Tender and dripping with au jus, Sirloin Tip Roast has intense flavor from a homemade dry rub! It’s then roasted on a bed of caramelized onions for mouthwatering results that will be the highlight of your dinner table.

We also love crock pot sirloin tip roast!

Cooking a delicious roast for dinner isn’t as difficult as you might think. This juicy sirloin tip roast recipe will guide you to a beautiful tender piece of roasted beef, so flavorful you wouldn’t know you weren’t feasting on a prime rib.

Also be sure to try this eye of round roast recipe and slow cooker rump roast.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Budget friendly: Beef sirloin tip is one of inexpensive cuts of beef. 
• Juicy, tender results: It is not the most tender cut of meat but with my method your roast turns out so succulent! 
• No need to brown first: Save time and washing a pan with my cooking method. First we cook meat at high oven temperature that creates “a crust” and seals in the juices.
• Sunday dinner or special occasion: This impressive main dish looks beautiful on the cutting board and will earn rave reviews from family and guests!
• Delicious leftovers: The next day, serve leftovers as beef sandwiches with au jus for dipping.

Ingredients You Will Need

• Roast: Beef sirloin tip roast aka round tip roast, ball tip roast, crescent roast, knuckle roast, beef tip roast and beef round sirloin tip roast. About 3 pounds and boneless.
• Onion: White onion, sliced for aromatic flavor.
• Spice rub: Ground coffee (regular or decaf), smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, lemon zest, salt and pepper.

How to Cook Sirloin Tip Roast

Here is an overview how to cook sirloin tip roast. Full recipe card is located below.

Before you begin, you want to take your roast out of the fridge and let it sit for about an hour. This will bring it to room temperature, which will result in even roasting!

• Prep: Preheat the oven and spread sliced onions evenly across the bottom of the Dutch oven or roasting pan.
• Mix dry rub: In a small bowl, mix coffee, smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, pepper, and lemon zest.
• Coat the roast: Place whole roast on a plate and sprinkle dry rub over entire roast, starting with the fat side down. Press into it, making sure it sticks to the meat on both sides. Transfer on top of onions and sprinkle with remaining seasoning.
• Bake uncovered: At first you’ll bake roast uncovered at a higher temperature. Because we’re not browning the meat or searing it first, this will help keep in the juices. Then reduce the heat, cover with the lid and roast until 10 degrees before your desired internal temperature is reached.
• Rest and slice: Remove roast from the oven and let it rest covered for 20 minutes. Then transfer roasted sirloin tip to a cutting board and grab a very sharp fillet knife. Cut off the twine and slice against the grain.

How Long to Cook Sirloin Tip Roast?

How long to cook sirloin tip roast depends on how you like your meat done. I have put together a handy time table to consult.

If you haven’t done so already, I highly recommend you invest in a meat thermometer. People have come up with tips and tricks to eyeballing when roast is ready, but nothing beats the real thing.

Tips for Best Results

• Ovens vary a lot: I have two ovens and one bakes hotter than the other. So start checking your roast at the 30-minute mark.
• To avoid overcooking: Roast until 10 degrees below your desired internal temperature as per table above. This is because it will continue cooking just a bit even out of the oven. Removing it just before your level of doneness is a trick to use to avoid overcooking your roast.
• The convection oven cooks faster: Keep this in mind for sure.
• Cook on the middle rack: No matter what oven you’re using, cook on the middle oven rack. That way there is even distribution to the pan.

Variations

This recipe for sirloin tip roast can be adapted to your taste and what you have in the kitchen.

• No Dutch oven? I think the best way to cook this roast is in a Dutch oven. However, you can use roaster with a lid. If you use a roasting pan and cover it with aluminum foil, I suspect it will take longer to cook. I highly recommend checking with an instant read thermometer for internal temperature after 30 minutes.
• Orange instead of lemon: I can see how nice of a variation it can be.
• Onion: I absolutely love white onion because it is sweet and has a crunch to it even after you are done cooking a sirloin tip roast. You can use yellow onion or red onion as well.
• Grandma’s pot roast: For a Sunday dinner feel, cook roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions and watch everything roast and caramelize together. Cut vegetables into larger chunks to accommodate the longer cooking time. Baby potatoes could be used vs. thick sliced potato chunks. Pearl onions could be used in place of sliced onion.
• Different dry rub: Try olive oil, garlic, and rosemary, or other herbs. Simple salt and pepper will also work. Or coat beef with pot roast seasoning or all purpose seasoning instead.
• Turn your au jus into gravy: Add beef stock or red wine, cornstarch and other seasonings to taste to thicken up the juice.
• French dip: Save your leftover juices. When you make a roast sandwich the next day, serve it in a soft bun and dip it right in the au jus.

What Should I Serve It with?

Beef sirloin tip roast is an excellent holiday main dish at Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years Eve!

Serve with its juices and onions from the pan and delicious side dishes for a complete meal:

• Salad: In Ukraine, we serve almost every meal with cucumber and tomato salad. Or pick one of these 45 beautiful healthy salad recipes.
• Potato side dish: With traditional creamy mashed potatoes, cauliflower mashed potatoes or super easy Instant Pot baked potatoes.
• Veggie side dish: It is so easy to quickly saute these garlic green beans, or toss with oil and garlic and roast asparagus in the oven. Or make super easy cooked cabbage drizzled with roast au jus.

How to Store and Freeze

Store: Keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat leftovers the next day for a repeat dinner or slice up some beef for sandwiches. Use the au jus for dipping!

Sliced leftover beef roast makes an excellent addition to a holiday charcuterie platter!

Freeze: This red meat is great for freezing because it’ll keep for up to 3 months. Just place it in airtight container and freeze.

FAQs

More Roast Recipes to Try

• Crock pot eye of round roast
• Boneless turkey breast roast
• Boneless leg of lamb recipe
• Instant Pot pot roast
• Roasted leg of lamb
• Roasted bone-in turkey breast
• Slow cooked oven brisket

Print

Sirloin Tip Roast

Tender and dripping with au jus, Beef Sirloin Tip Roast Recipe has intense flavor from a homemade dry rub! It's then roasted on a bed of caramelized onions for mouthwatering results that will be the highlight of your dinner table.

Course Dinner

Cuisine North American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Resting Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 450kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Dutch oven
• Meat thermometer

Ingredients

• 3 pounds sirloin tip roast
• 1 large white onion sliced
• 1 tablespoon ground coffee regular or decaf
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 lemon zest only

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Remove roast and let it sit at room temperature for 45-60 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. On the bottom of large Dutch oven or roasting pan spread onion slices. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, add coffee, smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, pepper and lemon zest. Stir to combine.
• Place roast on a large plate fat side down. Sprinkle with dry rub evenly, pressing it to stick to the meat while turning. Transfer roast fat side up into prepared dish and sprinkle with any remaining dry rub.
• First bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Then reduce heat to 325 degrees F, cover with lid and bake for another 30-40 minutes, or until internal read thermometer reads 10 degrees BEFORE your desired doneness T:

  °Rare: 120-125 F internal temperature. Red and bloody.

  °Medium rare: 130-135 F internal temperature. Pink center with brown towards the outside.

  °Medium: 140 F internal temperature. Barely pink center with brown to the outside.

  °Well done: 150-160 F internal temperature. Brown all the way through.

  Example, my 3 lbs roast was cooked to 135 degrees F when I checked on it after 35 minutes of baking covered (total cook time 65 minutes). I would start checking after 30 minutes cooking covered and remember all ovens bake differently!
• Remove roast from the oven and let rest covered for 20 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, remove twine and slice against the grain using sharp fillet knife.
• Serve with its juices and onions from the bottom of the pan, mashed potatoes and a simple salad like cucumber and tomato salad.

Video

Notes

• Store: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days in an airtight container. They are good for sandwiches!
• Freeze: In portion for up to 3 months.
• No Dutch oven? Use a roaster with a lid. If you use a roasting pan and cover it with tin foil, I suspect it will take longer to cook. Highly recommend to check with a thermometer for internal temperature after 30 minutes.
• Ovens vary a lot: I have 2 ovens and one bakes hotter than the other. 
• Convection oven cooks faster: Keep this in mind for sure!
• Onion: I absolutely love white onion because it is sweet and has a crunch to it even after roasting. You can use yellow or red onion as well.
• Turn your au jus into gravy: Add beef broth (or red wine), cornstarch, and other seasonings to taste to thicken up the juice.
• Grandma’s pot roast: Cook with potatoes, carrots, and pearl onions and watch everything roast and caramelize together.

See recipe post for more tips and FAQs.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 74g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 187mg | Sodium: 936mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

The post Sirloin Tip Roast appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

This meat-free Mushroom Bean Soup is hearty, healthy and packed with flavor. Even better, you can make it on the stove, in a slow cooker, or using an Instant Pot and it can be a freezer meal.

During the cooler months, we love hearty soups like vegetarian pasta fagioli and minestrone soup!

My mom used to make this mushroom bean soup for years. Her trick is to add a can of organic cream of mushroom soup and grate carrots very finely, so the soup gets a nice yellow color.

If you love mushrooms, this is the best bean and mushroom soup to cozy up to this winter. It’s savory and earthy with lots of mushrooms, hearty beans, and a sprinkle of fresh dill.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One pot meal: Another delicious one pot meal for your recipe book, because you can never have too many!
• Affordable: Filled with budget-friendly ingredients, homemade soups are light on the wallet and freezer-friendly for when you need something quick and healthy.
• Hearty and flavorful: White bean mushroom soup is packed with protein and fresh veggies. The aromatics and fresh herbs lend to the amazing smell and taste, it’s so delicious!
• Can cook 3 ways: You have so many cooking options for this bean soup – stovetop, slow cooker, and Instant Pot so no matter what your schedule allows, you can enjoy a hot bowl.
• It’s also a freezer meal: If you’re meal prep obsessed like me, this soup recipe is for you! Just grab it out of your freezer and cook in your Instant Pot or slow cooker.

