There’s two new things in my life that you should know about- 1. my Instant Pot, and 2. my love for lentils. Why? Because, despite the fact that I’m still on a learning curve with my Instant Pot, I’m seeing how helpful this kitchen item can be for me as our schedules get a little busier in a month. Plus! I believe lentils are the forgotten, nutrient-rich item that can be so easy to use in nearly anything!

Today I’m sharing how I’m using these two things together. (And heads up- Come back tomorrow for another recipe that actually is a 2-in-1 recipe! Yes, believe it.)

 

 

 

First, you can see that I went dinner shopping in my garden. Aren’t they pretty?

 

Also yes, I have a new Instant Pot I got a couple months ago and despite a little bit of a learning curve, I’m encouraged by how helpful this will continue to be as life gets busier soon. This is the exact model I have.

Ok… let’s get onto the recipe…

Instant Pot: Squash + Lentil Bowl

Servings: 2-3

Ingredients:

  • 2 yellow squash, chopped in larger chunks (outside skin off)
  • ¼-1/2 c. chopped onion
  • 1 pepper (any kind, I used a green pepper from my garden)
  • ¾ c. cooked lentils (thawed or frozen, but I used frozen)
  • 2-3 T. extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • ½ c. water
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • Optional: shredded cheese for topping
  • Optional: You could always add cooked chicken for animal protein at the end.

Method:

Put EVOO in IP and press saute. Add onion, pepper, & carrots. Saute with no cover for a few minutes, stirring frequently. Add all remaining ingredients (minus optional ingredients) and cover. Change setting to manual/high pressure for 5 minutes. After five minutes, allow to vent (natural release) on cover to steam release for a few minutes. Then carefully lift lid away from you and stir. Enjoy!

Total time: 10 minutes

 

While I’m still learning more about using my Instant Pot (I’m certainly not an expert, yet) this recipe is fool proof because if I can do it- you can too!! Remember, I’m the girl who usually gets a thrill from using no-recipes in cooking.

If you have comments or other IP or lentil ideas to share- comment below!