Cucumber and Tomato Salad

This is something I whipped up for dinner at a friend’s house. I’ve made this several times. I don’t really measure the ingredients, but will make a portion based on the number of people.  
 

2 Cucumbers, peeled, sliced length-wise and large diced
Cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Thinly sliced red onion
Kalamata olives, cut in half
Feta cheese, crumbled

Juice of half of a Lemon
Olive oil, about 1/3rd cup
Splash of red wine vinegar
Dried Italian seasoning
Salt and Pepper to taste

 
In a bowl, add the first five ingredients.
 
In a measuring cup or bowl, add the lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar and salt and pepper. Whisk together.  Taste and adjust if needed.
 
Add the dressing and gently toss to coat.
 
Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
 
Serves 8.

Instant Pot Pork Chops

23 January 2022

I had a couple of pork chops on hand, so I wanted to make them in the instant pot with a red sauce.

Most recipes I found called for thick chops. Mine were 1/2 inch thick, so I had to adjust the time for cooking. I checked on a couple of facebook pages and got some suggestions. 

Here’s my recipe:  

 

2 1/2” bone in pork chops

Olive oil for the bottom of the pot

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/3rd cup chopped onions (next time I’ll keep them in larger pieces)

A couple of small red peppers, thick slice

Dash of Italian seasoning

Dash of onion powder

Smoked Paprika, just a little. Next time I’ll add more.

1 can of diced tomatoes and its juices

About 4 T. Rao’s tomato sauce

About 1/2 cup of white wine

Fresh chopped flat leaf parsley

10-12 Italian green olives

1 small can of mushrooms, drained (didn’t have fresh on hand)

Salt and Pepper

 

Season the pork chops with the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder.

 

With the Sauté setting, add some olive oil and added the two chops to brown. Add the garlic, onions, peppers and salt/pepper (I placed them around the pork chops.  Turn the pork chops to the other side to brown; about 3-4 minutes on each side.

 

Turn off the IP.  Top the pork chops with the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, parsley, olives and mushrooms.

 

Pressure cook for 5 minutes followed by a Natural Release. 

The Natural Release took about 18 minutes. Next time I won’t let the natural release go beyond 13-14 minutes. The chops came out not quite tender, but not tough at all. Or I’ll buy thicker chops.

 

I had some leftover grits to serve as a side.

 

Italian Meatballs & Red Sauce

Here’s my recipe, which I adapted from my mother-in-law.

Meatball Ingredients: 

1 lb ground beef 

3 Italian sausages, sweet and hot

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

1/3 to 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 

2 eggs 

1/4th of an onion, chopped 

1/3 cup or so of Pecorino Romano cheese, grated 

Fresh parsley, chopped 

Salt and Pepper to season 

Red Sauce (see below) 

Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl, except for the red sauce. 

Take a small amount, about a tablespoon and make into a patty. Fry in a pan till cook and taste to make sure it’s properly seasoned. Adjust the meatball mixture if needed.

Form into large meatballs (or small when preparing for a large dinner group). 

Place the meatballs onto baking pans that have been lightly sprayed with pam. Brown in the oven (pre-heated to 400 degrees) for about 10-12 minutes. This allows the meatballs to obtain that nice brown crispy texture and to remove excess fat. 

Drain on paper towels, then add the meatballs to the sauce.  Cook for 2-3 hours on low heat, stirring every so often.

Red Sauce: 

1-2 cloves garlic, chopped 

2 T. olive oil 

Dash hot pepper flakes 

2 12-oz cans of crushed tomatoes 

1/4 c. dry red wine - use any good wine. 

Fresh basil 

In a large pot, sauté the garlic in the oil but don't let it burn. 

Add the pepper flakes and then the crushed tomatoes. 

Simmer on low for 2-3 hours, adding the basil the last 15 minutes of cooking. 

The longer this sauce cooks, the better! 

You can use this sauce when making lasagna, manicotti, eggplant parmesan, and for topping pizza. 