Ingredients for Mushroom Bean Soup

This mushroom bean soup recipe is brimming with simple ingredients.

• Mushrooms: I used white mushrooms because that’s all my grocery store had. Thinly sliced brown mushrooms would be the best.
• Onion: Finely chopped yellow or white onions add extra umami flavor to healthy soup recipes.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic sautéed with the onion enhances aromatics and flavor.
• Oil: You’ll need a splash of oil for frying, I used avocado oil.
• Vegetables: Chop up 3 celery stalks, and grate 2 medium sized carrots.
• Organic cream of mushroom soup: I use Pacific foods brand. If you can’t find organic cream of mushroom soup, look for a brand with no preservatives and artificial flavors. Or see FAQs for a substitute.
• Beans: Use 3 cans of low sodium cannellini beans or white navy beans, rinsed and drained. If you have dried beans on hand, check out how to cook dried beans.
• Vegetable broth: You can use store-bought low sodium broth or homemade vegetable stock.
• Spices: Salt and pepper to taste.
• Herbs: I added bay leaves for an extra layer of flavor, then garnished with fresh dill. Fresh parsley is also a great choice.

How to Make White Bean and Mushrooms Soup

With minimal prep time and some simmering, this mushroom and bean soup is ready in 35 minutes!

There is recipe card below with full instructions for all cooking methods.

• Cook the mushrooms: Preheat a large pot on medium-high heat. Once hot, add oil and mushrooms and cook until golden brown, about 7-8 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to a large bowl.
• Sauté vegetables: Add remaining oil, onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the same pot and reduce heat to medium. Sauté veggies for 5 minutes, stir in the cream of mushroom soup and cook for 30 seconds.
• Combine: Add mushrooms back in along with beans, broth, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Stir to combine, cover, and bring to a boil. Then simmer soup on low heat for 20 minutes.
• Garnish and serve: Turn off heat and add dill. I let my white bean soup rest for 5 minutes so the flavors deepen. Then adjust seasonings to taste and serve.

Tips for Best Results

Here are some easy tips for making the best bean soup with mushrooms.

• Use brown mushrooms: For more flavor, use brown mushrooms or portobello mushrooms.
• To clean mushrooms: You can wipe them with damp paper towel. I like to break the rules of cooking and give them a quick rinse with cold water and scrub dirt off with a knife. They brown in a large pot just fine after this wash.
• Use bean broth, if you have it: Bean broth makes a rich, flavorful base for soups and stews. If you have any leftover broth from cooking dried beans, I highly recommend using it!

Variations

• If using dried mushrooms: Dried chanterelles or dried porcini mushrooms should be soaked for 30 minutes in a bowl with cold water. Don’t sauté them first. Instead, add to the pot with the beans and use the soaking liquid to replace some of vegetable broth.
• Other vegetables to add: Make it your own and sauté red or green bell pepper with the other veggies. Or add cubed parsnips, potatoes or sweet potatoes to the pot.
• Extra seasonings at the end: Add a pat of butter after cooking for extra depth of flavor. You can sauté veggies with butter as well. I also like to add freshly grated or minced clove of garlic at the end. Grated garlic will be more flavorful than minced though.

What to Serve with Bean Mushroom Soup?

Mushroom bean soup is a cozy meal on its own. I’ll add some homemade sourdough croutons on top if I have some, or serve crusty bread on the side.

Of course, you can never go wrong with soup and grilled cheese sandwich, or soup and salad combo. This simple butter lettuce salad or lemon kale salad are the perfect pairing.

Mushrooms are a delicious addition to my healthy green bean casserole, so naturally garlic green beans make a delicious side.

How to Make a Freezer Meal

• Before freezing (slow cooker): Preheat large skillet on medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a resealable gallon size freezer bag. Then cook mushrooms until golden brown. Add to the same bag with other ingredients, except broth, to freeze.
• Instant Pot: In a gallon size Ziploc bag, add all ingredients, except broth. Let as much air out as possible, seal and freeze for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen with 7-8 cups of broth on High pressure for 5 minutes with 20 minutes of Natural Release.
• Slow cooker: Cook from frozen with 7-8 cups of broth for 4 hours on High or 7-8 hours on Low.
• After cooking: Add dill, stir and serve hot.

Check out my full list of 20 healthy freezer meals. I’m obsessed!

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Let soup cool, transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Freeze: Once cooled, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Reheat: To reheat the soup, I like to do place desired amount of soup in a small pot and simmer on the stove on low heat until heated through. Of course, you can always reheat soup in microwave in individual bowls for 2-3 minutes.

FAQs

More Mushroom Recipes to Try

• Healthy mushroom stroganoff
• Lentil and mushroom casserole
• Stuffed parmesan mushrooms
• Broccoli mushroom stir fry
• Spaghetti squash quiche with mushrooms
• Parmesan mushroom appetizers

More Soup Recipes to Try

• Slow cooker lentil soup
• Vegetable soup recipe
• Russian cabbage soup

Print

Bean and Mushroom Soup

Meat-free Mushroom Bean Soup is hearty, healthy and packed with flavor. You can make it on the stove, in a slow cooker or in an Instant Pot.

Course Soup and Stew

Cuisine North American

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 226kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Large pot
• Box grater

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds brown or white mushrooms sliced
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves minced
• 2 medium carrots finely grated
• 3 large celery stalks diced
• 2 tablespoons oil for frying
• 11 ounces can organic cream of mushroom soup I used Pacific Foods
• 3 14 ounces cans cannellini or white navy beans low sodium, rinsed & drained
• 7 cups vegetable broth low sodium
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/3 cup dill or parsley finely chopped

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

On the Stove

• Preheat large heavy bottom pot on medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Add mushrooms and cook for 7-8 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, onion, garlic, carrots and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cream of mushroom soup, stir and cook for another 30 seconds.
• Return sauteed mushrooms to the pot along with beans, broth, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Stir, cover and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer soup for 20 minutes.
• Turn off heat, add dill and let soup stand for 5 minutes, if you have time. Adjust any seasonings to taste and serve hot.

In Slow Cooker

• Saute mushrooms and veggies separately in a skillet. Then add all ingredients to a large slow cooker, cover and cook on Low heat for 4-6 hours or on High heat for 2-3 hours.

In Instant Pot

• Add all ingredients in the order listed above, skipping oil. You don't have to saute the veggies because food cooked under pressure comes out more flavorful, but you can, if you wish. Cook soup on High pressure for 5 minutes with 20 minutes natural pressure release, then release remaining pressure.

Notes

• Store: Refrigerate soup in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
• You can use 2 cups of dried beans with Instant Pot version and pressure cook for 30 minutes.
• If you can’t find organic cream of mushroom soup, look for a brand with no preservatives and artificial flavors.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 577mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 3g

The post Mushroom Bean Soup appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Learn How to Cook Dried Beans at home so you’ll always have some on hand. Use this easy stovetop method for a variety of beans and add them to salads, soups, stews, and more!

If I am not cooking beans on the stove, I love to make Instant Pot black beans, Instant Pot chickpeas or kidney beans in Instant Pot.

Here is everything you need to know about how to cook dried beans! It is super easy. I can guarantee you have all tools on hand already.

All you need is a large pot, small mesh strainer or a perforated spoon, and any storage containers. And a little bit of time!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Saves money: If you are paying $3-4 for a can of organic BPA free beans, I have a solution for you – buy dried beans, cook them and freeze them for later. It is 3 times cheaper! A 3 pound bag of organic dried beans costs $14, which yields about 14 cans of beans x $3 = $42.
• Avoid BPA: Majority of cans are lined with BPA, which leaches into food and is harmful for humans. That’s why there are now BPA free baby bottles, food containers and cans.
• Healthier: Can be organic, lower in sodium or no salt at all.
• Delicious beans: Freshly cooked beans are more fresh, tasty and buttery than canned beans. Once you taste them, you will know what I mean.
• Perfect for meal prep: If you cook a few kinds of beans at a time, you will be set for a few months. I usually cook 3 pounds of each kind of beans: chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans. They last me about 6 months.

What Dried Beans Can I Cook?

Small, medium, or large, my simple method for how to cook dry beans works for all sizes.

• Chickpeas aka garbanzo beans
• Black beans
• Black eyed-peas
• Pinto beans
• Kidney beans
• Navy beans
• Great Northern beans
• Cannellini beans
• Lima beans
• Cranberry beans

Do Dried Beans Have to Be Soaked Before Cooking?

There is a lot of debate whether dried beans need to be soaked or not.

The answer is no, dried beans do not have to be soaked before cooking. It really boils down to personal preference and how much time you have.

In all my tests, I found that soaked beans cook more even and better on the stove, which is important if you are making recipes like white bean salad or black bean quinoa casserole. No one likes mushy beans there!

And I did not see any difference with digesting the beans whether they have been soaked or not.

However, I prefer to soak the beans overnight for stovetop method and cook from dried in my Instant Pot because it saves time and is convenient.

If you would like to cook dried beans without soaking, please see more info a few paragraphs down.

How to Make Dried Beans after Soaking

You’ll need a couple of hours but cooking dried beans is easy!

Here’s a quick overview of how to make beans after soaking, there is a full recipe card below.

• Sort through beans: There may be small stones or debris mixed in with the beans, remove those along with any damaged beans.
• Soak the beans: Place the beans in a large bowl and cover with 2 or 3 inches of cold water. Let them soak for 8 hours or overnight.
• Rinse: Drain and rinse the soaked beans under cold water. Transfer them to a large pot, add cold water up to 3 inches above the beans and cover with a lid.

