Cooks Recipe Collection logo

Patti

Uno’s Deep Dish Pizza Cooking Class Review

By 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Cooking Classes are a great way to spend time with your family and friends, a perfect event for all ages. Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill offers a hands-on, Deep Dish Pizza Cooking Class that teaches students just how they make their Chicago Style Deep Dish pizza, step by step.

My husband purchased the Uno’s Deep Dish Pizza Cooking Class for me as a Christmas gift, and I was so glad he did. It was an amazing experience to hear the back story of how Uno’s began, learn how to make my favorite Uno’s Deep Dish Pizza, and enjoy my creation.

Uno's Four Cheese Deep-Dish Pizza
Uno’s Four Cheese Deep Dish Pizza

I’ve been enjoying Uno’s Deep Dish Pizza for well over 20 years and my favorite is the Four Cheese. I was heartbroken when they took it off the menu a few years ago. Luckily, they still have all the ingredients and are always happy to create this favorite for me.

During this class, Uno’s showed the same level of customer service and provided the ingredients and directions for me to make my own Four Cheese Deep Dish creation.

When we first arrived, we were given aprons to put on and offered a drink of our choosing (non-alcoholic drinks come with the class). We had a pizza pan with dough waiting for us at our seats. Everything we well organized and we were able to chat and get to know a little about our fellow classmates.

History of Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill

As the class began we learned a little about the history of Uno’s and how they started in Chicago in 1943. Ike Sewell developed deep dish pizza and opened his first restaurant at the corner of Ohio & Wabash, Pizzeria Uno. Also, many of the photos and decor in the restaurants depict Chicago and the 1943 time frame.

We learned that the original process took about 1 hour to make from start to finish. Today, the crust is par-baked (as many pie crusts are) to shorten the process when you visit Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill today.

While Uno’s began and is famous for its deep-dish crusts, they have expanded to have an amazing thin crust and greatly expanded their menu over the years. It was even noted that they took special effort to sourced their gluten-free crusts, for a great tasting option. Others in my class did agree that it made for a tasty gluten-free pizza.

Uno’s Deep Dish – The Process

While creating an Uno’s Deep Dish Pizza is more involved than I’d expected, it was interesting to learn how the process has changed over the years to streamline the process.

How to make the Uno’s deep dish pizza crust

The crust is made the day before and allowed to ferment in the refrigerator overnight. The crust is taken out of the refrigerator to proof and brought back to room temperature before using.

Although you may think, by the name, that the deep-dish pizza contains a thick crust, it really doesn’t. The crust is really about the thickness of a regular hand-tossed pizza, but the name comes from the way the crust is shaped up the side of the pan to create a deep area for your toppings.

It did take some time to get used to the crust shaping process. I learned to make steady little pulls make it stay up the side a bit better. There is always plenty of assistance if anyone needs it. Young and old, everyone had a great time!

At this point, they took our little crust masterpieces in the pack, labeled with our names on popsicle sticks of course.

How Uno’s added the toppings

While our crusts were in the back par-baking, bowls of sauce and any toppings of our choice were brought out in platters and bowls. There was no shortage of goodies at any time during this class.

Our instructor explained that Uno’s Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza is also quite different in the order they add their toppings. Traditionally, cheese is added to the crust, then the sauce, then other toppings, then topped with a bit more cheese on top.

In the class, everyone was given the freedom to add toppings to their liking. We were instructed to have fun and be as creative as we wanted.

Four Cheese Deep Dish Pizza Ingredients
Uno’s Four Cheese Pizza Toppings

I really wanted to learn how to make my favorite Uno’s Four Cheese Deep-Dish Pizza. They were kind enough to bring out toppings, so I could do just that. My toppings include pesto sauce, mozzarella & cheddar cheese mixture, mozzarella & feta cheese mixture, and chopped tomatoes.

Uno's Four Cheese Deep-Dish Pizza - Before Baking
Uno’s Four Cheese Deep Dish Pizza – Before Baking

To make my pizza, I was instructed to spread the pesto sauce on the crust, add most of both cheese mixtures (reserving some for the very top), then add the tomatoes, then top with the remaining cheese.

The Finished Masterpiece

Our pizzas were taken to the back for baking. We were served amazing salads to start off our meal as we waited. After finishing our salads, our masterpieces arrived and we were able to fully enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Uno's Four Cheese Deep-Dish Pizza - My Masterpiece
Uno’s Four Cheese Deep Dish Pizza – My Finished Masterpiece

In conclusion, I don’t think I could have enjoyed the class any more than I did. It was an amazing and insightful experience, to learn just how to make my favorite pizza. The staff and instructor were organized, friendly, informative and couldn’t have been more accommodating to everyone’s special requested during the class.

Uno’s Deep Dish Cooking School is available in Union Station (DC), Orlando, Pizzeria Uno (Chicago), Braintree (MA), Boylston St. (Boston), and Columbus Ave (NYC). If you’re interested in learning more about the classes you can find out more at Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill.

Uno's Deep Dish Pizza Cooking Class Review

Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans (No Soak)

By 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Traditional Cuban Black Beans Recipe made conveniently and time-saving by using the Instant Pot. Go from dry beans to table in less than an hour, with this no soak recipe.

Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans

Cuban Black Beans

Black beans are a healthy addition to your diet which are high in fiber, protein, and folate (Resource). This recipe proves to be a flavorful main or side dish. Serve them in the traditional Cuban style, over white rice and garnished with chopped onions. Fresh Cuban bread and butter are a great accompaniment.

I also love the versatility of this recipe. Leftover beans are great in recipes like Black Bean Quesadillas or Black Bean Burritos. They can also be frozen to use at a later time. I like to freeze them in 1 cup portions. This amount can be used in any recipe that calls for a can of beans.

