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CSA Layered Indian Dinner from Kathy Hester’s, The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook For Your Instant Pot. One pot. Hands off. Done all at the same time. So easy. Get the recipe, plus a full review of the book below.
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I’m so excited about today’s post! I’ve got a review of Kathy Hester’s new cookbook, The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook For Your Instant Pot. I’m going to tell you why you need to get an Instant Pot if you don’t already have one. And, best of all, I get to share with you Kathy’s amazing recipe for this CSA Layered Indian Dinner – you won’t believe how easy it is!
Before receiving Kathy’s cookbook, I had no idea layered meals were even a possibility. You see three distinct “layers” in the dish above – rice, root vegetables, and dal. These were all cooked in the same pot and the same time! This seriously blew my mind. This Indian Dinner is the ultimate “set it and forget it” meal.
I love the flavors of Indian cooking. So fragrant and warm. The day I made this dish, my son came home from school and said, “Can I have some of whatever I smell? It smells good!” Indeed, the house smelled amazing!
This Indian dinner was surprisingly easy to make. Indian food usually calls for lots of spices and this dish is no different. However, if you follow my blog regularly, you likely have most of these spices in your spice rack already (or you should!). The only curveball is curry leaves, but that’s an optional ingredient.
You layer all the ingredients, 2 of them in separate containers, inside the Instant Pot! This was new to me and I was skeptical, but it worked brilliantly! Everything was done at the same time, perfectly cooked.
Why You Need an Instant Pot
I’ve mentioned before how much I love my Instant Pot. I sang my praises for this 7-in-1 device here. I tell everyone they need one. Here’s why –
- It has 7 different functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté/browning, yogurt maker, steamer, and warmer!
- Save space and throw away (or sell!) your other small appliances – you only need this one!
- Meals done in half the time!
- No soaking needed to cook dried beans!
- Fully programmable – dinner ready when you are!
- You can bake in it!
- Easy clean up – removable inner pot!
The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook For Your Instant Pot by Kathy Hester
If you have an Instant Pot, you need this cookbook! So much variety. So many tips and tricks. Kathy walks you through all in the ins and outs of your Instant Pot, including care instructions, cooking methods, presets, troubleshooting, and even what Kathy calls “Ninja Instant Pot Tricks” – you won’t find these in your manual!
In addition to the Introduction Chapter, there are 8 recipe chapters. Let’s take a look inside.
Five Recipes to Start You Out: The Best Not-Refried Beans; Pear Cardamom Steel-Cut Oats for Two; Super Easy Weeknight One-Pot Pasta
Quick and Easy Homemade Staples to Save You Money: No-Effort Soy Yogurt; Instant Pot Vegetable Bouillon; DIY Andouille Seitan Sausage
Bean and Lentil Recipes That Cook in Half the Time: Tomatillo-Poblano White Beans; Kidney Bean Etouffée; Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
Fun and Delicious Way to Add in More Whole Grains: Perfect Kamut (and Other Long-Cooking Grains); Vegan Sushi Bowl; Whole-Grain Cornbread
Eat Your Vegetables: Easy and Elegant Plant-Based Fare: Whole Spaghetti Squash; Not-Baked Potatoes; Vegan Cauliflower Queso
Fast and Comforting One-Pot Meals: Mushroom and Butternut Squash Chili Bean Soup; Welcome Spring Pea and Asparagus Risotto; Winter One-Pot Lentils and Rice
Cook It All at the Same Time: Layered Meals with Sides: One-Pot Burrito Bowls; Cheesy Potato Pierogies (Polish Dumplings); Southern Breakfast
Decadent and Healthy Desserts: Salted Date Caramel Tapioca Pudding; Holiday Orange Spice Cake; Spiced Oat-Stuffed Apples
Which are you most excited to try first?
More vegan Instant Pot recipes
More vegan Indian recipes
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the star rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment with your feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Don’t forget to order a copy of The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook For Your Instant Pot and start enjoying fuss free meals ready in an instant!
Layered Indian Dinner for the Instant Pot
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
Yellow Dal Layer
- 2 cups (475 ml) water
- ½ cup (96g) yellow split peas moong dal, red lentils, or combination
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- â…› teaspoon ground coriander
Curried Root Vegetable Layer
- 2 cups (490g) diced turnip beet, potato or other root vegetable
- 1 tablespoon (15mL) water
- 1 tablespoon (6g) finely shredded coconut
- 1 teaspoon crumbled curry leaves dry or fresh (optional)
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala
- â…› teaspoon chili powder
- â…› teaspoon fennel seeds
Rice Layer
- 1 cup (185g) brown basmati rice
- 1 ¼ cups (295mL) water
Before Serving
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- For the yellow dal layer, add all the yellow dal ingredients directly to the Instant Pot liner, mix well, and add the rack on top of that.
- For the curried vegetable layer, add all the curried root vegetable ingredients to a short Pyrex container and toss. Place on the rack above the dal. (If you need to, you can wrap this layer in foil if you can’t fit two Pyrex containers above the dal.)
- For the rice layer, combine the rice and water together in a short Pyrex container and place, uncovered, on top of the root veggie layer.
