only great recipes and descriptions but also stunning photos of food! Have a nice day!
I simply wanted to say thanks again. I’m not certain the things I would’ve carried out in the absence of these points provided by you regarding such field. It was before a real daunting difficulty in my view, nevertheless considering the very skilled style you treated the issue took me to jump with fulfillment. Extremely grateful for the advice and then expect you comprehend what a great job that you’re putting in training the rest all through your site. Most likely you’ve never met all of us.