Using the Instant Pot is a great way to greatly speed up the process of cooking dry beans. Additionally, using the Instant Pot reduces the cleanup by allowing the sauteeing and pressure cooking, in the same pot. Enjoy this Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans recipe is a great and frugal option for a meatless meal.

Dry Beans

  • Pantry Staple – I like to use dry beans as they are so convenient to have around the house as a pantry staple. In most cases, I feel they are a healthier alternative to canned beans, which often are packed in cans containing BPA.
  • Cost Savings – Dry beans are one of the most frugal of healthy meal options. Canned beans are often 4 times the price of dry beans.
  • Avoid Unwanted Additives – By cooking your black beans from scratch, you can avoid any unwanted additives, ensure the quality of ingredients used, and control the amount of salt used.

Instant Pot for Convenience

  • Reduce Cleanup – One of my favorite features of the Instant Pot is using the Saute setting to cooks vegetables or brown meat before adding to a dish. By using the Instant Pot you are able to use the same pot that you use for the final dish.
  • Time-Saving – The Instant Pot greatly reduces cooking time. In the case of cooking dry beans, it also allows you to skip soaking the beans overnight, as is traditionally required.

Other Instant Pot Resources

Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans
Print Recipe

Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans

Traditional Cuban Black Bean Recipe made conveniently and time-saving by using the Instant Pot. Go from dry beans to table in less than an hour, with this no soak recipe.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time37 mins
Natural Release10 mins
Total Time57 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cuban
Keyword: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4
Author: Patti from CooksRecipeCollection.com

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 3 Spanish onions finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon oregano dried
  • 1 teaspoon cumin dried
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 pound black beans dry
  • 5 cups water
  • white rice cooked

Instructions

  • Finely chop onions, reserving 1/2 cup for garnish.
  • Set Instant Pot to Saute setting and saute onions in olive oil until light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
  • Add garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper to the onions. Saute for another 2 minutes to bloom spices.
  • Add water and black beans to Instant Pot.
  • Press "Cancel" to stop the saute function on the Instant Pot. Then, set it to "Pressure Cook" at high temperature for 25 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes to come up to pressure.
  • Let sit to natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release.
  • Serve over white rice and garnish with reserved chopped onions.
Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans

20-Minute Italian Cookbook Review with Shiitake Mushroom, Pumpkin & Rosemary Risotto Recipe

By 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

20 Min Italian Cookbook

20-Minute Italian Your Traditional Favorites, Faster, Easier and with a Modern Twist is a beautifully illustrated cookbook by Andrea Soranidis of The Petite Cook blog, released October 1, 2019.

This gorgeous cookbook is filled with 75 quick and easily made traditional Italian recipes you can enjoy for a quick weekday meal or any special occasion. Each recipe is accompanied by mouth-watering, full-page photographs to entice your taste buds, all made in 20 minutes or less.

There is something to satisfy everyone’s tastes, including vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options.

20-Minute Italian Cookbook Chapters

Andrea has organized 75 mouth-watering recipes broken into the following chapters:

  • Quick & Easy Antipasti for All Occasions
  • Flashy Pasta & Risotto Dishes to Make on Repeat
  • Perfect Meat & Poultry Dishes in No Time
  • Exciting Fish & Seafood Mains in a Blink
  • Pulses & Grains Ready in Less than 20 Minutes
  • Speedy Nutritious Salads
  • Effortless Everyday Sides

About the Author

Andrea-Soranidis

Andrea Soranidis was born and raised in Sicily. She moved to the UK as a young adult and now splits her time between both London and a small town in Germany.

She has spent time traveling the world and developing her culinary style. She is a skilled and award-winning food and travel blogger at The Petite Cook. Her recipes have also been featured in national magazines and websites.

Shiitake Mushroom, Pumpkin & Rosemary Risotto Recipe

This recipe is reprinted with permission from 20-Minute Italian by Andrea Soranidis Page Street Publishing Co. 2019.

Shiitake Mushroom Pumpkin Rosemary Risotto
Photo credit: Andrea Soranidis
Shiitake Mushroom Pumpkin Rosemary Risotto
Print Recipe

Shiitake Mushroom Pumpkin Rosemary Risotto Recipe

In Northern Italy, risotto is considered a simple, everyday comfort food. For me, it’s something to prepare mostly on special occasions, or for a cozy dinner date with my better half. Among all the risotto recipes I’ve made over the years, this is probably my favorite. When pumpkin and mushroom season finally hits, I make this risotto on repeat! Any kind of mushrooms will work here; I like to use fresh shiitake mushrooms because they can be found easily at the market and vaguely remind me of delicious, hard-to-find, expensive Italian porcini mushrooms. A mix of wild and porcini mushrooms would work well too.
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Author: Andrea Soranidis

Ingredients

  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 shallot finely minced
  • 5 oz shiitake or wild mushrooms roughly chopped
  • 5 oz muscat or Hokkaido pumpkin flesh finely cubed
  • sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 10.5 oz vialone nano or carnoroli rice
  • 1/4 cup white wine good quality
  • 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 tbsp butter good quality

Instructions

  • Heat a small pan with the extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallot, mushrooms and pumpkin and sauté gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with sea salt and black pepper.
  • In the meantime, heat a large pan over low heat. Add the rice and toast it for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it has turned translucent, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon to avoid burning it. Add the wine, turn up the heat to medium-high and allow it to evaporate. Return the heat to medium-low, then pour in one ladle of stock, and allow the rice to absorb it. Season with salt to taste.
  • Stir the sautéed vegetables into the pan with the risotto, and continue to cook, gradually adding in stock and whisking constantly with a whisk until the rice is soft but still has a bite, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove the risotto from the heat, add in the Parmesan cheese, butter and rosemary, then shake the pan vigorously to combine all the ingredients. The risotto should reach a smooth consistency.
  • Divide the risotto among plates, and serve it immediately.

