3

I would like to try recipes from Urvashi Pitre's Indian Instant Pot Cookbook: Traditional Indian Dishes Made Easy and Fast. However, buying the original Instant Pot pressure cooker does not seem to be straightforward or convenient for customers in Europe (outside Britain).

Has anybody tried these recipes with a pressure cooker that is more readily available in Europe (Germany)? I'm still used to old-fashioned models without any electronic controls, so I am wondering what could be a good alternative option to acquire.

UPDATE Here is a sample recipe from the book (linked from this article in The New Yorker).

Improve this question
7
  • Do you already have the book? A sample recipe might help us work out the difference between cooking using the instant pot and using a normal pressure cooker. It shouldn't be hard to adapt. Failing that, I'm sure there are other, more generic, Indian recipe books for pressure cookers.
    – Chris H
    Jan 16, 2018 at 17:33
  • @ChrisH I've added a link to a sample recipe.
    – Drux
    Jan 16, 2018 at 17:38
  • 1
    Look for products described as programmable pressure cooker
    – paparazzo
    Jan 16, 2018 at 18:16
  • I think amazon UK has a selection of Hawkins cookers?
    – rackandboneman
    Jan 16, 2018 at 19:29
  • I'm not an expert in pressure cooking, not by a long way, but there's nothing special about that recipe that couldn't be adapted by someone who is.
    – Chris H
    Jan 16, 2018 at 19:49

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6

I don't see anything "special" about that recipe that depends on the particular pressure cooker. I don't think you need anything fancier than an old-fashioned pressure cooker and a timer, assuming you know how to use an old-fashioned pressure cooker. If you already own one, why buy another?

Figure time on "high" to be time on 15 PSI (or 1 bar) steam, and cook away.

A brief glance at the link shows a thing that seeks to be everything (pressure cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, really should have Ron Popeil do ads for it on late night TV...) some of which would be more difficult in a regular pressure cooker, though (for instance) we had a spot on the stove over a pilot light that could make any pot into a yogurt-maker if you set it there full of milk and culture. And you can certainly make rice in a pressure cooker under pressure, rather than trying to mimic a "rice cooker" at atmospheric pressure.

Improve this answer
4
  • +1 I do not yet own a pressure cooker but know how to use old-fashioned models from way back. I will probably acquire such a model, because I don't like (am not yet used to) the idea of a pot that sits on the stove and requires a power cable. A WMF Perfect Pro may be a good quality choice.
    – Drux
    Jan 17, 2018 at 4:11
  • The specialty about indian pressure cooked recipes is that they measure time by whistles not by wall time .....
    – rackandboneman
    Jan 17, 2018 at 10:16
  • 1
    @Drux, pot that sits on the stove and requires a power cable I think most people place it on their counter.
    – Shannon Severance
    Jan 17, 2018 at 16:17
  • @ShannonSeverance Thx for that clarification.
    – Drux
    Jan 17, 2018 at 20:59

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.