• Cook the beans: Bring to a boil on high heat, reduce to low and simmer at a gentle boil. Use a mesh strainer to remove any foam that rises.
• Add salt and continue cooking: The total cooking time depends on the beans’ size and age, please refer to my chart below. After 40-60 minutes of cooking, add salt to the pot. Continue cooking until the beans are soft inside but still hold their shape. I recommend tasting every 20 minutes.
• Remove cooked beans: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beans to a bowl. Alternatively, you can drain the beans through a mesh strainer. I like to save the broth for soups and stews, yum!
• Cool: Let them cool and use right away or store for later.

How Long Do Beans Take to Cook?

The total time needed for cooking dried beans depends on a couple of factors. For example, the size and whether or not you soaked them.

The most important thing to remember is that cooking time mostly depends on how old your beans are!

There’s no way to pin point the exact cook time, but here’s a guideline for pre-soaked beans to help you.

Tips for Best Results

Here are my top tips on how to cook dried beans with better taste and texture than canned beans.

• Don’t let beans boil vigorously: As soon as the water boils reduce the heat, make sure they still simmer gently. Too low heat will not boil them, be careful and watch.
• Cover the pot: Cook with the lid on. Otherwise your kitchen and house will be full of steam, unless you don’t mind. It also makes beans cook faster!
• Don’t overcook the beans: When beans have simmered for too long, they become very soft and mushy. This also happens if they are left in the hot broth after cooking. It’s best to taste test beans periodically and drain as soon as they are cooked to your liking.
• Cooking time depends on the age of your beans: As beans age their moisture content evaporates causing them to have a harder skin, which takes longer to soften.
• Don’t salt the beans at the start: Adding salt at the beginning will slow down the cooking and cause your beans to have a firmer texture. For evenly cooked, fully seasoned, perfectly creamy beans, add the salt in the middle of the cooking process.

Seasoning the Beans

Honestly, I usually cook beans for soups, stew and chili and do not season beans unless I’m making Instant Pot baked beans or refried beans in Instant Pot. But here are a few ideas to season a pot of beans:

• Aromatics: Add chopped onion or shallots and smashed garlic cloves to the pot.
• Herbs: Toss in bay leaves or a sprig of parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, or cilantro.
• Spices: Add warming or spicy flavors with cumin, chili powder, paprika, black pepper, dried chilies, or peppercorns.
• Vegetables: Create a rich broth and make the beans more flavorful by adding carrots, celery, leeks, or ginger at the start of cooking.
• Liquids: Add a splash of fresh lime juice or lemon juice after beans have been cooked and drained. Or drizzle them with red wine vinegar or some olive oil.

How to Store Cooked Beans

Store: Beans will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can store them drained or in the cooking liquid in an airtight container.

Freeze: Transfer drained beans or beans in their cooking liquid to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 6 months.

I like to freeze beans in can portions, which is 1 3/4 cups of drained beans. I also reuse my Ziploc bags. Simply wash them, dry and reuse.

FAQs

Save and Use Bean Broth in These Recipes

• Mushroom bean soup
• Vegetarian pasta fagioli
• Vegetarian borscht
• Ukrainian borscht
• Minestrone soup

Recipes to Use Cooked Beans In

• Instant Pot chili
• Instant Pot turkey chili
• Healthy turkey chili
• Mango black bean salad
• Instant Pot white chicken chili
• Healthy white chicken chili
• Turkey taco soup
• Mexican bean salad

Print

How to Cook Dried Beans

Learn How to Cook Dried Beans at home so you'll always have some on hand. Use this easy stovetop method for a variety of beans and add them to salads, soups, stews, and more!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine North American

Diet Vegan

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 cups

Calories 328kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Large pot
• Mesh strainer

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried beans cannellini beans, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, navy beans or kidney beans
• Cold water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Sort through beans to remove any damaged beans and debris. Place dried beans in a large bowl and cover with 2-3 inches of cold water. Soak for 8 hours or overnight.
• Drain and rinse the beans. Place them in a large pot, fill with cold water 3 inches above and cover the pot.
• Bring to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat to low so beans are boiling just gently, and simmer. Just before and as beans start boiling, you will see a lot of foam. Remove it with a mesh strainer.
• Cooking time depends on beans' size and age. General rule of thumb is to cook small beans (black, black-eyed peas and navy beans) for 45-90 minutes, medium beans (kidney, Great Northern, pinto and garbanzo beans) for 60-120 minutes, and large beans (lima and cannellini beans) for 80-180 minutes.
• When beans are still firm but a bit tender, about 40-60 minutes into cooking process, add salt to the pot. Keep cooking the beans until the beans are soft inside but still intact on the outside. Best way is to taste test the bean every 20 minutes or so!
• When beans are cooked to your liking, remove them into a bowl with a slotted spoon and save the broth for making soups and stews, or drain the beans through a mesh strainer. Leaving beans in the hot liquid will keep cooking them, which is fine only for soups.
• Let beans cool and use them as per recipe, store in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

• Store: Store drained beans or in the cooking liquid in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
• Freeze: I like to pack drained beans about 1 3/4 cups into each resealable Ziploc bag, which is equivalent to one 14-15 ounces can of drained beans. You can also freeze beans in their cooking liquid. Freeze for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.67cups | Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 12mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 2g

The post How to Cook Dried Beans appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Make your own Spicy Mustard in 5 minutes using 4 simple ingredients. A little sweet and a little spicy, it’s so good on everything!

You’ll also love this sweet and tangy healthy honey mustard dressing.

Years ago, I created this spicy mustard recipe inspired by this store-bought sweet with heat mustard, but I like my version a bit better because it uses fresh bell pepper and has more flavor.

It’s sweet with a bit of a heat kick and we love spreading it on burgers and sandwiches or using it as a dip.

It’s probably the most made from my healthy sauces and seasonings collection, and really easy to make!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Versatile: It’s perfect for everyday use or holidays and Thanksgiving!
• Quick and easy: Whip it up in 5 minutes with simple, everyday ingredients. It’s quicker than driving to the grocery store.
• Delicious: Once you try it, you’ll never go back to prepared yellow mustard.
• Flexible: Make it more spicy or more sweet, double or triple the recipe, or share a jar of homemade spicy mustard with friends and family, they’ll love it!

Ingredients for Sweet and Spicy Mustard Recipe

Make this spicy mustard recipe with a handful of staple ingredients, the best part is you probably have everything already.

• Red bell pepper: A coarsely chopped red pepper enhances the sweet taste.
• Yellow mustard: We’ll get a bit of kick from the red pepper flakes so I prefer this over Dijon mustard.
• Honey: This balances out the spicy with some sweet.
• Red pepper flakes: You can adjust the amount to your preference.

How to Make Spicy Mustard

You’ll need 5 minutes and a blender to make your own spicy mustard. It’s so easy, you’ll be making it from memory in no time.

There is a full recipe card below.

• Chop red pepper: Add red pepper to a high speed blender or food processor and process until finely chopped. I paused once to scrape the walls.
• Drain: This is optional, I like to drain the juices for a thicker sauce.
• Blend remaining ingredients: Add mustard, honey and pepper flakes and process on Low until combined.

Tips for Best Results

Follow these helpful tips and this will be the best homemade mustard you’ve ever tasted!

• Do not process all ingredients at once: The prepared mustard will be over processed, with less appealing look and taste.
• Process to desired consistency: You can make it smooth or with chunks depending on how long you blend.
• Adjust the consistency: Feel free to drain the juice from bell pepper or not. If you leave the juices in you’ll have a thin consistency, draining will yield a thicker spicy mustard sauce.
• Make it more spicy: Kick up the heat with more red pepper flakes, add in other spices like chili powder, paprika or cayenne pepper. Or use Dijon mustard.
• Vary the bell pepper: If you don’t have red pepper, try it with orange or yellow pepper.
• Make it vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey for a vegan sweet and spicy mustard.

What Does It Taste Like?

This prepared spicy mustard is just a fancy mustard. With more ingredients than just yellow mustard seed, vinegar and salt. It tastes sweet with a mild spicy kick, it’s the perfect combination.

What to Serve Spicy Mustard With?

I originally created this recipe to go with this chicken burger recipe but spicy prepared yellow mustard goes well with basically any of these chicken recipes.

But its use is so much even beyond that! Use it to spice up your eggs, as a dip for veggies, with baked chicken breast, in a sandwich. You name it!

It also goes very well with roasts like:

• Eye of round roast
• Crockpot sirloin tip roast
• Boneless turkey breast roast
• Roasted leg of lamb
• Sirloin tip roast
• Instant Pot pot roast

How to Store

Store: Pour the hot mustard mixture into an airtight container and refrigerate for 7-10 days.

Freeze: You can freeze small portions for up to 3 months. Make sure to transfer it to a freezer-safe container and leave some room for expansion.

Thaw in the fridge overnight and stir before serving, keeping in mind the texture and flavor may be altered.

FAQs

More Condiment Recipes to Try

• Healthy BBQ sauce
• Greek yogurt tartar sauce
• Hawaiian BBQ sauce recipe
• Easy peanut sauce
• Thai sweet chili sauce
• Chimichurri sauce

Print

Homemade Sweet Spicy Mustard Recipe

Make your own Spicy Mustard in 5 minutes using 4 simple ingredients. A little sweet and a little spicy, it's so good on everything!

Course Condiment

Cuisine North American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 39kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Blender

Ingredients

• 1 small red bell pepper cored & coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup prepared yellow mustard
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a high speed blender or food processor, add bell pepper and process until finely chopped, pausing and scraping the walls once. For a thicker consistency sauce, drain the juices.
• Add mustard, honey and pepper flakes. Then process on Low just enough to combine. Add more red pepper flakes for more heat kick, if you wish.

Notes

Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7-10 days.

Freeze: In small portions, in airtight container, for up to 3 months. Thaw and give it a stir as water might accumulate on top.

Nutrition

Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 179mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g

The post Sweet and Spicy Mustard Recipe appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Spaghetti Squash Quiche with kale and mushrooms is baked in a light spaghetti squash crust and made extra flavorful with a creamy cheese blend.