Notes

Tip: I like this risotto less creamy than the classic risotto, but if you want it super gooey and rich, add an extra pat or two of butter. If you have a hard time finding muscat pumpkin, substitute with Hokkaido pumpkin.

Disclaimer

The 20-Minute Italian Your Traditional Favorites, Faster, Easier and with a Modern Twist cookbook was sent to me by Page Street Publishing Co. for review.  The opinions are my own. As an Amazon affiliate, I receive a small fee whenever you purchase products though links listed in this post. This will not affect the amount of the item. I only include links to products that would benefit my readers.

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip

By 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip is a healthy, protein-packed appetizer that will wow guests at your next party or get-together. This recipe is also a great way to use leftover baked or grilled salmon.

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip

I want to thank Cedar Bay Grilling Company for inviting me to be a part of the Inaugural Cedar Bay Grilling Blogger Recipe Challenge. Cedar Bay has provided me with their two of their 24-ounce Planked Atlantic Salmon to create my recipes with. Each of the recipes in this challenge will be judged on visual appeal, creativity and taste; and be eligible for a cash prize. Please wish me luck in this recipe contest!

Cedar Bay Grilling Company's Planked Salmon Full Fillet - Applewood with Orange and Ginger

This salmon dip recipe is so quick and easy to make. It will surely impress your guests at your next family get together or dinner party. This recipe only requires three ingredients and a whirl of the food processor and you’d done. This elegant appetizer recipe couldn’t be any easier.

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip

One of Cedar Bay’s high-quality products is their full fillet of Atlantic Salmon, pre-seasoned (choose either Sugar & Spice or Orange Ginger) on a pre-soaked cedar plank and sold frozen. You can’t beat the convenience as we are all looking for new ways to cook healthy meals for our families in less time.

For this recipe, I used Cedar Bay’s Applewood with Orange & Ginger Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon. It was easy just place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Cooking the already prepped salmon in the oven (or can easy be grilled also) and it’s ready to serve in about 20 minutes. This recipe is also a great option for leftover salmon after you’ve enjoyed an impressive Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon dinner.

Cedar Bay Grilling Company products can be found throughout the US and Canada, at Kroger, Publix, Hannaford, Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Ralph’s, Giant, Giant Eagle, Stop n Shop and Roche Bros. Visit Cedar Bay Grilling Company for a store location near you and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for great tips and recipes.

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip
Print Recipe

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip is a healthy, protein-packed appetizer that will wow guests at your next party or get-together. This recipe is also a great way to use leftover baked or grilled salmon.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Appetiser
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24
Author: Patti from CooksRecipeCollection.com

Ingredients

  • 1 Cedar Bay Applewood with Orange & Ginger Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon Filet (24 ounces)
  • 8 ounces Cream Cheese at room temperature
  • 1 T. Capers
  • Fresh chives to garnish chopped
  • Crackers

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Place Cedar Planked salmon directly on the middle rack and place a foil-lined baking sheet on the rack below to catch dripping juices.
  • Cook 18-20 minutes, until the flesh becomes flaky. It is perfectly cooked when it is still slightly pink in the center of the fillet.
  • Crumble baked or grilled salmon into a food processor bowl.
  • Add cream cheese and capers, pulse in a food processor until combined.
  • Spoon into a serving dish and serve with your favorite crackers.

Notes

1. Discard the plank after 1 use.
2. Keep the salmon frozen until 24 hours before cooking.
3. Once Salmon has defrosted, do not re-freeze!
4. This recipe can be cut in half; to provide 2 salmon servings and 1 cup salmon dip.

Easy Cedar Planked Salmon Dip

Cedar Planked Salmon Salad with Citrus Ginger Vinaigrette

By 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Enjoy this Cedar Planked Salmon Salad with Citrus Ginger Vinaigrette, for an easy and healthy weekday dinner. The perfect dinner salad to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer.

Cedar Planked Salmon Salad Recipe

I was fortunate to be asked to be part of the Inaugural Cedar Bay Grilling Blogger Recipe Challenge. Cedar Bay has provided me with two of their 24-ounce Planked Atlantic Salmon Fillets to create my recipes with. Each of the recipes created for this challenge will be judged on visual appeal, creativity and taste; and are eligible for a cash prize. Please wish me luck guys!

Are you looking for a way to hold onto the last bit of summer we have left? What better way than to enjoy a flavorful, fresh dinner salad featuring goat cheese, dried cranberries, candied pecans, strawberries, and bacon. With a little meal prep, you can have a healthy dinner on the table in about 20 minutes (salad dressing can be made and bacon cooked and crumbled ahead of time).

Cedar Bay Grilling Company's Planked Salmon Full Fillet - Applewood with Orange and Ginger

Cedar Bay Applewood with Orange & Ginger Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon

Cedar Bay offers a full fillet of Atlantic Salmon on pre-soaked cedar planks. This provides a very convenient way to serve a high-quality salmon dinner to your family and friends already prepped for you. The plank is pre-soaked and the salmon seasoned perfectly; you just have to choose the spice rub that interests you (either Sugar & Spice or Orange Ginger).

You can easily thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook on the grill or in the oven, and serve in less than 20 minutes.

Citrus Ginger White Balsamic Vinaigrette

There is nothing better than homemade salad dressings made with only fresh and high-quality ingredients you want to serve your family. This vinaigrette includes orange juice, lemon juice, freshly grated ginger, and garlic, to marry with the orange and ginger flavors in the salmon; and finished with a light white balsamic vinegar and high quality extra virgin olive oil.

