35 min
Instant Pot Red Lentil Coconut Curry
Red lentils, tomatoes, mild spices, coconut milk and spinach make a creamy meatless curry from inexpensive pantry staples.
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Instant Pot Family Dinners
Instant Pot Ukrainian-Style Beet Borscht with White Beans & Dill
Ruby beets, potatoes, carrots and tender white beans make a bright meatless pressure-cooker soup finished with cabbage, dill and a clean vinegar tang.
Directions
Sauté the aromatics
Select Sauté on a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. Add the oil, onion and carrots and cook for 4 minutes, stirring, until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Cancel Sauté.
Deglaze and layer
Pour in the broth and water and scrape the base until completely clean. Add the beets, potatoes, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Spoon the diced tomatoes and tomato paste over the vegetables without stirring them into the base. Keep the contents below the model's maximum-fill line.
Pressure cook and release
Lock the lid and cook on High Pressure for 6 minutes; allow about 12 to 15 minutes to reach pressure. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then vent the remainder in short controlled pulses with hands and face away from steam. Pause if liquid sputters and open only after the float valve drops.
Finish the cabbage and beans
Discard the bay leaves. Select Sauté on Low and stir in the cabbage, beans, vinegar, sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cabbage is tender but not limp and the beans are hot.
Balance and serve
Cancel Sauté and stir in the dill. Taste and add vinegar for brightness, salt for savoriness or a pinch more sugar only if the beets need balance. Ladle into bowls and serve with sour cream and bread; offer horseradish or hot sauce at the table.
Why this works
Why it worksBeets and potatoes pressure-cook in ample thin broth, while tomato solids stay on top of the clean base to reduce burn-warning risk.
Why it worksCanned beans and cabbage go in after pressure, so the beans stay intact and the cabbage retains texture instead of turning sulfurous and soft.
Why it worksVinegar added after pressure preserves its bright acidity and balances the natural sweetness of beets, carrots and tomatoes.
Useful kitchen gear
Tools that make this easier.
Compare the function and specifications first; skip anything your kitchen already handles well.
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Compare on Amazon6-quart electric pressure cookerThe six-cup thin-liquid base, vegetable load and staged release are calibrated for this common capacity.See current options →
Compare on Amazon8-inch chef’s knifeA sharp controllable blade makes the beet, potato, carrot and cabbage prep faster and more even.See current options →
Compare on AmazonGlass meal-prep containersShallow lidded containers help the soup cool promptly and make refrigerator or freezer portions practical.See current options →
Swaps & notes
Easy swaps
- Use drained navy beans or great northern beans in place of cannellini beans; add them only after pressure as written.
- For a dairy-free bowl, use unsweetened plant-based yogurt or omit the creamy garnish entirely.
- Golden beets work with the same timing, though the finished soup will be amber rather than ruby.
Cook notes
- Total time includes about 12 to 15 minutes to pressurize, the 6-minute cycle, a 10-minute natural release and the final cabbage simmer.
- Beet juice stains porous surfaces. Use a washable cutting board and rinse the cooker lid and silicone ring soon after cooking.
- The base is family-mild; horseradish, hot sauce and extra black pepper belong at the table.
- Written for a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. Follow your model manual's minimum-liquid, fill-limit and venting rules and never force the lid.
- Do not substitute dry beans at the same timing. Dry beans need a separate, longer pressure cycle and must remain below the half-full line because they expand and foam.
Storage
Cool in shallow containers within 2 hours and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until the soup reaches 165°F, adding a splash of broth if it thickens. Freeze without sour cream for up to 3 months; thaw overnight and add fresh dill after reheating.
Questions
Can I grate the beets instead of cubing them?
Yes. Coarsely grated beets cook faster and will nearly dissolve, making a more uniform broth. Keep the programmed time the same so the potatoes still become tender.
Why is my borscht brown instead of bright red?
Older beets, prolonged boiling and too little acid can dull the color. Add the vinegar only after pressure, avoid a long hard simmer and taste for a pleasantly bright finish.
Does borscht taste better the next day?
Yes. A chilled overnight rest melds the earthy, sweet and sour notes. Reheat only what you need to 165°F and add fresh dill and sour cream after heating.
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Instant Pot Ukrainian-Style Beet Borscht with White Beans & Dill
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1. Sauté the aromaticsSelect Sauté on a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. Add the oil, onion and carrots and cook for 4 minutes, stirring, until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Cancel Sauté.
2. Deglaze and layerPour in the broth and water and scrape the base until completely clean. Add the beets, potatoes, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Spoon the diced tomatoes and tomato paste over the vegetables without stirring them into the base. Keep the contents below the model's maximum-fill line.
3. Pressure cook and releaseLock the lid and cook on High Pressure for 6 minutes; allow about 12 to 15 minutes to reach pressure. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then vent the remainder in short controlled pulses with hands and face away from steam. Pause if liquid sputters and open only after the float valve drops.
4. Finish the cabbage and beansDiscard the bay leaves. Select Sauté on Low and stir in the cabbage, beans, vinegar, sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cabbage is tender but not limp and the beans are hot.
5. Balance and serveCancel Sauté and stir in the dill. Taste and add vinegar for brightness, salt for savoriness or a pinch more sugar only if the beets need balance. Ladle into bowls and serve with sour cream and bread; offer horseradish or hot sauce at the table.