Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have been enjoying learning about my "new" Instant Pot and I just have to say....... I LOVE IT!!  It is a combination slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, and it makes a dozen other things effortlessly.  I have even made macaroni and cheese in this using pressure settings and I didnt think it was possible to cook pasta in the pressure cooker - but my youngest son said it was the BEST mac and cheese he has ever had.  I will need to recreate that for the blog.  It was definitely worth a repeat performance!

Making soup is an effortless way to get comfortable using a pressure cooker and it tastes like you have slaved over the stove all day.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP - in the Instant Pot (pressure cooker)

adapted from Flavorrd.com

2 Tbsp. olive oil (I used garlic olive oil)
1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minces
2 - 6 inch corn tortillas, cut into small squares (about an inch)
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 - 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c. frozen corn
4 c. chicken broth
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
3 chicken breasts (roughly a pound total)

Garnish Ideas:
chopped cilantro
shredded cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese
fried corn tortilla strips
diced avocado
sour cream, if desired

Set Instant Pot to saute, medium heat. Add the olive oil  and onion and cook, stirring until softened. Then add the garlic, cilantro and tortilla squares.. Stir to combine and cook for a minute longer before adding the tomato, black beans, corn, broth, seasonings and chicken breasts.  Cancel saute mode and cover Instant Pot, seal, select Soup mode, and manually adjust time to 4 minutes.

It will take about 10 minutes for the pot to reach pressure and then teh 4 minutes will count down.  While the pot is preparing to pressure cook, heat a little oil in a skillet and fry tortilla strips until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.  Lightly salt the strips immediately after frying.  There should be plenty of time to grate the cheese, chop the cilantro and slice lime wedges for serving.

Corn tortilla strips frying...

Fresh cilantro (oops - not sure why that paper towel is purple!)

Pressure cooked chicken =  Perfection!

After the timer goes off, manually release the pressure, being careful of the steam.  Remove the chicken breasts and shred the meat.  Return the shredded chicken to the pot and stir to combine.  Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with tortilla strips, cheese and cilantro.    This makes a delicious dinner.

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Asparagus Risotto - Pressure Cooker Style

Well I finally did it - I took two recipes and created something I can call my own! Will wonders never cease?!?

First of all, I have to thank my neighbor for reminding me that I even HAVE a pressure cooker!  I love it when I use it, but am clearly guilty of "out of sight out of mind" syndrome!


Thanks to a recipe from Skinnytaste, I knew what I needed to make with some beautiful fresh asparagus that I had picked up at Trader Joes.  However her recipe was the long version over the stovetop.  So I found a similar recipe from "Bob Warden's Slow Food Fast" cookbook and combined the two and I think that worked about as perfectly as it could have!

Risotto Ingredients

Asparagus Risotto (Pressure Cooker Style!)

1 lb. fresh asparagus
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. butter
2 cloves minced garlic
2 shallots, finely chopped (or one very large one as shown in the picture!)
2 cups Arborio rice
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc)
4 tsp. lemon juice
zest of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp. Borsari seasoning (or more to taste)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, rough chopped

Wash the asparagus well and cut the tips off about the 1 1/2"  length.  Set aside.  Cut the bottom stalks off at about 2"  and discard.   Cut the remaining stalks into 1/2" pieces and set aside separately from the tips.

I have a Cooks Essentials pressure cooker and it has a "brown" setting, so used that for the sauteeing steps. Heat the oil and butter and sauté the chopped shallots and minced garlic for about 2 minutes. Then add the uncooked rice and  asparagus stalk pieces (the 1/2" pieces) and cook for a minute or so, stirring continuously.

Waiting for the liquid ingredients and the pressure!

Add the remaining ingredients with the exception of the Parmesan cheese, parsley and asparagus tips.  Lock the pressure cooker, be sure the pressure is on high, and cook for 7 minutes.

While waiting for the pressure cooker, put the asparagus tips in a small bowl, cover with water and microwave on high for about 2 minutes.  Drain immediately.

So excited to actually get a photo of the "quick release" of the steam!

When the risotto is done, perform a quick release to let all of the steam out of the pressure cooker as quickly as possible.  Remove the lid, stir the contents as there may be some residual liquid on the top which will be instantly absorbed, then add the cooked asparagus tips, Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.  Add salt and pepper to taste if needed and serve immediately.

Creamy risotto almost ready to be eaten...

Chopped parsley and shaved parmesan

This is incredibly creamy and good.  Will serve approximately 6.

Adorned with the asparagus tips

And the final touch - more shaved parmesan and parsley for color!

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