If I'm making this for a dinner party, I'll transfer to a large crockpot and keep on low heat before serving.

Artichoke and Spinach Dip

This is a popular recipe and many variations can be found. This is mine: 

1 10-oz package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted, drained very well 

2 cans whole artichoke hearts, drained well and chopped

1 clove garlic, minced 

3 T. chopped onion 

3/4 to 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

3/4 to 1 cup mayonnaise 

Dash or two of hot sauce

Pepper to taste 

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine well. 

Place in a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Serve with crackers. 

Notes: 

You can skip the spinach and just make it strictly an artichoke dip.

I made this recently and added a couple of ingredients (1/3rd cream cheese and a 4 oz. can of green chilies from my Jalapeño artichoke-spinach dip recipe. 

Baked Feta Appetizer

This baked feta appetizer is so easy to make. It was a hit at last night's Thanksgiving dinner (25 November 2021).  I served it right after taking it out of the oven.

 
This is the recipe I used, but see my notes at the bottom:   https://midwestfoodieblog.com/baked-feta-appetizer/
 
Ingredients:
8 oz. block feta (in brine)
1 cup pitted olives, drained
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil)
⅓ cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper
 
For serving:
 
Fresh chopped parsley
Sliced French bread or crostini
 
Instructions:
 
Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
 
Add feta to a small baking dish (I used an 8”x8”). Add olives and sun-dried tomatoes to the baking dish around the feta.
 
In a small dish combine olive oil, sliced garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. 
 
Pour over the block of feta, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes.
 

  

Bake for 20 minutes [uncovered]. Broil for 1-2 minutes.
 
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and sliced French bread or crostini. 

Here's my recipe for crostini:  https://monicacooks.blogspot.com/2024/06/crostini.html

 

My changes/additions:
 
I prepared this about an hour or so in advance to get the ingredients to room temperature.
I used both green olives (Italian Castelvetrano) and Kalamata olives
I added roasted red peppers
I added a little of the sun-dried tomato oil
I used Italian Seasoning Blend
I didn’t have parsley (wasn’t missed)
I didn’t broil at the end
I sliced up a baguette
 
Next time I won’t slice the garlic so thin. The slices almost disappeared.
I will slice the olives in half.
And I may add some lemon zest slices and cherry tomatoes.
Someone in the comments stated they added chopped dried figs; another mentioned artichoke hearts.

Spicy Lentil and Sausage Soup

This is a quick recipe to make. Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your taste.
 
2 Italian hot sausage links (I used Italian style hot turkey sausage)
1 T. Olive oil
1 large clove of garlic, minced
About 1/4 of a small onion, diced
1 19-oz can Progresso Lentil Soup
3 baby carrot’s, diced
1 Small tomato, diced, seeded
1 cup chicken broth
Red pepper flakes
Thyme, Basil, Oregano, Parsley; Salt and Pepper to taste
 
 
In a pan, cook the sausage until brown, breaking up into pieces. 
 
In a large pot, add the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onions. 
 
Add the lentil soup, sausage, and remaining ingredients. 
 
Adjust seasoning as necessary. 
 
Cook on low heat for 15 minutes.
 
Serve with grated parmesan cheese. 
 
Serves 4.

(November 2004)

Maryland Crab Cakes

This is one of my favorite recipes to make. 

Credit to: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/maryland-crab-cakes/

Ingredients (with my comments in [  ]

1 large egg

1/4 cup (60g) mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried) [I used dried]

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard [I only used 1 t. You can also use classic yellow mustard]

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce [I only used 1 t.] 

1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (up to 1 and 1/2 teaspoons for a spicier kick) [One 1 t. is fine for my taste]

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus more for serving

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 pound fresh lump crab meat

2/3 cup Saltine cracker crumbs (about 14 crackers) [I use 6-7 crackers. The less filler, the better!]