You will also love this spaghetti squash quiche with balsamic vegetables!

Spaghetti squash is a vegetable with a noodle-like flesh and a slightly sweet taste.

It can easily replace pasta in a casserole like spaghetti squash casserole, make a low carb noodle boat like these stuffed spaghetti squash boats, and now form a crust in this meaty and delicious gluten-free spaghetti squash quiche. Why not?!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Relatively easy recipe: You don’t have to squeeze the liquid out or worry about any extra steps. Once pressed in a pie plate, spaghetti squash noodles easily replace traditional flour crust without extra carbs.
• Delicious: Cheesy, meaty, and so full of flavor, it melts in your mouth. Warm or cold, I love it both ways. I’m a huge fan of mushrooms and combined with leafy greens like kale, you can’t go wrong. This combination will blow your mind!
• Lighter: Besides swapping traditional crust for a spaghetti squash one, I replaced some cheese with cottage cheese and swapped a few eggs with egg whites. More protein and less fat.
• Classic taste: You won’t miss any cheese in this healthy spaghetti squash pie.

Ingredients for Spaghetti Squash Quiche

You’ll need a handful of nutritious ingredients and a few simple spices to make this spaghetti squash quiche recipe.

• Spaghetti squash: The main ingredient for the low-carb, gluten-free crust. Pick a medium sized squash around 2.5 pounds.
• Brown mushrooms: I like brown mushrooms for their deep, earthy flavor. Choose from portobello, cremini, or shiitake mushrooms.
• Kale: Adds a healthy dose of greens to your meal. I used dinosaur kale (also known as lacinato kale).
• Eggs and egg whites: The filling is made with 2 large eggs and 1 cup of egg whites.
• Aromatics: Caramelized onion and fresh garlic add flavor and aroma to the dish.
• Cheese: Shred 1 cup of your favorite cheese. I used a 3 cheese Italian blend but mozzarella, cheddar, gouda or Swiss cheese also compliment mushrooms and kale nicely.
• Cottage cheese: A bit of low fat cottage cheese adds a creamy texture and ups the protein.
• Seasonings and herbs: Onion powder or garlic powder, salt, pepper, and dried thyme.
• Cooking spray: I like Misto.

How to Make Spaghetti Squash Quiche with Kale and Mushrooms

Homemade mushroom kale quiche is a three-part recipe – the crust, the filling, and the assembly. It looks complicated but it’s an easy weekend meal, trust me!

Scroll down for the full recipe card.

Start off by cutting and baking some squash. If you need a refresher, I have posted a full series about how to cut open spaghetti squash.

For this recipe, you need a bit undercooked squash. I recommend to bake spaghetti squash halves or make air fryer spaghetti squash in air fryer. The longer the squash cooks and if the process involves steam, the more liquid it releases. And we don’t want to end up with a hot mess as the quiche bakes with a filling inside.

Then form a crust with your hands. Just press spaghetti squash noodles to the sides and bottom of a pie dish. I used a deep pie dish but regular one will work just fine. I added a few spices to the crust as well. Nothing complicated – salt, ground black pepper and thyme.

Then sauté your mushrooms until they are nice golden brown color, just enough to release the excess liquid. Transfer to a bowl.

Then sauté the kale. I added spices to kale on purpose, do not skip this important step to an aromatic spaghetti squash quiche. Trust me, I tested this recipe 3 times.

Whisk eggs, cottage cheese, cheese and spices together. Then mix kale and mushrooms with the liquids, just until combined.

Pour into the crust and press with spatula to dunk all vegetables in the liquid. This way the veggies won’t dry out as the quiche rises. You could even open the oven after 20 minutes of baking and press again.

I baked my spaghetti squash pie for 50 minutes. Check with a knife and if it comes out clean, your quiche is ready.

Like with any casserole or pie, let it cool to ensure proper slicing, about 30 minutes. You might have to lift the edges of the crust with a knife a bit. Alternatively, you could spray the pie dish edges with cooking spray before adding the ingredients to it.

Tips for Best Results

These top tips help make this vegetable quiche so delicious, everyone will be excited for breakfast.

• Cook spaghetti squash al dente: If overcooked, the squash strands can become too watery. To form a firmer crust, the squash noodles need to be al dente. I don’t recommend to bake whole spaghetti squash or make spaghetti squash in Instant Pot.
• Be sure vegetables are covered: Kale and mushrooms should be fully submerged in the egg mixture, so they don’t dry out.
• Cool quiche before cutting: That little bit of cooling time allows the inside to cook more, the outside to cool, and the flavors to “marry” each other. Your quiche will be perfectly warm, taste better, and be easier to slice.
• About cottage cheese: Do not worry, cottage cheese will melt and incorporate with other ingredients beautifully. It will not curdle and you will not taste it.

Serving Suggestions

Delicious mushroom kale quiche can be served any time of day! It’s an easy make ahead brunch recipe, a savory breakfast to serve your guests, a veggie-loaded lunch, and a light dinner.

If you like fruit in the morning, serve it alongside a zesty fruit salad, healthy apple bread, or a small bowl of quinoa granola with fresh fruit.

For a fuller meal, serve with oven roasted sweet potatoes or a simple side salad like simple butter lettuce salad.

How to Store

Store: Refrigerate covered, or transfer to an airtight container for 3 or 4 days.

Freeze: I do not like to freeze this vegetable quiche leftovers, in my experience the texture is off once thawed.

FAQs

More Quiche Recipes to Try

• Crustless broccoli quiche
• Crustless spinach quiche
• Crustless zucchini quiche
• Instant Pot egg bites
• Crustless zucchini pie

More Spaghetti Squash Recipes

• Spaghetti squash chicken alfredo
• Butter chicken spaghetti squash
• Spaghetti squash breakfast

Print

Spaghetti Squash Quiche with Kale and Mushrooms

Spaghetti Squash Quiche with kale and mushrooms is baked in a light spaghetti squash crust and made extra flavorful with a creamy cheese blend.

Course Dinner

Cuisine North American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 179kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• pie dish

Ingredients

For the Crust:

• 1 medium spaghetti squash about 2.5 pounds
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder or garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

• 3 cups brown mushrooms sliced
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 5 large garlic cloves minced
• 2 cups kale stems removed, chopped & packed (I used dinosaur kale)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup egg whites
• 1 cup mozzarella, cheddar, gouda or swiss cheese shredded (I used 3 cheese blend)
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 2 teaspoon onion powder or garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt divided
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper divided
• Cooking spray I use Misto

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut squash in half, scoop out the seeds and place cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, preheat large skillet on high heat and spray with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Return skillet to medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add kale, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and saute until kale is wilted. Transfer to a bowl with mushrooms and set aside.
• To make the crust, separate spaghetti squash into strands with a fork. Add to a medium bowl along with thyme, onion powder and salt, and mix to combine. Transfer to a deep pie dish and press evenly on the bottom and sides using your hands. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs with egg whites and whisk for 30 seconds. Add cheese, cottage cheese, previously cooked mushrooms and kale, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and mix to combine.
• Pour into prepared crust and flatten with spatula to make sure all vegetables are covered with liquid. Bake in 400 degrees F oven for 50 mins or until the knife inserted comes out clean.
• Let quiche cool down for at least 30 minutes. Cut into 8 slices and serve hot or cold.

Notes

Store: Refrigerate covered for up to 3 – 4 days. Do not freeze.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 497mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g

The post Spaghetti Squash Quiche with Kale and Mushrooms appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Mediterranean Ground Turkey Stew made simply with cannellini beans, kale, olives and fresh herbs in a savory tomato broth. Delicious light stew recipe without potatoes!

A big bowl of ground turkey stew always hits the spot on a chilly day. And while most traditional stews use plenty of potatoes, I left them out to create a lighter version with tender cannellini beans. It’s unique but so good!

It’s one of our favorite ground turkey recipes I’ve been making since 2014. I took some new photos, added a bit more beans, kept the flavors pretty much the same, and we still love it!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Lighter: All the comfort without the extra carbs, ground turkey and no potatoes make this dish light, delicious, and nourishing.
• Scrumptious flavors: Sweet pieces of turkey meat, soft white beans, chewy kale, tangy olives in a savory tomato broth. It’s a unique stew!
• Quick and easy: This one pot meal is ready in just 40 minutes and cleaning is a breeze.
• Perfect for meal prep: Stew with ground turkey continues to taste delicious days after you make it. The older it is, the better it gets. Just like wine!
• Versatile: Make it stovetop or in your slow cooker, pop it in the freezer for a quick dinner, and you can add almost anything to the pot. All that and you’ve got a healthy dinner recipe that’s easy, versatile, and budget friendly.

Ingredients for Ground Turkey Stew

This ground turkey stew recipe is filled with Mediterranean flavors and made with wholesome, simple ingredients.

• Onion and garlic: Finely chopped onion and freshly minced garlic add aromatics and flavor.
• Oil: Extra virgin olive oil for sautéing.
• Ground turkey: Extra lean ground turkey is a lighter, tasty replacement for ground beef.
• Diced tomatoes: They add chunks of tomato and flavor. I am using a can of low sodium tomatoes, if yours is not low sodium then use less salt.
• Cannellini beans: This creamy white bean adds protein, flavor, and texture. You’ll need 2 cans of low sodium cannellini beans, rinsed and drained. Also cooking dried beans at home is very easy and saves money.
• Chicken broth: Choose low sodium chicken broth to prevent a salty stew.
• Kale: I prefer to use green kale because it adds more volume, but dinosaur (lacinato) kale works.
• Olives: Any pitted olives. I use stuffed with garlic green olives because that’s what I had on hand.
• Italian seasoning: You can make your own or use a store-bought package.
• Other seasoning: Salt, pepper, and bay leaves.
• Lemon juice: A splash of lemon juice adds bright flavor.
• Fresh herbs: I used equal parts of fresh basil and fresh parsley.

