Instant Pot Thai Curry Chicken

“Something warm," Oliver answers, when I ask him what he wants to eat on our way back down the canyon from climbing. This time of year, we get sunny winter days that are cool but not cold enough to keep us locked up in the house. When we’re done adventuring, we want something warm to eat, and fast. This Instant Pot Thai Coconut Curry always hits the spot. It helps that once you put all the ingredients in the pressure cooker and lock the lid, you set the timer for just 4 minutes and then you can eat! 

In addition to chicken, this Instant Pot Thai Curry Chicken is PACKED with veggies: zucchini, bell peppers, cauliflower — even sugar snap peas. Because of this, I like it even more than I like take out curry or restaurant curry, where I always wish they put more vegetables in the bowl.

You can customize this recipe to your spicy preferences, making it a “5 - Thai hot” or a “1” depending on what you would normally order. Since not everyone in our house agrees on how spicy their curry should be, I cook one big batch, and then let everyone add extra Thai Chilis to their own bowl to their heart’s content. Everyone wins!

I don't know about you, but in this household curry is in our top ten favorite meals. Valentine's Day is just around the corner (um, tomorrow!!) and it's not a holiday we celebrate much, but making our favorite meal and sharing it together is something we might do. Curry isn't your typical Valentine's Day meal, but I find it's perfect: wholesome, spicy, red, and makes everyone in the house smile. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ That's all the counts. 

Other Valentine's Day dishes to try: 

• These homemade Earl Grey Truffles 😍

• Make a fancy cherry-wine reduction sauce for these Pork Chops 👩🏻‍🍳

• These Grain-Free Strawberry Cheesecake Swirled Brownies 🙌

Instant Pot Thai Coconut Chicken Curry

Published February 13, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

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Serves: 4   |    Total Time: 15 minutes

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Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil 
• 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
• 1/2 white onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 cups cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized florets
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
• 1-2 cups sugar snap peas
• 1 cup zucchini, sliced
• 2-3 tablespoons red curry paste (3 if you like it spicier) (I used this brand (affiliate link!))
• 1/2 cup broth
• 1 13.5-ounce can full fat coconut milk 
• For serving: rice/cauliflower rice, cilantro, minced Thai chiles (for extra spice!) or favorite hot sauce

Directions:

1. Heat coconut oil in the bottom of your Instant Pot (affiliate link!) on the Sauté setting. Once oil glistens, place onion and garlic in the pot, and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Then, place the cubed chicken in the pot.
2. Add chopped cauliflower, sliced bell peppers, snap peas, and zucchini to the pot along with the red curry paste, coconut milk, and broth. Stir everything briefly.
3. Close and lock lid on Instant Pot and change to “Soup” setting. Set timer for 4 minutes, with the vent in the sealed position.
4. When the timer goes off, release the pressure and unlock the lid. Serve curry with your choice of rice or cauliflower rice, and garnish with cilantro. Top with minced Thai chiles or your favorite hot sauce for extra heat!

Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Creamy Wild Rice, Chicken & Mushroom Soup (Instant Pot recipe!)

This creamy soup with wild rice, chicken, and mushrooms is comfy, cozy, homeyness in a bowl. 

One of my favorite dishes from childhood was wild rice with a cream of chicken and mushroom. It was my dad's signature, and was super satisfying. This soup is the "grown up" version of that dish: it's made using whole, raw ingredients (no soup mix here!), which I think gives it even more flavor than the version I grew up with. And while most wild rice soups ask you to make a roux with flour, this recipes skips that step all together. I don't think you'll miss the roux... made in a slow cooker (I use the slow cooker setting on my Instant Pot (affiliate link!)), the rice in this soup gives it an extra creamy texture, and the addition of half-and-half at the end makes it stick-to-your-bones good. 

Soup season is something I look forward to because soup is just the right sort of creative playground for trying different flavors. Specifically, creamy flavors. Yes, I have been on a bit of creamy soup kick: first this homestyle sausage & potato soup, and now this. Adding a little bit of cream to soups makes them infinitely more cozy... try coconut milk, like in this Lemongrass Chicken Soup, or cheese, like this artichoke provolone soup, or even puréed cauliflower, like this cauliflower & parsnip soup. And of course, make this wild rice concoction. This soup, I think, is one you need to make before the end of the month. Your Instant Pot is begging you. 

Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Creamy Wild Rice, Chicken & Mushroom Soup

Published February 6, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

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Serves: 6   |    Total Time: 30 active minutes

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Ingredients:

• 1 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 
• 2 bay leaves 
• 1 pound chicken thighs OR breasts - boneless, skinless 
• 1 cup wild rice, uncooked
• 1/2 c white wine
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced - (crimini, baby bella, and white mushrooms all work well)
• 1 cup half-and-half 
• To serve: 1/4 cup minced parlsey

Directions:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil in the bottom of your Instant Pot (affiliate link!) on the Sauté setting. Add diced onions, celery, carrots and garlic.
2. Sauté until the onion is transparent, and then add the salt, black pepper, thyme, bay leaves, chicken, rice, white wine, and 4 cups of broth to the pot. Turn pot to “Slow Cooker” setting and cook on high for 8 hours with the vent in the sealed position.
3. After 8 hours, release any steam and open the pot. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove chicken from soup and set in a large bowl. Use two forks to shred chicken. Then, return chicken to pot and stir.
4. Cook the mushrooms: heat remaining 1 teaspoon coconut oil in a skillet until it glistens. Then, sauté the mushrooms until they are softened through and seared on both sides. Add cooked mushrooms to soup, along with 2 remaining cups of broth and 1 cup of half-and-half. Stir.
5. Serve hot in bowls, topped with minced parsley.

Favorite Curried Red Lentil & Chickpea Stew with Cauliflower & Sweet Potato

This stew, heavy with red lentils, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and coconut milk, may seem like a bit of an "everything but the kitchen sink" type of recipe, and you wouldn't be wrong if you guessed that. One cold evening last winter, I pranced around the kitchen adding this and that to the Instant Pot, letting the ingredients lead the way. It's almost by accident that this stew is what it is, but ever since it's become a favorite at our table. 

I am a big fan of Indian Daal, but sometimes wish it had a bit more to it. Extra veggies, or something to chew on. That desire is what lead me to this soup in the first place, I think, which is why I know you'll love it: it's the same spicy, savory flavor of Indian Daal, but with a new age twist incorporating cauliflower, sweet potato, and chickpeas. 

Cauliflower & sweet potatoes go with coconut curry like they were made for it. Their starchiness and subtle sweetness are the perfect backdrop for ginger, garlic, and brown mustard seeds. A splash of lime brightens everything. And chickpeas--far and away my favorite legume- make this soup feel more substantial than a regular lentil soup. 

Soak your lentils throughout the day (or even overnight) to make them easier to digest. This has the added benefit of making them cook faster too. After just a few minutes in an electric pressure cooker, the lentils are creamy and soft. 

P.S., Snow is falling slowly out our window right now. It's barely snowed here this year, despite it already being January, so it feels like a treat. We're going to need a cozy stew to warm us up this evening! This stew is just the thing to bring spoonfuls of cozy to your guests. 💛

For a legume-free recipe inspired by these same flavors, try my Butternut Squash Coconut Curry (it's Paleo-friendly and vegetarian/vegan). 

Favorite Curried Red Lentil & Chickpea Stew with Cauliflower & Sweet Potato

Published January 30, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

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Serves: 8   |    Total Time: 15 active minutes

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Ingredients:

• 2 cup dry red lentils
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil 
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3-4 cups cauliflower florets
• 1 green chile pepper, minced (serrano or jalapeño— serrano is the more mild option)
• 2 cups diced sweet potatoes 
• 1 14-ounce can chickpeas, strained 
• 1 14-ounce can full-fat coconut milk
• 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon ground curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1-1/2 teaspoon whole black mustard seeds 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric 
• 1/4 teaspoon each salt & ground black pepper, or to taste
• 3-4 cups vegetable broth 
• Garnish: lime wedges & minced cilantro 

Directions:

1. In the morning, place lentils in a soup pot and cover with water. Place a lid on the pot, and allow lentils to soak for 8-12 hours. Once ready to cook soup, pour lentils through a strainer, discarding the water. Set lentils aside for later use.
2. Turn Instant Pot (affiliate link!) to “Sauté” setting and heat coconut oil until it glistens. Add minced ginger, garlic, and diced onion to pot, and sauté until fragrant.
3. Add cauliflower, green chile, diced sweet potatoes, lentils, chickpeas, coconut milk, canned tomatoes, curry powder, cumin, mustard seeds, turmeric, salt & pepper to the pot and stir. Pour in enough broth to cover all the ingredients easily (there should be a about 1 inch of liquid over the top of the lentils), and then secure lid on Instant Pot. Turn to “Bean/Chili” setting, and set timer for 5 minutes with the vent in the sealed position.
4. When timer goes off, release pressure and stir stew. Ladle into serving bowls and sprinkle with minced cilantro and a lime wedge.

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