Optional: 2 Tablespoons (30g) melted salted or unsalted butter [I leave out the butter to save on the fat calories; plus I don’t find it necessary]

Instructions

Whisk the egg, mayonnaise, parsley, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, lemon juice, and salt together in a large bowl. Place the crab meat on top, followed by the cracker crumbs. [I add the cracker crumbs to the egg, mayo, etc. dressing before adding the crab meat. This allows the crumbs to blend with the other ingredients].

With a rubber spatula or large spoon, very gently and carefully fold together. You don’t want to break up that crab meat! 

Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day. [I keep mine in the refrigerator for at least an hour.]

Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Generously grease a rimmed baking sheet with butter or nonstick spray or line with a silicone baking mat. [Or line the baking sheet with parchment paper].

Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, portion the crab cake mixture into 6 mounds on the baking sheet. (Don’t flatten!) Use your hands or a spoon to compact each individual mound so there aren’t any lumps sticking out or falling apart. For extra flavor, brush each with melted butter. This is optional but recommended!

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges and on top. Drizzle each with fresh lemon juice and serve warm.

You can also broil them for 10 minutes (don't turn over) or pan fry in a cast iron skillet with 2 T of butter over medium heat and cook until golden brown, 3-5 minutes on each side. 

 Ingredients

 Lump Crab

 Mixing it all together

 Form into cakes

 Baked crab cakes

Italian Pearl Farro with Mushrooms, Peas, and Onions

Italian Pearl Farro with mushrooms, peas, and onions 

This is a great side dish and quite healthy!

Ingredients:

2-3 t. Olive oil
1 large clove garlic, chopped
6 large Mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1/2 cup peas (I use frozen – no need to thaw, but you an if you wish)
1/3 cup diced onion
1/2 cup Farro, Italian Pearled (I use Nature’s Earthly Choice)
1/2 t. Paprika
1/2 t. dried thyme
Salt and Pepper to taste
Splash of dry white wine
1 cup low sodium chicken broth (heat in a pan or microwave oven until hot)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
 

Directions:

In a large skillet, heat the olive over medium-high heat.
 
Add the mushrooms, garlic, peas, and onions.  Cook about 4-5 minutes.
 
Add the faro, paprika, thyme, salt, pepper, and the wine.  Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes.
 
Add the hot chicken broth, stir to combine, and lower heat to medium-low. Cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes. Check once in a while, as the liquid may have been absorbed. If so, add more broth or some water.
 
When ready to serve, add the parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
 
Notes:
 
Other items you can add to this dish:  Spinach, other types of mushrooms, lemon juice, green onions, parsley or basil; feta cheese instead of parmesan cheese, etc.   

Citrus Roasted Olives and Almonds

Citrus Roasted Olives and Almonds

My friend Carolyn made this excellent Mediterranean appetizer. Her comments are in ( ).
 
Ingredients:
 
2 cups olives with pits (you can mix your favorites or choose a variety for color; our favorites are Kalamata olives and Sicilian dry-cured olives--the wrinkly ones)
 
2/3 to 3/4 cup almonds, un-blanched (the original recipe calls for 1 full cup; I think that is too many)
 
Orange and lemon zest (I used the better part of one orange and one lemon)
 
Sprigs of resinous herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, or basil (I used rosemary, which is the most essential, thyme, and a few leaves of sage)
 
Very thinly sliced lemon for garnish (you could use thinly sliced orange too)
 
Extra virgin olive oil
 
Directions:
 
Place everything except the lemon and orange slices in a bowl or casserole dish (suitable for serving), sprinkle generously with olive oil, and toss.  I happened to have some lemon olive oil, so I used some of that too. 
 
Garnish with the slices and heat at 300 degrees until very warm but not too hot to eat (I think it took 10 minutes?). 
 
If you have leftovers, when you reheat them, the lemon slices may be tender enough to eat—a bonus.  Also, the oil left in the bottom of the bowl can be used for dipping bread.
 
Carolyn Z.