How to Make Stew with Ground Turkey

Here’s an overview of how to make the easiest stovetop ground turkey stew, it practically cooks itself.

There is a full recipe card below.

• Sauté onion and garlic: Start by preheating a large Dutch oven on medium heat. Add oil, onion, and garlic then sauté until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Cook ground turkey: In the same pot, cook ground turkey for 4-5 minutes. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to stir and break the meat into small pieces.
• Season turkey: Add Italian seasoning and cook for 30 seconds.
• Make the broth: Pour in the diced tomatoes, beans, and chicken broth. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, add bay leaves, then stir and bring to a boil.

• Simmer: Once the stew comes to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients: Turn off heat and add kale, olives and lemon juice. Give it a stir, cover, and allow it to rest until the kale is wilted.
• Garnish: Add basil and parsley, stir again and let it stand for 5-10 minutes to let flavors “marry” each other.
• Serve: Remove bay leaves and snuggle up with a hot bowl of stew.

Tips for Best Results

Follow these easy tips and everyone will rave how great this unique stew is.

• Be sure to remove kale stems: The stems are tough and chewy, it’s best to de-stem the leaves or buy pre-chopped kale.
• Rinse and drain the beans: Too much liquid will thin your stew, and both flavor and texture improves when canned beans are rinsed and drained.
• Break ground turkey into small pieces: Smaller chunks of ground turkey will incorporate evenly throughout the dish.
• If you don’t have a Dutch oven: Use a heavy bottom pot with a tight fitting lid.

Variations

Here are some optional variations and add-ins you could try:

• Use different ground meat: Tweak the recipe by using ground chicken or ground pork. You could also try ground beef.
• Try other beans: Substitute cannellini beans with white navy beans, Great Northern beans, or butter beans. If you’re out of white beans, red kidney beans would also work.
• Swap the broth: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, or beef broth if trying ground beef.
• Change up the tomatoes: Fire roasted tomatoes would give the stew a smoky taste.
• Use leftover holiday turkey: Toss in some shredded turkey at the same time as adding the kale and olives.
• Add tomato paste: This will add another layer of flavor. Add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, and mix with cooked ground turkey.
• Play around with consistency: Add some other veggies for a thicker stew. For a looser stew, add more broth and fewer beans.

Can I Make This Stew Vegetarian?

Yes, just omit ground turkey. There are already two cans of beans, but you can always add tofu crumbles or any vegetarian meat substitute and sauté it with onions.

Be sure to use vegetable broth as well.

How Do I Serve Mediterranean Turkey Stew?

I enjoyed it with chopped fresh tomatoes on top and a slice of toasted sourdough bread spread with butter. Any crusty bread like a baguette would be great to soak up the juices. I even say it’s a must!

You can also sprinkle crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top of stew in each individual bowl.

Could also serve with a simple spring mix salad or butter lettuce salad for a soup and salad combo.

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 5 days.

Freeze: You can freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Kale might be a bit more limpy once thawed but it’s not that bad.

Reheat: The best way to reheat your turkey stew is on the stove on low heat while covered.

FAQs

More Stew Recipes to Try

• Lamb stew recipe
• Easy chicken stew recipe
• Chicken chickpea stew

More Ground Turkey Recipes to Try

• Ground turkey taco soup
• Ground turkey and zucchini skillet
• Ground turkey and potato skillet
• Ground turkey quinoa casserole
• Ground turkey and broccoli pasta

Print

Ground Turkey Stew

Mediterranean Ground Turkey Stew with cannellini beans, kale, olives and fresh herbs in a savory tomato broth. Delicious light stew!

Course Soup and Stew

Cuisine Mediterranean

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 12 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 42 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 182kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Dutch oven

Ingredients

• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 5 large garlic cloves minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
• 1 pound ground turkey extra lean
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 14 ounces can diced tomatoes low sodium
• 2 14 ounces cans cannellini beans low sodium, rinsed & drained
• 1 cup chicken broth low sodium
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups kale coarsely chopped & packed
• 3/4 cup olives pitted and sliced in halves
• 1/2 lemon juice of
• 1/2 cup basil finely chopped
• 1/2 cup parsley finely chopped

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat dutch oven or large heavy bottom pot on medium heat and add olive oil. Add onion and garlic, saute for 5 minutes or until translucent, stirring occasionally.
• Add ground turkey and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking into pieces and constantly stirring with a spatula. Add Italian seasoning and cook for 30 more seconds.
• Add diced tomatoes, beans, chicken broth, salt, pepper and bay leaves, then stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and add kale, olives and lemon juice, then stir. Cover and let stew stand for a few minutes or until kale is wilted.
• Add basil and parsley, stir again and it's best to let the flavors "marry" each other for 5-10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and serve stew hot.

Notes

• Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat on a stovetop covered on low.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 547mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g

The post Mediterranean Ground Turkey Stew appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry is vegan and healthy stir fry recipe with portobello mushrooms, peas, walnuts and brown rice. It’s easy, filling, and drenched in flavor.

We also love this chicken and broccoli stir fry and cauliflower stir fry!

This might not be a traditional stir fry recipe but it’s delish! It’s my version of broccoli mushroom stir fry with tons and tons of green veggies and nuts. I was going to say it is vegetarian but I just realized it’s vegan. Even better!

This gluten-free, healthy dinner recipe is perfect for any occasion and rivals any takeout.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Naturally flexible: Stir fries are great for using up those lingering vegetables in the fridge. Also gives you the chance to use up any type of rice or noodles you have in your pantry.
• Easy: No need to make separate stir fry sauce. Everything is sautéed to perfection in coconut oil, then seasoned with soy sauce for a delicious stir fry taste.
• Healthy: No store-bought sauce plus broccoli is high in fiber and vitamin C, and mushrooms are low in calories and a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
• Delicious: This stir fry was delish! Crunchy, with satisfying umami flavor and filling!

Ingredients for Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry

You might not need an extra trip to the grocery store, the ingredient list for this broccoli mushroom stir fry recipe is very simple.

• Portobello mushrooms: They are meaty and add a lot of flavor. You’ll need to chop 2 large mushrooms.
• Broccoli: Chop up 2 fresh heads of broccoli with stalks.
• Walnuts: Coarsely chopped, or you can buy pieces for a less expensive option.
• Frozen peas: You can add frozen peas straight from the freezer or use fresh peas.
• Onion: Finely chopped onions add delicious flavor. I recommend yellow onion, it’s the perfect balance between sweet and sharp.
• Soy sauce: Choose from regular soy sauce, liquid aminos or tamari.
• Coconut oil: I highly recommend not to substitute, it adds flavor.
• Toasted sesame oil: This oil adds stir fry flavor. It is an optional ingredient, so be sure to use only toasted sesame oil. Regular sesame oil does not have that special flavor.
• Green onion: A garnish of finely chopped green onion adds a nice chive flavor to the dish.
• Brown rice: I used long grain brown rice. Brown basmati rice or jasmine brown rice will work too.
• Salt: Just a pinch to flavor the rice.

How to Make Broccoli and Mushroom Stir Fry

Broccoli and mushroom stir fry is an easy weeknight dinner you’ll be dishing up in less than an hour.

Here’s a quick overview, there is a recipe card with full measurements and instructions below.

• Prep the rice: Get your rice cooking while prepping other ingredients. I made brown rice in Instant Pot, you can also cook it on the stove. In any case, you want rice to be al dente.
• Toast walnuts: Add walnuts to a hot non-stick wok and cook on medium heat until golden brown. I toasted mine for 2-3 minutes, then in the last 30 seconds, stirred in 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Sauté onion: Add 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil to the same wok and sauté onions until translucent, stirring occasionally. Then add them to the bowl with the walnuts.
• Stir fry mushrooms: In the same wok on high heat, add coconut oil and mushrooms, and cook until golden brown. Stir in soy sauce and transfer to the same bowl with walnuts and onion.

• Cook broccoli: Add remaining coconut oil and cook broccoli until soft but not overcooked. Stir in 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
• Combine: Add walnuts, onion, and mushrooms back into the pan. Fluff rice and pour into the wok. Toss in the peas along with the remaining soy sauce and sesame oil. Stir and sauté on high heat until heated through.
• Garnish and serve: Stir in green onions, remove from heat and enjoy!

What Is the Best Way to Prep Broccoli?

I like to use both broccoli crowns and broccoli stalks because they’re highly nutritious, add crunchy texture, and eliminates waste.

First remove the stalks, peel their thick skin with a vegetable peeler and slice into bite-size pieces.

Then cut broccoli florets into uniform size pieces.

More Tips for Best Results

These simple tips are what make this broccoli and mushroom recipe incredibly flavorful.

• Season each vegetable with soy sauce: Important to add a splash of soy sauce at the end of toasting nuts and each vegetable. It adds a lot of flavor without using store-bought stir fry sauce or other sauce ingredients such as cornstarch and rice vinegar, making this recipe healthy and simple.
• Use al dente brown rice: For the best taste and look, make sure rice is al dente when adding to the wok to prevent mushy rice.
• Don’t skip coconut oil: Coconut oil has a high smoke point and adds a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. If you use a different oil, the taste will not be the same.
• Use brown mushrooms: Baby Bella mushrooms or brown mushrooms such as cremini mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms are OK, but not white mushrooms. Brown mushrooms have a deep, earthy flavor where white mushrooms are much milder in taste.
• Have all ingredients ready to go: Use that 10 minutes prep time and have everything ready. Then you can quickly stir fry on medium-high heat stirring constantly for the perfect stir fry.
• Type of wok: I have this ceramic non-stick wok which allows me to use less oil. You can use a regular wok but you might have to add more oil.

What to Serve Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry with?

