INTRODUCTION
In this book, it is my great pleasure to bring one of the world’s oldest cuisines to the modern cooking system that has already transformed home cooking: the Instant Pot.
Whether you’re new to Mexican cooking or looking for your favorite dishes, in each chapter you’ll find authentic Mexican recipes made using traditional ingredients, with techniques and methods adapted to make the best use of the Instant Pot.
The stars of authentic Mexican cooking are slow-cooked braises and stews, which form the basis for many other dishes, from tacos to tamales to burritos. The Instant Pot dramatically speeds up the cooking process, transforming what used to take hours of work into delicious results in less than an hour.
Another frequently used technique in Mexican cooking is quick, high-heat reduction to intensify flavors. The Instant Pot will fry, simmer, and reduce—and even make refried beans. It takes the guesswork out of tamales and cuts the cooking time in half. And the essential Mexican salsas come together in mere minutes. These are just a few of the ways the Instant Pot will bring great Mexican food to your table.
Even with forty-plus years of professional cooking experience, I find the possibilities of the Instant Pot exciting and eye-opening. I quickly became proficient at using my Instant Pots, which now have a permanent spot on my kitchen counter. I would take them to a desert island (hopefully, a lush tropical one, with lots of chiles).
The Instant Pot is the perfect convenience for people who live in the fast lane. Instead of relying on convenience foods, which really don’t save time (and are made with who-knows-what), in minutes you can create a healthful, delicious Mexican meal made with quality ingredients that
you control. With a little planning, you can keep your freezer stocked with the basics for a feast: broths, sauces and salsas, beans and soups, and savory main dishes.
The Instant Pot is remarkably versatile and fast—with delicious results. Use it to make soups, beans, and stews; cook rice and vegetables; steam tamales; and even bake cakes. It serves as a warming unit (which comes in handy if your family eats at different times) or a buffet server, and it’s smart enough to cook a dish for the correct amount of time and then keep it warm until you are ready to sit down for dinner.
Once you learn the different features of your Instant Pot, cooking will be so much easier. The pot’s preprogrammed functions and timer mind the cooking for you. No need to fuss over settings or adjust burners. Just press a few buttons and go!
So let’s fire it up and make something amazing!
- Deb
Copyright © 2018 by Deborah Schneider. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