(Recipe from HGTV Smart Solutions, 2005)
 

White Bean Salad with Tomatoes and Kalamata Olives

 

 
This is a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen, The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook, that I recently purchased. It’s filled with some wonderful recipes and is great for anyone that wants to eat healthy. I served this at a party recently and it was a hit! 
 
Serves 6 - 8
 
Ingredients:
 
1/4  cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
2 15-oz. cans Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (I used Goya brand)
Salt and peppter
2 tspn sherry vinegar
1 small shallot, minced
1 cup quartered grape tomatoes
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/3 cup kalamata olives, chopped
 
Directions:
 
Cook 1 tablespoon of olive oil and garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until the garlic turns golden but not brown, about 3 minutes*. Add the beans, 2 cups of water, and 1 teaspoon of salt and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 20 minutes.
 
Combine the vinegar and minced shallots in a serving bowl and let sit for 20 minutes.
 
Drain the beans and remove the garlic. Add the beans to the serving bowl, along with the remaining olive oil, tomatoes, basil and kalamata olives. Season with salt and pepper; stir gently to combine. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
 
 
My Notes:
 
This really served closer to 10 to 12 people.
 
I only used about 10 basil leaves.
 
*The recipe says to remove the garlic, but after cooking it in the olive oil, I chopped them and added it back to the pot to simmer with the beans.
 
The sherry vinegar I purchased is made with aged California sherry vinegar and apricot juice. This was the only one I found in the store (Harris Teeter) but it worked out great.

Lentil & Quinoa Soup

Recently I was in the mood for lentil soup. I looked online site for recipes and found several good ones. I wanted to use my Instant Pot, so I followed this recipe with some adaptation: 
 
https://profusioncurry.com/lentil-quinoa-soup-instantpot/?fbclid=IwAR3T2x7z4ANRczVvcXYAWvUyURKlMLYWYigYeZ1wXteu4SYtWmYQ_tH-aJI
 
In bold are my additions/changes
 
1 cup dry brown or green lentils washed and rinsed
1/2 cup quinoa rinsed
4 carrots chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups water or broth [I used low fat, low sodium chicken broth]
Added 1 can of diced tomatoes with the juices
Splash of dry white wine (about 3 tablespoons)
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Umami Seasoning Blend (optional ) [I didn’t have this so I added a bunch of mushrooms, sliced, along with a teaspoon or so of Dijon mustard, some red pepper flakes, and dried thyme]
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot. Stir.

Close the lid. Switch the vent to "sealing". Choose MANUAL ( Pressure cook) mode, choose High Pressure and adjust the time to 12 minutes. It will take around 10 minutes to get up to pressure.

When the InstantPot beeps after cooking, wait on KEEP WARM timer for 5 minutes. Then move the valve to "venting". After the pressure is released, and pin is down, carefully open the lid.

Give the soup a good stir. Adjust the seasoning. Squeeze a quarter of lemon or stir in lemon juice. Adjust the seasoning. Add some fresh cracked black pepper on top and garnish with fresh herbs.
 
I topped the soup with a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Scallops with Pesto Sauce

 

I made a pesto pasta with scallops and vegetables for dinner one night. It was pretty simple to prepare and just something I tossed together.
This is a serving for one.
 
5 scallops (rinse, pat dry, and sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper)
3 large mushrooms, sliced
Red bell pepper, sliced (about 1/5th of a pepper)
1 small clove of garlic, chopped
About 3 T. pesto (I make my own)
Olive oil
2 oz. pasta (I bought the Barilla Thin Spaghetti Protein+ pasta)
 
In a large pot, bring water to a boil with some salt and a teaspoon of olive oil. Add the pasta when ready. It took about 6-7 minutes to cook.
 
Meanwhile, in a large pan, fry the garlic, mushrooms, and bell pepper in olive oil. Move the vegetables to the side of the pan, and add a tablespoon of olive oil and pan fry the scallops. Cook about 4 minutes on each side.
 
Drain the pasta and add the pesto; mix in. Plate the pasta and top with the scallops and vegetables. Garnish with some fresh basil leaves. Eat and enjoy!
 