This delicious stir fry is a meal on its own but if you would like to add protein, these easy recipes can be cooked at the same time as stir fry:

• Air fryer shrimp
• Baked boneless chicken thighs
• Air fryer chicken breast

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Stir fry is best served fresh but will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, if stored in an airtight container.

Freeze: I do not recommend freezing this dish because walnuts and veggies become soggy once thawed.

FAQs

More Broccoli and Mushroom Recipes to Try

• Sauteed broccoli
• Ground turkey and broccoli pasta
• Ground turkey, broccoli and potato skillet
• Healthy chicken broccoli casserole
• Mushroom and bean soup

More Stir Fry Recipes to Try

• Healthy chicken stir fry
• Buckwheat stir fry
• Chicken asparagus stir fry
• Beef stir fry recipe
• Cabbage stir fry
• Shrimp and vegetable stir fry
• Chicken and mushrooms

Print

Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry

Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry is vegan and healthy stir fry recipe with portobello mushrooms, peas, walnuts and brown rice. It's easy, filling, and drenched in flavor.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Asian

Diet Vegan

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 377kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Ingredients

For Brown Rice:

• 1 cup long grain brown rice uncooked
• 1 1/2 cups water
• Pinch of salt

For Stir Fry:

• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 2 large portobello mushrooms coarsely chopped
• 2 large broccoli stalks including stems, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup walnuts coarsely chopped
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce or liquid aminos divided
• 2-3 tablespoons coconut oil divided
• 1 1/2 cups peas frozen or fresh
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil optional
• 4 green onion sprigs finely chopped

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Add rice, water and salt to a medium pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes. Rice should be al dente. Or cook brown rice in Instant Pot or any other proven al dente method.
• Meanwhile, preheat non-stick wok on medium heat, add walnuts and cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. In the last 30 seconds, stir in 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce, transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
• Return wok to medium heat, add 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil, onions and cook until translucent, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a bowl with walnuts.
• Increase heat to high, add 1/2-1 tablespoon coconut oil, mushrooms and cook until golden brown, stirring frequently. In the last 30 seconds, stir in 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce and transfer to the same bowl with walnuts.
• Add remaining 1/2-1 tablespoon coconut oil, broccoli and cook for a few minutes until softer but not overcooked. In the last 30 seconds, stir in 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
• Transfer all ingredients from a bowl to the wok with broccoli. Fluff rice with a fork and add to the wok. Add peas, remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce and sesame oil (if using). Stir and saute stir fry on high heat for about 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
• Add green onions, stir gently, remove from heat and serve hot.

Notes

• Store: Refrigerate covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• I don’t recommend to freeze this stir fry because vegetables and nuts will become soggy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.67cups | Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 344mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 8g

The post Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Easy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup recipe with all the comforting flavors and far less work. Ready to serve in just over 30 minutes, this hearty soup is a quick weeknight dinner!

If you prefer the traditional pasta dish, Instant Pot lasagna is perfect for cold weather too!

Kids love this Instant Pot lasagna soup! And busy cooks love it because it’s easier to make than chicken lasagna roll ups, zucchini lasagna, and zucchini lasagna rolls.

Plus the cheesy topping makes it extra delicious, I call that a winner!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Satisfy your lasagna fix: Loaded with ground beef, tender noodles, Italian seasoning, rich tomato broth, and cheese, this recipe is full of traditional lasagna flavor packed in a delicious Instant Pot soup.
• No need to pre-cook the noodles: You can add uncooked pasta right to your electric pressure cooker.
• Quick and easy: Lasagna soup in Instant Pot is fully ready in 33 minutes!
• One pot meal: I love Instant Pot recipes because you can saute and cook all ingredients in same pot!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

The ingredients for Instant Pot lasagna soup are very simple, here’s what you’ll need.

• Onion: Yellow onion, finely chopped.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic cloves is best for flavor, jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch.
• Ground beef: I like using extra lean ground beef, a fattier ground beef will have more grease and drippings.
• Diced tomatoes: Aim for a can of low sodium diced tomatoes to avoid added sodium.
• Marinara sauce: Homemade marinara sauce is my top choice for lasagna soup, you can use your favorite store-bought variety.
• Chicken broth: Really any broth will add a rich flavor to your soup. Choose from low sodium chicken broth, vegetable broth, or beef broth.
• Lasagna noodles: You’ll need 8 sheets uncooked and broken into pieces.
• Seasoning: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Parmesan cheese: If possible, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best flavor.
• Fresh herbs: Finely chopped fresh parsley or fresh basil for classic lasagna flavor.
• Garnish ideas: Ricotta cheese, more parmesan cheese, parsley, and basil.

How to Make Lasagna Soup in Instant Pot

Here are the step-by-step directions for making this lasagna soup recipe in Instant Pot. It’s really simple and everything is done right in your Instant Pot, anyone can make it!

You’ll also find a full recipe card below.

• Preheat: Press the Sauté button and wait until the display says Hot, it takes a few minutes but you want it to be Hot before adding anything to it.
• Add meat and aromatics: Add onion, garlic, ground beef and cook for 7-10 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to break it into small pieces, once it’s mostly cooked through press Cancel.
• Combine remaining ingredients: Now add in the diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, broth, lasagna noodles, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Then stir, making sure the noodles are separated.
• Pressure cook: Close the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 3 minutes.
• Release pressure: After pressure cooking, let soup stand for 5 minutes and then turn valve to Venting to release remaining pressure.
• Finish soup: Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, parsley or basil and stir. If you have time, let it sit for up to 15 minutes for flavors to mingle.
• Garnish and serve: Add a dollop of ricotta cheese, more Parmesan cheese and herbs, and serve hot.

Tips for Best Results

These easy tips help make this the best Instant Pot lasagna soup! It will jump up to the number one spot of your soup recipes list.

• Separate lasagna noodles: After adding all ingredients, give it a gentle stir. You want the pasta submerged in liquid, so it cooks evenly but separated. This way it won’t stick while cooking.
• To thin out the soup: It’s normal for soup to thicken as it sits and especially the next day. Thin it out only with broth to avoid diluting the flavor with water. I added 2 cups more in a few hours. You can also season it more with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Don’t release pressure immediately: Don’t do Quick Release. Wait 5 minutes, otherwise soup will splatter a lot through the venting valve.
• Let it stand: Just for 10-15 minutes to let flavors marry each other.

What Are the Best Noodles to Use?

You can use any wavy lasagna noodles. This time I used regular pasta.

Whole wheat lasagna noodles or Kamut noodles can be used, I would cook soup for 4 minutes then.

For brown rice or gluten-free lasagna noodles, you’ll want to pressure cook soup for 2 minutes. Also they will fall apart a bit more.

You could also use other short noodles like farfalle (bowtie pasta) and penne pasta.

Other Variations

We love this twist on lasagna, it’s super versatile too. Here are some fun variations to try.

• Add veggies: Load up soup with vegetables and feel good about serving your family one of healthy Instant Pot recipes. 2-3 cups of chopped zucchini, carrots, celery, mushrooms, or bell peppers are just a few ideas.
• Use ground turkey: Make soup healthier by swapping beef for ground turkey. You could even use ground chicken. Don’t forget to use oil for sauteing the meat then.
• Add Italian sausage: Use half ground Italian sausage and half ground beef. There is the possibility you would have to drain some fat.
• Stir in cheeses in the pot: Get more cheesy and creamy taste by slowly mixing in up to 1-2 cups of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese or ricotta cheese.
• Make it dairy-free: Omit Parmesan cheese and top with dairy-free ricotta cheese.
• Add spinach: Boost nutrition and add more color with 2-3 cups of fresh baby spinach.
• Make it lighter: Use a leaner meat such as ground turkey and skip the ricotta cheese, or top with cottage cheese or shredded mozzarella.

How to Top and Garnish Lasagna Soup

It’s all about the toppings! I like to keep things simple and use what I have on hand. You can add all or any of these ingredients on top to add flavor to the soup:

• Ricotta cheese: My personal favorite, I love the rich creaminess.
• Parmesan cheese: Shaved or grated parmesan cheese is always a popular choice for Italian dishes.
• Mozzarella cheese: For a mild, salty taste plus it melts into gooey deliciousness.
• Fresh herbs: Add extra flavor and make your soup beautiful with parsley or basil.

And of course serve pressure cooker lasagna soup with crusty bread or whole grain bread!

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Refrigerate soup leftovers for 2 days. Technically it can last for 3-4 days but I find pasta becomes too soggy after 2 days.

Reheat: In a microwave or small pot on the stove. You can also reheat right in Instant Pot on Sauté mode if you are planning to consume all the leftovers. It’s best practice to reheat only what you will eat.

Freeze: I don’t recommend to freeze this soup as noodles become mushy once thawed.

FAQs

More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

• Instant Pot bolognese
• Instant Pot ground beef stroganoff
• Instant Pot chicken pasta
• Instant Pot spaghetti
• Instant Pot goulash

More Instant Pot Soup Recipes to Try

• Instant Pot zuppa toscana
• Instant Pot vegetable soup
• Instant Pot minestrone soup
• Instant Pot potato soup

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Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

Easy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup recipe with all the comforting flavors and far less work than a lasagna. On your table in just over 30 minutes!

Course Soup and Stew

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes minutes

Pressure Up&Down Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 33 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 278kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients

• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 4 large garlic cloves minced
• 1 pound ground beef extra lean
• 15 ounces can diced tomatoes low sodium
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 6 cups chicken broth low sodium
• 8 lasagna noodles broken into pieces
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil for frying
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 1/4 cup parsley or basil finely chopped
• Ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley or basil for serving

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Press Saute and wait until Instant Pot says Hot. Swirl oil to coat and add onion, garlic and ground beef. Saute for 7-10 minutes, stirring often and breaking meat into small pieces. Meat should not be browned. Press Cancel.
• Add diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, broth, lasagna noodles, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir well to separate the noodles.
• Close the lid, set valve to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 3 minutes.
• After wait 5 minutes and then turn pressure release valve to Venting to release remaining pressure, called Quick Release.
• Add Parmesan cheese, parsley or basil, stir the soup and I recommend to let it sit for 10-15 minutes uncovered or half way covered to allow the flavors to meld, if you have time.
• Garnish individual bowls of soup with more Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese and more parsley or basil. Serve hot with a slice of bread.