Cedar Bay Grilling Company's Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon Salad

Assembling Cedar Planked Salmon Salad

To accompany the fresh orange and ginger flavors of the salmon, I’ve added fresh summer flavors. This dinner salad starts with a bed of spring mix greens and adds sweet, salty and sour flavors from dried cranberries, goat cheese, bacon, strawberries, and candied pecans. It is then drizzled with the Citrus Ginger White Balsamic Vinaigrette on top of your salad and topped with a piece of Cedar Bay Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon.

Cedar Bay Grilling Company products can be found throughout the US and Canada, at Kroger, Publix, Hannaford, Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Ralph’s, Giant, Giant Eagle, Stop n Shop and Roche Bros. Visit Cedar Bay Grilling Company for a purchase location near you and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for great tips and recipes.

Cedar Bay Grilling Company's Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon Salad
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Cedar Planked Salmon Salad with Citrus Ginger Vinaigrette

Enjoy this Cedar Planked Salmon Salad with Citrus Ginger Vinaigrette for an easy and healthy weekday dinner. The perfect dinner salad to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: Patti from CooksRecipeCollection.com

Ingredients

  • 1 Cedar Bay Applewood with Orange & Ginger Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon Filet (24 ounces)
  • 5 ounces Spring Mix Greens
  • 2 ounces goat cheese crumbled
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup candied pecans
  • 6 large strawberries sliced
  • 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1 t. garlic finely ground (about 2 cloves)
  • 1 t. fresh ginger finely ground
  • 1 t. sugar
  • 1 t. pepper
  • Dash of salt
  • 2. T. lemon juice
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • ¼ cup white balsamic vinaigrette
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Salad Dressing:

  • Grate garlic and ginger with a fine grater or zester, place in a small mason jar or similar container that closes securely.
  • Add sugar, pepper, salt, lemon juice, orange juice, white balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil to the mason jar and shake to mix well.
  • Set aside.

Salmon:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Place Cedar Planked salmon directly on the middle rack and place a foil-lined baking sheet on the rack below to catch dripping juices.
  • Cook 18-20 minutes, until the flesh becomes flakey. It is perfectly cooked when it is still slightly pink in the center of the fillet.
  • Cut into 4 pieces.

Salad:

  • While salmon is cooking, place spring mix greens in 4 bowls or plates.
  • Top greens with goat cheese, dried cranberries, candied pecans, strawberries, and bacon.
  • When salmon is done, drizzle with Citrus Ginger White Balsamic Vinaigrette and top with salmon.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  1. Discard the plank after 1 use.
  2. Keep the salmon frozen until 24 hours before cooking.
  3. Once Salmon has defrosted, do not re-freeze!

Cedar Planked Salmon Salad

Mediterranean Inspired Quinoa Salad

By Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Mediterranean Inspired Quinoa Salad

Today’s post is from Heather at Whole Food Studio, where beginners in the kitchen can find clean eating simple meal ideas. She shares cooking tips along with a little history, should you also need a dinner conversation starter.

Whenever you grab an herb for garnish, is parsley the one you think of first?

Parsley is a powerhouse miracle worker with either tight and curly, or rugged and flat, leaves.

Flat Leaf Parsley and Curly Leaf Parsley

Flat Leaf Parsley and Curly Leaf Parsley

Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, the herb freshens the look and taste of a dish and adds texture.

And don’t forget to use the stems! Toss them in a homemade bouillon.
Add to hot water for a refreshing cup of steeped, pale-green mint and parsley tea. It’s a spectacular combination.

Chop parsley stems and mix with cream cheese and shaved parmesan cheese. Then pile this cheese mix high inside small portobello mushroom caps.

Bake until golden brown . . .

Delicious!

If you can’t go a day without parsley, then it could be time to try this Mediterranean-inspired Quinoa salad.

Quinoa

Quinoa

Quinoa, pronounced KEEN-wah, is an organic grain once eaten thousands of years ago by the Inca. Today quinoa is a superfood, belonging to the same family as spinach and Swiss chard. The grain is hardy and grows in high altitudes, making it ideal if you happen to live in the Andes.

Quinoa’s small round grains grow in three interesting colors; red, white and black. I used ‘Antique White,’ but you can see how others easily create a fabulous looking salad. Imagine if you had all three; you could mix them for a tri-color effect!

What I like most about this salad is how easy it is to make and delicious to eat – even the next day. But don’t even consider another herb as a substitute. Without parsley, this salad is not the same.

3 Top Quinoa Salad Tips:

Is your quinoa pre-rinsed?

Check whether your quinoa has been pre-rinsed before you start cooking.

Here’s one super quick way to know: packaged quinoa is more likely to be pre-rinsed than loose quinoa bought in bulk. I’ve had the unpleasant experience of tasting a very bitter quinoa dish which put me off this grain for many years.

Much later I discovered the cause was from saponins. The natural protective coating on each grain deters animals and birds out in the wild from taking a nibble.

The good news is, saponins are removed with water.

If you are still unsure, place your grains in a fine sieve and rinse under running water for 2 minutes. The water will foam up like soap suds if any saponins are present.

Let your quinoa drain and dry in the sieve for at least 30 minutes, before dry roasting in a frying pan over medium heat.

Once the grains are golden brown, cook your quinoa in water, according to directions on the package.

Yes, dry roasting is another step, but I think the results are worth every extra minute. These small grains have an extraordinary depth of flavor, not to mention the smell, that dry roasting brings out. I’m quite sure you’ll find it difficult to skip this step the next time you work with quinoa.

Quinoa Roasting in a Pan

Quinoa Roasting in a Pan

Prepare your salad at least 30 minutes before dining:

I recommend preparing your salad at least 30 minutes before dining.