You can add more vegetables if you'd like. I would have liked more mushrooms because they cooked down quite a bit.

Mushroom Tortellini

 

Mushrooms tortellini with vegetables and a red pesto sauce.

Serves 1
 
I boiled water in a medium pot and cooked the tortellini with some salt.
 
Meanwhile, I sautéed one chopped garlic, some red onion, a few quartered cherry tomatoes and diced yellow pepper in a little olive oil and salt and pepper. Once cooked, I turned off the heat.
 
I drained the pasta and placed it into a bowl.
 
I added the vegetables and 1 tablespoon of red pesto sauce (store bought) and tossed to coat the tortellini. I topped with a little Feta cheese and Parmesan cheese; and fresh basil.

Egg Salad Sandwich

 

Just a simple sandwich for lunch.

1 Hard-boiled Egg

1/2 t. Dijon mustard

1 t. or so of Hellmann's Mayonnaise (adjust quantity to your liking)

1 t. Chopped onion

Dried dill

Dash of Cumin

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine the above ingredients. Refrigerate to chill.

Top the bread with lettuce, then the egg salad. Add some sliced avocado.

Serve with baby carrots on the side.

Shrimp Salad

I had left-over shrimp from a party, so I made this delicious salad.

I included avocado, lettuce, chopped baby carrots, diced orange bell pepper, Feta cheese, and Kalamata olives.

I topped it with Balsamic vinegar, olive oil and lemon juice.

Healthy Eggplant Parmesan

This is my version of a healthy and tasty dish. Instead of deep frying, I baked the eggplant before assembling the dish.

Serves: 4

1 large eggplant, sliced thin into rounds
Salt
1 large egg, beaten
Black pepper
1/2 cup of Italian Breadcrumbs
Olive Oil
1 cup Rao’s Tomato Sauce
Parmesan cheese, grated
Fresh basil leaves, chopped (plus some for a garnish)
4 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced (or a little more if needed)
 
Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with some salt, cover with paper towels and set aside for 30 minutes to drain the liquid.

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Rub some olive oil onto a baking sheet.

Place the breadcrumbs onto a large plate; and the beaten egg in a bowl.

Dip each eggplant slice in the egg and then into the breadcrumb, turn to coat both sides. Place onto the oiled baking sheet. More breadcrumbs may be needed.

Bake the eggplants for about 18 to 20 (half way through, turn the slices over) until they are browned. Remove from oven, and let cool for 10 minutes.
 
Reduce the oven to 325°F.

In a 9 x 12 glass baking dish, spread some tomato sauce on the bottom and add a layer of the eggplant. Top with the grated parmesan cheese, basil and mozzarella. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper to taste. Repeat this layer until all eggplant has been used. The final top should be a layer of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. This should yield two layers of eggplant. If you want three layers, use a 8 x 8 pan.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. 

Remove from oven and set aside for 5 minutes before serving. Top with the fresh basil.

Serve with your favorite pasta. 

 

22 June 2022:

I'm still enjoying this recipe. I made it last night and layered it (3 layers).  I diced the cheese.  

Flatbread Pizza

 

Flatbread pizza! OMG, so good!

I used an Aldi Flatbread.

I brushed the flatbread with a little olive oil and topped it with the following ingredients:

Rao's Tomato Sauce
Turkey Italian sausage (cooked, then crumbled into small pieces
Fresh Mozzarella

Fresh baby spinach leaves
Kalamata olives, chopped
Baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
Grated Parmesan cheese

Baked for 10-12 minutes right on the rack at 425 degrees.