Notes

Store: Refrigerate soup leftovers for 2 days. Soup can last for 3-4 days but I find pasta becomes too soggy after 2 days. You can also thin out the soup with more broth and spices as it will thicken with time.

I don’t recommend to freeze this soup because noodles will become mushy upon thawing.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 539mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g

The post Instant Pot Lasagna Soup appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Tex Mex Chicken and Lentil Casserole with veggies, southwest spices, green lentils, and seasoned chicken. This cheesy baked dish is full of flavor and family approved.

If you love lentils, you might also like this chicken lentil soup and green lentil curry.

I have updated this reader favorite chicken lentil casserole recipe to make it better! The flavors are all the same but I have shortened the list of ingredients to make things easy for you. Also lentils come out more firm and casserole is less watery! Hooray!

Chicken and lentils is one of my favorite healthier comfort meals to make at the end of a busy week, it’s been in high rotation for years and makes delicious leftovers. Pair it with a creamy salad and it’s bound to find a spot on your winter rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Balanced meal: My rule of thumb for a healthy casserole is complex carbs in moderation, more lean protein and veggies, and keep cheese to reasonable amounts.
• Healthier casserole: Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein, fiber and complex carbs. Combined with chicken and vegetables, and you have one powerhouse meal.
• Simple ingredients: All ingredients fall into the kitchen staple category, and budget friendly.
• Cleans out pantry and fridge: Cooking casseroles at home is a fun and creative way to use up what you have on hand. Change up flavor, texture, and color by switching vegetables and spices.
• Versatile: This chicken and lentil recipe is the definition of versatility. It’s an easy oven to table recipe, make ahead for meal prep and enjoy throughout the week for lunch or dinner, it’s a crowd pleaser, and freezer friendly. You can even omit the chicken for a meatless dish.

Ingredients for Tex Mex Chicken and Lentil Casserole

The list of ingredients might seem long but really they are mostly spices that repeat themselves. I just broke down the chicken and lentils casserole recipe nicely for you.

• Green lentils: Uncooked lentils will need to be rinsed and drained. Brown lentils are the best substitute if you do not have green lentils.
• Chicken broth: I wanted to add lots of flavor, so I used low sodium chicken broth instead of water. Vegetable broth would work great too.
• Chicken: I like using boneless skinless chicken breasts, but chicken thighs work just as well. You’ll want to chop them into bite size pieces.
• Aromatics: Fresh garlic cloves and onion.
• Bell peppers: You’ll need 2 large peppers chopped. I had yellow pepper and red bell pepper on hand, use what you have.
• Diced tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes helps create the sauce while adding acidity and texture. I always recommend low sodium to help control sodium levels.
• Corn: Frozen corn or corn drained from a can.
• Green chilies: A small 4 ounces can of diced green chilies for a touch of heat.
• Cheese: Shredded Tex Mex or Colby Jack cheese.
• Spices: A combination of cumin, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper gives this dish its Tex Mex flavor.
• Oil: You’ll need a bit of oil for sautéing the vegetables and chicken, olive oil or avocado oil are my go-to.
• Cilantro: Optional garnish, but fresh cilantro adds the perfect pop of color and flavor.

How to Make Chicken and Lentil Casserole

Here’s a quick overview how to make this chicken lentil casserole. Cook lentils, sauté chicken and veggies, combine and bake. It’s very simple!

There is a recipe card below with full instructions.

• Cook lentils: To a medium pot, add lentils, chicken broth and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Cook chicken: While your lentils simmer, heat a large skillet on high heat and add oil to coat. Next, add cubed chicken, cumin, taco seasoning, salt, pepper, and cook for 6-7 minutes. Halfway through, drain liquid into a large bowl. Then transfer browned chicken into the same large bowl and set aside.
• Prep your oven: Preheat oven to 375 F.

• Sauté vegetables: Heat the same skillet on medium high heat and add oil. Sauté onion, garlic, and bell peppers with taco seasoning, cumin, and salt for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
• Combine: Transfer sautéed veggies to the bowl with chicken, then add cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, corn, 1/2 cup cheese, diced green chilies, taco seasoning and 1/2 cup cilantro. Mix gently with a spatula.
• Bake: Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish and gently press until leveled. Place in the oven uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with cheese, and bake for another 10 minutes until cheese has melted.
• Rest and serve: Cover casserole with foil and let it stand for 30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Tips for Best Results

Here are some tips I’ve learned from my many, many times of making chicken and lentils.

• Pre-cooking lentils: Rinse them first and do not soak. We want to cook them but not completely, so they still soak up the liquid and flavors during baking as a casserole. After pre cooking, lentils should still be firm and if there is any liquid at the bottom of the pot, drain it.
• Save liquid from chicken: During sautéing most store-bought chicken releases water, some more and some less. Drain it into the bowl in which you will be mixing all casserole ingredients and keep cooking chicken until it is a little bit golden brown. Your chicken will be full of flavor!
• If using other lentils: The baking time and texture can vary, so keep an eye on the casserole.
• Bake uncovered: Leaving your casserole uncovered allows the steam to escape and therefore less liquid, you don’t want your casserole soupy. Baking uncovered also promotes browning and crisping.
• Let casserole stand before slicing: Really you could eat it right away but it’s not ideal. You want your casserole to sit, the ingredients to marry each other and soak up the juices. Then it’s the best!

What Are the Best Lentils to Use?

You can use green lentils or brown lentils, they are similar with a few differences. Green lentils have a slightly more peppery flavor and retain their shape when cooking, making them perfect for this recipe. However brown lentils work too, they contain slightly higher levels of fiber, have an earthy taste, and need less time to cook.

You can also use French lentils or Puy lentils. French lentils are a variety of green lentils that are smaller in size with a darker hue, and have a nutty and peppery, slightly earthy flavor. They hold their shape better than any other type of lentil and don’t turn to mush.

Then you have Puy lentils which are French lentils grown in the Puy region of central France. Because they are grown in a distinct place the taste is more peppery.

You can also use red lentils but casserole will come out more mushy as red lentils fall apart more. I also recommend to pre-cook red lentils only for 10 minutes.

Variations

Here are some creative ways to make this casserole your own.

• Other vegetables: Sauté mushrooms and zucchini with the bell peppers. You could also add right into the casserole as a mix-in up to 1 cup of chopped cauliflower, broccoli, eggplant, sweet potato, peas, green beans or celery.
• Add leafy greens: Spinach, kale, collard greens, or Swiss chard.
• Make vegetarian: Omit chicken and use vegetable broth for a deliciously filling vegetarian recipe.
• Use other spices: Instead of taco seasoning use chili powder to taste or cayenne pepper for more heat.
• Omit diced green chilies: Use chopped seeded jalapeno or poblano peppers instead, or omit and use more dried spices with heat.
• If not a fan of cilantro: I love cilantro but I know it’s not for everyone, you can omit or use fresh parsley instead.
• Lime: Squeeze lime juice on top of finished casserole for an extra burst of flavor.

What Goes Well with Chicken and Lentils?

Casseroles are thought to be an all-in-one-meal, but there are tons of perfect side dishes to serve alongside it.

• Some creamy salads like this cucumber salad or a simple avocado salad. Or other simple salads such as healthy coleslaw, and fresh avocado corn salad.
• Tortilla chips or tortillas. Even crusty bread, almond flour cornbread, or naan would be delicious.

• Serve next to or over a bed of Instant Pot long grain white rice or Instant Pot basmati rice.
• Potatoes, whether they be healthy mashed potatoes, Instant pot baked potato, or roasted potatoes.
• French fries or tater tots would make the kids extra happy.

Can I Make It Ahead?

Yes, you can make it ahead of time and store in the fridge or freezer.

1-2 days ahead: You can keep casserole mixture in a bowl or in a baking dish covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Bring to room temperature for 30 minutes on a counter, then bake as per recipe.

As a freezer meal: Assemble, tightly wrap with plastic and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as per instructions plus 5 minutes.

How to Store

Store: Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container for 3 months.

FAQs

More Lentil Recipes to Try

• Red lentil soup
• Lentil mushroom casserole
• Instant Pot lentil soup
• Slow cooker lentil soup
• Lentil spinach soup
• Instant Pot dal

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Tex Mex Chicken and Lentil Casserole

Tex Mex Chicken and Lentil Casserole with veggies, southwest spices, green lentils, and chicken. It's full of flavor and family approved.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Mexican

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 443kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Baking dish
• Ceramic skillet

Ingredients

For Lentils:

• 1 1/2 cup green lentils uncooked, rinsed & drained
• 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

For Chicken:

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin ground
• 1 teaspoon taco seasoning low sodium
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil for frying

For Vegetables:

• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 4 large garlic cloves minced
• 2 large bell peppers chopped
• 1 teaspoon taco seasoning low sodium
• 1 teaspoon cumin ground
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon oil for frying

Other Add-Ins:

• 14 ounces can diced tomatoes low sodium
• 2 cups corn frozen or canned (drained)
• 2 cups Tex Mex or Colby Jack cheese shredded & divided
• 4 ounces can diced green chilies
• 1 teaspoon cumin ground
• 1 teaspoon taco seasoning low sodium
• 1 cup cilantro chopped & divided

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a medium pot, combine lentils, chicken broth and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, preheat large skillet on high heat and add oil. Add chicken, cumin, taco seasoning, salt, pepper and cook for 6-7 minutes, draining liquid into a large bowl halfway through and stirring occasionally. Transfer chicken to same large bowl and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Return skillet to medium-high heat and add oil. Add onion, garlic, bell peppers, taco seasoning, cumin, salt and cook for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer to the bowl with chicken along with cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, corn, 1/2 cup cheese, diced green chilies, taco seasoning and 1/2 cup cilantro. Mix gently with spatula enough to combine.
• Transfer mixture to a 9 x 13 ovenproof baking dish and level/press gently with spatula. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for another 10 minutes.
• Remove casserole from the oven, cover with foil and let stand for 30 minutes before serving.
• Garnish with remaining cilantro, cut into 8 slices and serve hot.