You’ll give the tang of lime zest a chance to blend with the natural saltiness of feta and olives. Include the earthiness of quinoa and you’ll be transported to a new taste experience.

I often start with zesting lime over the feta giving the essential oil a little longer to soak into the cheese.

Tip for cutting quinoa salad recipe half:

If you’re cooking for one or two, I recommend you still cook one cup of quinoa but then halve the remaining ingredients in this recipe.

You’ll make a smaller salad but have extra quinoa for later. There’s nothing else like a quick quinoa garnish for an extra rugged, healthy salad.
It keeps for 4-5 days in the fridge and on days I don’t feel like meat, I’ll also add quinoa to stuffed cabbage rolls or zucchini lasagna.

You’ll have a naturally gluten-free, low glycemic index dish that is high in plant protein.

Mediterranean-inspired quinoa salad is the perfect side dish for meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables.

I hope you are inspired to try something a little out of the ordinary.

Leftover Quinoa Salad Idea:

Leftover Quinoa Salad Idea

Do you have some leftover Mediterranean Inspired Quinoa Salad? Here is an idea to change it up a bit.

Ingredients:

1/3 c. thinly sliced raw red cabbage
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil (optional)
Parsley to garnish (optional)

Toss raw red cabbage with the Mediterranean-inspired salad for an extra pop of color and crunch.

Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

Garnish with a little chopped parsley and serve with a small platter of nuts, dried fruit, cheese, and crackers.

Equipment Used for this Recipe:

Mediterranean Inspired Quinoa Salad
Print Recipe

Mediterranean Inspired Quinoa Salad

This quick and easy side dish pairs the bold Mediterranean flavors of lime, Feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and fresh parsley against the subtle yet earthy backdrop of quinoa. With natural salty flavors, this dish pops with balance.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 8 -10
Author: Heather from WholeFoodStudio.com

Ingredients

  • 1 c. quinoa preferably dry roasted first
  • 2 limes zest, and juice
  • 4 oz. Feta cheese crumbled
  • 2 oz. Kalamata olives pitted and chopped (if you don’t have scales, that’s between 10 – 11 large olives)
  • 1 T. olive brine more or less, according to your taste
  • ¼ c. fresh parsley stems removed and chopped (Reserve the stems for your next stock or compost)
  • Optional: Black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat dry quinoa in a frying pan until fragrant and golden brown.
  • Cook quinoa according to package directions. (Mine said: bring 2 cups water to a boil, add 1 c quinoa and reduce heat to LOW.
  • Simmer with lid ON for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.)
  • Fluff quinoa with a fork and allow the grains to cool.
  • Stir in lime zest, lime juice, Feta cheese, chopped olives, brine, and fresh parsley until thoroughly combined.
  • Season with black pepper, to taste.
  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • Top off with an extra chopped olive or two and a quick zest of lime just before serving.
  • Cover and store any leftovers in the fridge.

Notes

For best results, you’ll want to make this dish in advance and give the flavors a chance to blend.
Quinoa: Dry roasting quinoa before cooking in water brings out more of the earthy flavors. Add grains to a medium sized frypan and gently shake over medium heat until golden brown and fragrant.Cook quinoa according to the directions on the package.
Olive brine: If you prefer milder salads, leave out the brine and taste before adding any.
Feta cheese: If you find the sheep milk in Feta cheese too strong, look for one made with a blend such as goat or cow milk.
It will crumble into much smaller pieces, but you should enjoy the flavor more.

Resources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/saponin

Mediterranean Inspired Quinoa Salad

Plum Deluxe Loose Tea Review

By Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Plum Deluxe Loose Tea Review

I have to admit, I am a loose tea lover. There is just something relaxing and luxurious about sipping on a cup of freshly steeped tea. I think of enjoying a cup of tea as taking a moment to take care of myself and feel the flavors and aroma of loose tea really stand out.  

I have written a few times about how much I enjoy a wide variety of loose teas and trying new ones. So when Plum Deluxe offered to send me some of their teas to review, I was thrilled at the opportunity. Please know, I will always provide my honest views and opinions.

Even before I received my samples to try, I was impressed with Plum Deluxe and what their company stands for. The company blends its organic, free trade loose teas by hand in small batches by hand in Portland, Oregon.  Plum Deluxe describes their company philosophy as, “All of our tea blends are organic, non–gmo, and free of chemicals and sulfites – we support local and USA farmers wherever possible and run an active philanthropy program. Our company was founded by entrepreneur Andy Hayes as a tribute to his mother, who lost a brave 6-year battle with breast cancer but never forgot to enjoy “the little things” in life.”

Plum Deluxe Loose Tea Review
Peach Bellini Herbal Tea

Peach Bellini Herbal Tea

Peach Bellini Herbal Loose Tea will surely not disappoint. This is another tea blend that you can actually see the pieces of fruit in the blend, and you can tell this difference in the taste too. This fruity and flavorful caffeine free treat would be perfect for after dinner or even an afternoon treat.

Preparation Instructions: Steep 1 tsp in 8oz boiling water 4-6 min.

Easy to Be Green Tea (Blueberry / Hibiscus)

Easy to Be Green Loose Tea is a delightful loose green tea with a hint of blueberries. I loved the fragrance, as well as the flavor. You can actually see the dried blueberries (not just a flavoring as in some other teas).

Preparation Instructions: Use 1 1/2 tsp per 16oz cup. Steep with under-boiling water (175F) for 3 minutes.

Lavender Daydream White Tea (Mango / Peach / Floral)

Lavender Daydream White Loose Tea is a light and refreshing blend. There is just enough apricot fragrance and flavor to enhance, while not overpowering the delicate white tea.

Preparation Instructions: Steep 1 tsp in 8 oz below-boiling water (175F) 3-5 min.