Shrimp and Avocado Ceviche

 

16 September 2020

This is my version, in which I adapted from these two recipes:
https://www.thekitchn.com/ceviche-recipe-22902965?fbclid=IwAR0jwL203YcfdRSOrJOioQQHuiVDGcVr8saK_b9TzbL5OVgcFbuKIM_8ItE
http://www.eatingwell.com/video/6984/how-to-make-shrimp-ceviche/

Serves: 1

5-6 peeled and deveined raw shrimp (purchased from Costco, frozen and thawed)
Freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
Freshly squeezed lime juice (1/3 lime)
Freshly squeezed orange juice (1/4 of an orange) 
4-5 grape tomatoes, seeded and quartered
1 T. red onion, sliced small
1  jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (about 1 teaspoon)
1/4 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 small avocado
1 T cilantro leaves chopped, for garnish
 
1/4 cup (dry measurement) Whole wheat couscous

Cook the couscous according to directions; then chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Bring a pot of water, salted, to a boil over high heat. Turn off the heat and add the shrimp. Let the shrimp cook about 3 minutes until just done. Drain and rinse the shrimp in cold water; place on a plate and refrigerate for about 15 minutes to cool.
 
Chop the shrimp and place in a nonreactive bowl. Add the lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cucumber and salt; toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
 
Just before serving, dice the avocado and add to the ceviche mixture. Toss gently to combine.
 
To serve, place the couscous and top with the ceviche and all of the liquid. Top with the chopped cilantro.

Instant Pot Sausage Lentil Stew

  

I made this 11 December 2019 – my changes are in  [  ]

Prep Time 10 minutes    Cook Time 25 minutes   Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 8

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 lb Italian sausage  [I used a combination of sweet and hot; 6 links, which came to 1 lb 2.7 oz total]

1 large onion chopped [I had 3/4 of a large onion on hand]

2 stalks celery chopped [I used 3 stalks]

3-4 carrots peeled and chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon salt

29 oz canned diced tomatoes

5 cups chicken stock  [Only had 4 cups chicken stock, so I added 1/4 white wine and 3/4 cup beef broth]

1 1/2 cups dry lentils rinsed and picked over (preferably French Green Lentils)

1 cup finely chopped kale (optional)

Press the SAUTE button on the instant pot and let preheat for 1-2 minutes. Add the olive oil and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking into small pieces with a spoon, until no longer pink.

Add the onion, celery and carrot. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and salt.

Add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, and lentils. Stir to combine.

Close the instant pot [turn the dial to pressure cook] and press MANUAL and set timer for 10 minutes. When the time is up let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release the rest of the steam.

Stir in the chopped kale. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

Recipe from: https://meaningfuleats.com/instant-pot-sausage-lentil-stew/

Instant Pot Beef Chili

Instant Pot Beef Chili

This is one of my favorite recipes from the Instant Pot Miracle Cookbook. I sometimes use a combination of beef and pork, or just pork.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Function: Sauté (Normal); Pressure/Manual (high)

Closed Pot time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Release: Natural

Serves 8

1.5 Lbs ground beef

1 C Chopped onion

4 Cloves garlic, minced

1 15-oz Can tomato sauce

2 15 to 16-oz Cans kidney beans, drained

1 C Beef broth [or chicken broth – low salt/low fat]

2 14.5 oz Cans diced tomatoes, undrained

2 T Chili powder

1/2 t. Black pepper

1 4.5-oz Can diced green chilies, undrained (optional)

Hot sauce (optional)

Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and/or sliced green onions

PREP

Select Sauté on the Instant Pot and adjust to Normal. Cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic for about 10 minutes or until the meat is browned and onion tender.

Press Cancel. Add tomato sauce, beans, broth tomatoes, chili powder, black pepper, and green chilies.

Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve.

COOK

Select Manual and cook at high pressure for 10 minutes.  When cooking is complete, use a natural release to depressurize.

SERVE

Serve chili with hot sauce, cheese, sour cream, and/or green onions.

My notes: I originally mis-read the recipe and only used one can of beans (black beans) and one can of diced tomatoes. It was on the soupy side but very flavorful and excellent. One time I made it with 2 lbs of ground meat, so I doubled the diced tomatoes and beans. This makes a lot for two people, so I freeze in smaller containers.