Notes

• Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: In an airtight container up to 3 months.
• Meal prep: Assemble, tightly wrap with plastic and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as per instructions plus 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 506mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 6g

The post Tex Mex Chicken and Lentil Casserole appeared first on iFoodReal.com.

Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup has everything you love about stuffed peppers but cooked easier in one pot. Made with ground beef or turkey, bell peppers and your choice of rice, it’s a family-friendly meal for sure!

This Instant Pot stuffed pepper soup is stove top stuffed bell pepper soup meets Instant Pot stuffed peppers. I just updated this recipe with a bit shorter list of ingredients. If you have made it before, you won’t notice the change and soup tastes the same delicious!

My boys loved this Instant Pot soup recipe a lot!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One pot meal: Everything cooks in Instant Pot, even the meat, making clean up a breeze.
• Hands off method: The only thing you have to pre-cook is the ground beef. All other ingredients are added raw and then cooked under pressure.
• Budget friendly: I always buy a pack of 4-6 bell peppers because it is one of affordable off-season veggies with so much flavor!
• Comforting and delicious: Stuffed pepper soup made in Instant Pot is perfect on a cold day or busy weeknight.
• Versatile: You can use ingredients you have on hand and like, let’s go over them.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup

You will need the following ingredients to make stuffed pepper soup. They are all fridge and pantry staples.

• Ground meat: I used extra lean ground beef but you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken. Even addition of ground sausage is welcome.
• Uncooked rice: I used brown rice but you can also use white rice. The cook time will differ and both options are noted in the recipe card below.
• Bell peppers: You will need four large sweet bell peppers. It can be a combination of yellow, orange or red bell peppers. You can replace them with as many green bell peppers as you like.
• Veggies: Onion, garlic and celery for flavor. Feel free to mix and match any of these vegetables and also add carrots.
• Broth: I use low sodium chicken broth. You can also use beef broth or vegetable broth.
• Diced tomatoes: I like my stuffed bell pepper soup a bit chunky, so I add one can of diced tomatoes. You can also replace them with fire roasted tomatoes or tomato sauce.
• Tomato sauce: It adds more flavor, liquid and acts as a thickener.
• Italian seasoning: I prefer to use my homemade Italian seasoning. Feel free to use a combination of dried herbs like oregano, basil and thyme with a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat.
• Sugar: Just a pinch of any sugar to offset the acidity of tomatoes. Maple syrup or honey will also work.
• Vinegar: It adds another layer of flavor and makes soup taste a bit sweet and sour. It’s delicious! Use any vinegar you have on hand.
• Oil: You need it only for sauteing the ground turkey or ground chicken because it is more lean. I don’t use oil for sauteing the ground beef or ground sausage.
• Salt and pepper: I recommend to add salt and pepper to taste at the very end after cooking. It is because there are many canned ingredients with different levels of sodium, so you don’t want to end up with overly salty soup.
• Fresh herbs: Parsley or dill.

How to Make Stuffed Pepper Soup in Instant Pot

This Instant Pot stuffed pepper soup recipe can be made as written in 6 quart Instant Pot, 8 quart Instant Pot or 10 quart Instant Pot. For 3 quart Instant Pot, half the ingredients but keep same cook time.

Also you can use any brand of electric pressure cooker. Please find full recipe card below.

• Saute the meat: Press Saute and wait for Hot on a display. Brown ground beef until it is in small pieces. You would have to stir it and break with a spatula often. Add spices in this step as well to allow them become fragrant. Press Cancel.
• Add remaining ingredients: Add onion, garlic, celery, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, rice, sugar, vinegar and broth. No need to stir but if you did, it’s fine, Burn message shouldn’t happen because we have a lot of liquid in the pressure cooker.
• Pressure cook: Close the lid, set pressure valve to Sealing and pressure cook stuffed pepper soup in Instant Pot on high pressure for 8 minutes with white rice and 13 minutes with brown rice.
• Release pressure and let it stand: Then wait 5-10 minutes before releasing pressure, otherwise your counters will be covered in tomato soup. Just turn valve to Venting. Open the lid, give soup a stir and taste test. Add salt and pepper to taste, stir again and let it stand 5-10 minutes uncovered to allow flavors to “marry each other” and cool off a bit.

Tips and Variations

Instant Pot stuffed pepper soup has a few rules but otherwise is one of the most forgiving and flexible Instant Pot recipes ever!

• Don’t overcook the rice: After pressure cooking, don’t let soup sit and release pressure on its own, known as Natural Release. It is a lot of liquid and this process will take up to 45 minutes, while overcooking the rice and making it mushy.
• Don’t release the pressure right away: Known as Quick Release, do not turn valve to Venting immediately after cooking is finished. The liquids are still bubbling vigorously inside the pot, and pressure release will pull them along with rice, making it mushy. Be patient! There is that 5-10 minute sweet spot for the pressure release.
• Use any ground meat: Feel free to use ground chicken or ground turkey for a leaner stuffed pepper soup. You can also use ground beef, ground sausage removed from casing or ground pork.
• Drain the fat from beef: I like to use extra lean ground beef which doesn’t have to be drained. But if using regular ground red meat, I recommend to drain the fat, so the soup isn’t overly rich.
• To replace onion and garlic: Instead of fresh onion and garlic, you can use about 2 tablespoons of onion powder and 1 tablespoon of garlic powder respectively.

Should I Use White Rice or Brown Rice?

Good news is that to make this stuffed pepper soup, you can use white rice or brown rice. I have made it with long grain white rice and with long grain brown rice, the only difference is the pressure cooking time and the nutrition of brown rice is higher.

You may be able to use jasmine rice or basmati rice but it might fall apart a bit more than long grain rice.

Also please note we use uncooked rice. No need to precook your rice before adding it to the Instant Pot!

What Do I Serve Stuffed Pepper Soup with?

First of all, after the stuffed pepper soup cooled off a bit in Instant Pot and its flavors had a chance to melt, I add a big handful of chopped fresh parsley or dill to the pot and stir. You don’t want to add it to freshly cooked super hot pot of soup because herbs will “cook” and brown.

Traditionally stuffed bell pepper soup is served just like stuffed peppers with a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt. And more parsley or dill into each individual bowl. A sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese would melt nicely in a bowl as well.

We like it with toasted or fresh whole grain bread or baguette. Hot sauce right in the bowl adds a bit of a heat kick too. Enjoy!

How to Store and Reheat

Store and meal prep: Instant Pot stuffed pepper soup is perfect for meal prepping for a week. It lasts in the fridge for up to 5 days as there are no veggies or pasta to get soggy.

Reheat: Always reheat only amount of soup you will eat at that time. Means don’t heat up entire pot, cool it and refrigerate again. It spoils the food.

Instead, pour desired amount of stuffed pepper soup into a small pot, heat on low heat while covered for about 5 minutes, stir and see if soup is warm enough.

You can always go the microwave route, and reheat a bowl of soup for 2-3 minutes.

If frozen, allow soup to thaw first in the fridge overnight or on the countertop for about 6 hours.

Can I Freeze It?

There is a big debate online how to freeze stuffed pepper soup but I personally think it’s actually very simple. I don’t think you have to cook rice separately or worry about it becoming mushy. Also bell peppers are already cooked and sort of limpy. I think this soup freezes just fine!

To freeze it, cook the soup and let it cool completely. Then transfer to a large airtight container leaving a few inches on top to allow room for expansion. Thaw in the fridge overnight or on a countertop for 5-6 hours.

FAQs

More Bell Pepper Recipes to Try

• Ground chicken stuffed peppers
• Baked chicken and peppers
• Cauliflower stir fry with bell peppers

More Instant Pot Soup Recipes

• Instant Pot zuppa toscana
• Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup
• Instant Pot taco soup
• Instant Pot minestrone soup
• Instant Pot beef barley soup

You might also love these healthy Instant Pot recipes!

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Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup

Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup is everything you love about stuffed peppers but made in one pot with ground beef, bell peppers and rice.

Course Soup and Stew

Cuisine North American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes minutes

Pressure Up & Down Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 47 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 223kcal

Author Olena Osipov

Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef , turkey or chicken
• 4 large bell peppers chopped
• 2 large celery stalks finely chopped
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup white rice or brown rice rinsed & drained
• 14 ounces can tomato sauce low sodium
• 14 ounces can diced tomatoes low sodium
• 6 cups chicken broth low sodium
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 1/4 cup parsley or dill finely chopped

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• On Instant Pot, press Sauté and wait until display says Hot. Add ground beef and Italian seasoning. Cook for 4-5 minutes, constantly breaking meat into small pieces with spatula. Meat won’t get browned and some pink pieces are OK.
• Press Cancel and add bell peppers, celery, onion, garlic, rice, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, pepper, sugar and vinegar. No need to stir but you can.
• Close the lid, move pressure valve to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 8 minutes – with white rice, for 13 minutes – with brown rice.
• After let soup sit for 5 minutes and then release pressure using Quick Release method by turning pressure valve to Venting.
• Add parsley and serve warm with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.

Notes

• Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container or inner Instant Pot liner with a fitting lid for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a stovetop covered on low.
• Ground meat: Feel free to use ground turkey, ground chicken or lean ground beef.
• Colour of peppers: Green pepper adds nice more bitter taste which I love but now many don’t. You can mix and match any colours and shapes of peppers.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 422mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g

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