I highly recommend Plum Deluxe Loose Teas for their aroma, flavor and company beliefs. If you’d like to give Plum Deluxe Loose Teas a try, you may want to consider their Tea of the Month Club (a new tea will be sent to you each month) or their Monthly Tea Specials (this month there is a special is on all Earl Grey Teas).

Plum Deluxe Loose Tea Review

The Best Instant Pot Accessories

By 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

The Best Instant Pot Accessories

You have an Instant Pot and love it, right? You’re finally past the beginner’s stage and have a hand full of recipes that you frequently make, now what? It’s time to add some new Instant Post accessories to your kitchen supplies and discover additional versatility of your Instant Pot can provide. I’ve compiled a list of accessories to make your Instant Pot cooking even more convenient and also take you to the next level.

For many, it took a lot of courage to initially open the box and start using your Instant Pot. If that fear still shows its head at times, check out The Ultimate Guide to Instant Pot Fundamentals and The Instant Pot Recipe Collection.

If you’d like to become an Instant Pot master in record time, Heather from The Spicy Apron has created the Be the Boss of Your Instant Pot Video Course. This is an in-depth, 30 video course to help you master the Instant Pot. For Cooks Recipe Collection readers, she is offering a $5 discount (just enter the discount code dash on the checkout page).

Benefits of Instant Pot Accessories

  • Convenience – Having the best tool for the kitchen task at hand saves time, effort and often a lot of frustration. Having a proper sling to lift your cake out of your Instant Pot is both a time saver and convenience, over having to make one out of aluminum foil each time you need it.
  • Versatility – With the right pan in pan tools, you will be able to increase the dishes you can make with your Instant Pot. For instance, with the Big Daddy Pan, you will be able to serve your family an amazing cheesecake made in your Instant Pot.
  • Time-Saving – A steamer basket can be a great time saver when cooking many dishes. Not only can you use it to steam dishes, but it’s also a great strainer when making beans, pasta or even homemade bone broth.

The 9 Best Instant Pot Accessories

Instant Pot Sealing Rings:

The silicone sealing ring in an integral part of the Instant Pot pressure cooking process. Over time and usage, the ring will degrade and prevent a proper seal. Additionally, the silicone ring will hold onto strong flavors (such as onions, garlic and heavy spices). It’s a good idea to have separate seals to use for sweet or mild flavored foods and another for your spicy dishes.

Get from Amazon: Genuine Instant Pot Sealing Ring 6 Quart or Genuine Instant Pot Sealing Ring 8 Quart.

Extra Instant Pot Inner Cooking Pot:

While many advanced Instant Pot chefs purchase multiple Instant Pots, I recommend purchasing an additional Instant Pot Inner Pot.

The additional Inner Cooking Pot will come in handy for cooking multiple dishes (such as rice and beans; or vegetables and a meat dish) or when you are using one for storing leftovers. This is the same Inner Cooking Pot that came with your Instant Pot.

Get from Amazon: Instant Pot Stainless Steel Inner Cooking Pot 6 Quart or Instant Pot Stainless Steel Inner Cooking Pot 8 Quart.

Instant Pot Glass Lid:

This is my first recommendation that did not originally come with your Instant Pot. The Glass Lid comes in handy for storing leftovers, as well as when slow cooking or sauteing. Think of how much fun it will be to watch your pop corn pop in your Instant Pot through this glass lid.

Get from Amazon: Instant Pot Glass Lid 6 Quart or Instant Pot Glass Lid 8 Quart.

Steamer Basket:

The Steamer Basket is one of the most versatile Instant Pot Accessories and I use mine frequently. Not only is it great to make boiled eggs or steamed vegetables, I find it very handy when cooking beans, pasta or even making homemade bone broth. You can just lift the solid ingredients out. I find this the easiest way to strain the ingredients from the cooking liquid.

Recipes using the Hatrigo Steamer Basket:

Get from Amazon: Hatrigo Steamer Basket 6 Quart or Hatrigo Steamer Basket 8 Quart.

Fat Daddio’s Round Cheesecake Pan

The Instant Pot is the best way to make homemade cheesecake and this is my favorite pan to make it in.

You will fall in love with making the perfect cheesecake and developing new flavor combinations.

And, this pan is not just for cheesecakes. It can also be used for lasagna, bread pudding, etc. The perfect size pan for your Instant Pot needs.

Recipes for the Fat Daddio’s Round Cheesecake Pan:

Get from Amazon: Fat Daddio’s Round Cheesecake Pan.

OXO Pressure Cooker Bakeware Sling:

When your amazing Cheesecake or other masterpiece is ready to be removed from your Instant Pot, this Pressure Cooker Bakeware Sling is the perfect accessory.

Place your pan on the sling before cooking and easily lift out when your dish is complete.

Get from Amazon: OXO Pressure Cooker Bakeware Sling.

OXO Silicone Egg Rack

If you need boiled eggs for egg salad, deviled eggs or decorating Easter eggs, this is the perfect accessory. Great for both hard boiled and soft boiled eggs.

Place up to 9 eggs on the rack and they will stay steady from any cracks while cooking. These racks can even be stacked for cooking up to 18 at a time.

Get from Amazon: OXO Silicone Egg Rack.

Silicone Egg Bites Molds:

If you’re one that loves the Starbucks Egg Bites, you can now make them at home with ease in your Instant Pot.

This is a great way to make a quick and healthy breakfast for your family.

Recipes for Egg Bites Molds:

Get from Amazon: Silicone Egg Bites Molds.

Ramekins

Ramekins are another versatile addition for your Instant Pot. This is a great way to make Creme Brulee, Chocolate Lava Cake or many other individual size dishes.

Recipes for Ramekins:

Get from Amazon: Ramekins.