- Cook on high pressure for 40 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. Once the pressure indicator goes down, remove the lid and carefully lift out the pans.
- Before serving, taste each component and add salt to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
This recipe is on my list of ones to try from the book! Your photos make it look so delicious.
Jenn S.
Amy, you will love it! And it’s so easy!!
Mary Ellen - VNutrition
This looks so delicious! Both the dal and the veggies are making me hungry!
Jenn S.
It’s so flavorful – you would love it! Thanks, Mary Ellen!
Becky Striepe
I love this so much! I’ve never tried layering in the IP, but this recipe makes me want to do it!
Jenn S.
It’s unbelievable, right?! I was blown away at how easy it was! You must try it!
Dianne's Vegan Kitchen
Isn’t this dish great? I love layering meals in the Instant Pot and having dinner ready in just minutes!
Jenn S.
It’s genius! Truly no excuses not to eat a healthy home cooked meal!
Ginny McMeans
I need to get this cookbook. This recipe is so beautiful and delicious sounding.
Jenn S.
I’m all about quick and easy so any cookbook made for the Instant Pot is a winner for me – especially this one because it’s all plant based! And delicious!
amanda -runtothefinish
oh man I really want to try the Instant Pot, sounds like I may never use my crock pot again. Especially love this great plant based option
Jenn S.
I got rid of our crockpot when I got the Instant Pot since it does slow cooking too. I use it just as much as a slow cooker as I do a pressure cooker, but it’s nice not to have to have two separate appliances. You could sell it and make a little money! 🙂
Corina
I don’t have an instant pot but it sounds like the type of kitchen equipment that once you start using you can’t imagine how you’d get by without it. I love the sound of being able to cook the three layers in this dish together at the same time.
Jenn S.
Yes, it really is! I love that it does the work of several different small appliances, so it quite the space saver too! In the meantime, any pressure cooker would work. Thanks, Corina!
Christine
The books looks good and so does this recipe. I love the layering concept!
Jenn S.
The layering is a total game changer! Thanks, Christine!
April J Harris
What a gorgeous, wholesome dinner! I have heard so many good things about the Instant Pot but I had no idea about layering either. The cookbook sounds wonderful – whether you are vegetarian or not, it’s a great thing to incorporate more meat free and vegan meals into your life.
Jenn S.
I totally agree, April! And I have lots of omnivore friends that love their Instant Pot too. Thanks for stopping by!
Mandy
This book sounds amazing!!!! I had NO idea that you could cook a few different things at once in the Instant Pot, that’s a game changer! Loving the layered meal here – it looks delicious. The Fast and Comforting One Pot Meals all sound fantastic, but really all of it does! So much YUM!
Jenn S.
Total game changer!! It’s amazing! There is a potato cabbage soup that is really good! And I can’t wait to make the spring risotto! But up next I’m going to try some desserts – super intriguing to me!
Just Jo
Oh this is fascinating! I’m a n Instant Pot blogger too and I am reading this with interest – already clicked through to Amazon to get the book and look at the pyrex dishes you recommend. I’d love to see photos of all the components layered up. I’ve ordered a trivet with long legs so I can cook two things at once but it is great to have a recipe (or 3!) to try when it arrives! Thanks for the great post 😀
Jenn S.
Hi Jo! I was going to try to get a pic of it all layered up, but I couldn’t figure out a good way to take it that would actually show it well. What I was really surprised about is that the trivet that comes with the pot is very low. So the bowl that is sitting on that trivet is basically sitting in the first layer of ingredients. I thought for sure it wouldn’t work, but everything came out so beautifully. Let me know if you give it a try!
Kim at Three Olives Branch
Looks delicious! I have been thinking about getting an Instant Pot, just because some things cook so quickly! Great recipe idea, love all the flavors!
Jenn S.
You won’t regret it! I know plenty of omnivores that have one and love it too! Thanks, Kim!
Casey the College Celiac
YUM! I’ve never actually had Indian food before (celiac sometimes makes exploring other cuisines difficult) but this is def calling my name!
Jenn S.
Oh, I would think Indian food would be a great choice for celiac. It’s mostly just veggies and rice with lots of spices and herbs. I’m sure you need to be careful about store bought sauces though as you never know what they add to those. Let me know if you try it, Casey!
Sarah
So many comfort foods being made in Insta Pots. If only I used my crock pot more. Looks like a comforting dish.
Jenn S.
I use mine just as much as a slow cooker as I do a pressure cooker. Love both options! Thanks, Sarah!
Alexa
Thank you for this review. I love my pressure cooker, but the Instant Pot seems to offer so much more. Kathy’s book looks inspiring. This is the second review I have read of it this week and am sold on it! Quick question. Does the Instant Pot come with a stainless steel or a non stick cooking pot? Just curious.
Jenn S.
Hi, Alexa! You will not be disappointed if you get one! And I use it just as much as a slow cooker as I do a pressure cooker. LOVE all the options! It comes with a stainless steel removable pot, and it’s so easy to clean (though I have never used it for meat…that might be harder to clean off…really not sure). I think you should go for it! 🙂