I hope you have enjoyed this collection of my favorite Instant Pot Accessories. I thoroughly enjoy using my Instant Pot and find it not only saves time in the kitchen but also allows me to prepare healthy and often less expensive meals. What are your favorite Instant Pot dishes and accessories?

If you have any hesitation on using your Instant Pot or want to take your skills to the next level, I recommend Heather’s Instant Pot Course, Be the Boss of Your Instant Pot Video Course. This is an in-depth, 30 video course to help you master the Instant Pot. For Cooks Recipe Collection readers, she is offering a $5 discount (just enter the discount code dash on the checkout page).

The Best Instant Pot Accessories

Instant Pot Recipe Collection

By 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Instant Pot Recipe Collection

Looking for Instant Pot Recipes? I’ve compiled over 100 Instant Pot recipes, from a talented group of food bloggers. There is something here for everyone from beginner to experienced Instant Pot users.

Are you new to the Instant Pot? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Instant Pot Fundamentals to get you started.

Breakfast Recipes

Instant Pot Homemade Yogurt from The Belly Rules The Mind

Appetizer Recipes

Classic Hummus from Little Sunny Kitchen

Soup, Stew & Chili Recipes

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup from Real and Vibrant

Pasta Recipes

Easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese from Lemons and Zest

Bean & Grain Recipes

Perfect Instant Post Quinoa from Real and Vibrant

Seafood & Poultry Recipes

Hawaiian Chicken from The Seasoned Mom

Beef, Lamb & Pork Recipes

Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Beef Short Ribs from Gluten-Free Palate

Vegetable & Side Dish Recipes

3-Minute Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash from Clean Eating Kitchen

Meatless Dish Recipes

Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup from Vegan Huggs

Stocks & Sauces

Instant Pot Easy Strawberry Compote from I Heart Umami

Dessert Recipes

Instant Pot Rice Pudding from Simply Happy Foodie

Drink Recipes

Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider Recipe from Curry Trail
The Ultimate Instant Pot Recipe Collection - Over 100 Recipes - Breakfast to Dessert

The Ultimate Guide to Instant Pot Fundamentals

By 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

The Ultimate Guide to Instant Pot Fundamentals

Instant Pots are one of the most popular kitchen gadgets on the market and for good reason. We all want to cook a healthy meal for our families, but are often limited by the amount of time needed to cook elaborate meals. The Instant Pot is a multi-cooker, that functions as an electric pressure cooker, allowsing you to cook great tasting meals is less time.

My Instant Pot is an integral part of my kitchen and I use it frequently. Take cooking dry beans as an example. I no longer have to plan a day ahead when I want to cook my favorite Cuban Black Beans for dinner. I don’t have to soak them overnight, then cooking them for a few hours while monitoring the stove (or even all day in a slow cooker). Now, I can now cook them from start to finish in under an hour.

Unfortunately, I hear so many people say, “I’m scared of it using an Instant Pot”, or “I got one last Christmas and don’t know where to start”.  With this Instant Pot Fundamentals Guide, I show you that you no longer have to be scared of an Instant Pot, it’s easy to use, versatile and a great time saver in the kitchen.

What is an Instant Pot?

An Instant Pot is the brand name of the most popular pressure multi-cooker. There are a number of settings (depending on the model) and so many cooking methods can be done using this one appliance.

Pressure Cooking

Of the many functions an Instant Pot can perform, Pressure Cooking is the most popular and most frequently used. Pressure cooking decreases cooking time dramatically, often less than half the time of traditional stovetop cooking. This is done by heating the cooking liquid (usually water or broth) in an airtight, sealed environment. The high pressurized steam then cooks food safely and quickly.

There are special pressure cooking program settings depending on the dish you are making:

  • High/Low Pressure
  • Rice
  • Bean/Chili
  • Poultry
  • Meat/Stew
  • Multigrain
  • Porridge
  • Soup/Broth
  • Cake
  • Sterilize
  • Steam
  • Egg
  • Manual or Pressure Cooking
  • Ultra Canning

Note: Not all settings are available on all models.

Slow Cooking

When you want to cook low and slow, this is the setting for you. On the slow cook setting, you the Instant Pot will allow you to prepare your recipes as you would in a Crock Pot brand slow cooker.

Sauté

The sauté function allows you to sauté as you would on the stove.  If you want to brown meat or sauté onions for a recipe, this is a great option. I absolutely love this for two reasons. First, you’re not having to wash another pan. Also, you are essentially preheating the Instant Pot, so it will come up to pressure faster.

Yogurt

Yes, you can make yogurt in your Instant Pot too. Making yogurt requires a low temperature for a relatively long period of time. It’s great that you can make yogurt at home and customize it to you and your family’s tastes. And, one less kitchen gadget to have to store.

Note: This feature is not available on the Lux models.

Keep Warm

This setting allows you to maintain food at the desired temperature for serving.

What Can’t be done in an Instant Pot?

While the Instant Pot does perform a wide variety of kitchen tasks, it isn’t the best choice for every situation Here are a few things that your Instant Pot can’t do, or there is a better option for.

Air Frying

Air frying requires dry heat to crisp food, in contrast pressure cookers use moist heat, so this is one thing your Instant Pot can’t do.

Deep Frying

The Instant Pot doesn’t get hot enough to deep fry. While you can use some oil in your Instant Pot dishes, it is the water-based liquid, turning to high temperature steam that is actually cooking your food.

Quickly Cooked Foods

Since your Instant Pot is to reduce cooking time for those dishes that time a great deal of time to cook, quickly cooked foods aren’t the best choice for your Instant Pot. For instance, a rare steak or tender fish filet would be better cooked on a grill or stove.

What are the benefits of an Instant Pot?

Saves Energy

According to Instant Pot, “electric pressure cookers are energy efficient kitchen appliances, second only to microwaves. Compared to other cooking methods, such as baking, boiling, or steaming, pressure cooking can reduce your cook time & energy usage by up to 70%. ”

Saves Time

You can save a great deal time in the kitchen by reducing not only the cooking time, as we have mentioned earlier, but also reducing prep time. Think of all the time you are saving by not having to thaw meat or soak dry beans.

Saves Money

The Instant Pot can save you quite a bit of money, by allowing you to serve your family made from scratch meals, rather than eating out or opting for take-out. Additionally, you’re able to reduce costly prepared foods in your diet. Again I will use my favorite example of dry beans, which are about 1/4 the price of their canned counterpart.

Healthy Method of Cooking

  • Reduces Dining Out – I would also consider any cooking method that encourages you to cook from scratch healthier than dining out. It’s a great comfort knowing the quality of the ingredients I serve my family.
  • Non-toxic – I am comforted that the Instant Pot is made of non-toxic stainless steel and silicone (sealing ring).
  • Nutritious – Pressure Cooking is also more nutritious than many methods of cooking, retaining more water-soluable vitamins than boiling or even traditional steaming.

Instant Pot Safety

The Instant Pot is not your Grandmother’s stove top pressure cooker. There were times when the older stove top models did have some safety issues, and Instant Pot has taken measures to ensure safety of their appliance.

For your safely, Instant Pot has been designed with 10 safety mechanisms and patented technologies to make the Instant Pot a safe cooking method.

Instant Pot Safety Features

  1. Pressure Regulator ensures working pressure below the safety limit.
  2. Anti-Blockage Vent prevents food debris from blocking the vent.
  3. Safety lid lock prevents accidental opening of the cooker while it is pressurized.
  4. Designed with a sensor for lid position detection, monitors whether the lid is in an unsafe position for pressure cooking.
  5. Automatic temperature control regulates temperature based on the type of program being selected.
  6. Temperature monitoring avoids burning food.
  7. Pressure controller keeps pressure always in the safe range.
  8. Electrical current and temperature fuse cuts off power if the current or internal temperature exceeds safety limits.
  9. Pressure protection releases excess pressure into internal chamber in a dangerous situation.
  10. Smart detection of leaky lid (e.g. steam release is in the open position).

Tips for Instant Pot Success

Pressure cooking works differently than we are used to with other cooking methods. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Boil Water Test

The first thing you will want to “cook” in your Instant Pot is boiling water. This may sound like a step you want to skip, but this quick and easy step is so beneficial.

Benefits from Boil Water Test:

  • Test Instant Pot – This easy step will test your new Instant Pot (or one you’ve had in the closet scared to use for a while). You will know for sure that your pot will seal and heat properly.
  • Learn the basic Instant Pot cooking process – Cooking in an Instant Pot is easy, but very different from other cooking methods. After your Boil Water Test, you will be familiar with the basic buttons, features, sounds, time to bring to pressure, pressure release.
  • Build Confidence – This ensures that you know the basic process to use you Instant Pot, without the fear of wasting any expensive ingredients.
Boil Water Test Video

Season Dishes Well

You will need to cook with broth and/or plenty of herbs and spices, to ensure your dishes are flavorful from the Instant Pot. Since the Instant Pot cooks in a closed environment, you won’t have any evaporation of liquid to intensify flavors as you do when cooking on the stove top.

Instant Pot Common Questions/FAQ:

How much liquid to I need to put in my Instant Pot?

Since the Pressure Cooking method cooks food by creating high-temperature steam, having enough liquid in your Instant Pot is very important to prevent burning and to allow proper cooking. You will need a minimum of 1 cup of liquid to cook, although additional liquid may be needed for dishes that soak up a lot of liquid, as dry beans. Consult your recipe for exact measurements.

Can you overfill Instant Pot?

Overfilling your Instant Pot is another concern. You should use 1/2 full as the fill maximum for items that expand, like dry beans, rice or grains; and 3/4 full as the maximum for everything else. There are 1/2 full and 3/4 full measureing lines on the side of the inner pot.

What can I cook in my Instant Pot?

The options are “almost” endless for items you can cook in your Instant Pot. Consider dishes were you’re not looking for a crispy outcome, some options are (but not limited to):

  • Meat
  • Vegetables
  • Eggs
  • Yogurt
  • Soups/Chili/Stew
  • Creme Brulee
  • Cheesecake

Are electric pressure cookers and instant pots the same thing?

Instant Pot is the brand name of the most popular multi-cooker that has electric pressure cooker function. It also cooks with other methods, in addition to Pressure Cooking.

What is the difference between an instant pot and a crock pot?

An Instant Pot is the brand name of a multi-cooker that is a electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, etc. A Crock Pot is the brand name of a slow cooker.

How long should it take my instant pot to come to pressure?

There are a few variables that affect the time it takes for your Instant Pot to come to pressure. If you saute part of your dish ahead of time it will preheat your Instant Pot and reduce the time; while if you have your Instant Pot filled to the maximum level it will take longer. This typically takes between 5 and 20 minutes. If you feel it is taking too long to come to pressure, ensure the valve on the lid is closed.

Where can I find Instant Pot recipes?

There are so many great dishes you can cook in your Instant Pot. For recipes ideas Instant Pot Recipe Collection and our Instant Pot Pinterest board.

The Last Thing You Need to Know about Instant Pots

In summary, your Instant Pot is a safe, healthy and versatile kitchen appliance that will save you time and money.

If you have enjoyed this guide, please share it with your friends. If you have additional Instant Pots tips and tricks, please share them in the comments below.

The Ultimate Guide to Instant Pot Fundamentals