In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for lime butter and set aside.
Melt 4 tbsp butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and saute, undisturbed, for 4 minutes or until browned. Flip the mushrooms and continue to cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
When mushrooms are uniformly browned, add shrimp, chives and cilantro. Saute for 2-4 minutes or until shrimp is opaque. Do not overcook.
Add wine and lime butter to the pan. Continue cooking until lime butter melts and is thoroughly mixed with the shrimp and mushrooms.
Toss with spaghetti and serve.
Hack: Feel free to use your favorite pasta in this recipe or whatever you have on hand! Cooked rice can also be substituted for spaghetti.
Hack: Canned or dehydrated mushrooms can be used in this recipe.
Hack: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Hack: Shrimp can be purchased individually from the seafood counter at most grocery stores. They can also be purchased frozen in large portions if you wish to keep some on hand. Thaw needed amounts before cooking.
Hack: Seafood can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator. It can be thawed more quickly by placing it in a sealed bag and submerging them in a bath of cold water for about an hour.
Keyword angel hair, cilantro, fast and easy, fast meal, healthy, lime, main course, pasta, quick and easy meal, quick dinner, seafood, shrimp, spaghetti
Did you know? Shrimp is a healthy addition to your diet. It provides a high amount of nutrients that aren’t abundant in other foods!
Suggestion: Tomato and shrimp salad is another great way to take advantage of the healthy benefits of eating shrimp!
This shrimp scampi with linguine is an elegant dish for one that pulls together in less than 15 minutes. It’s a perfect solution to a busy weeknight meal!
Put a pot of water on the stove and bring to boil.
Add a sprinkle of salt and the linguine. When the water returns to a boil, cook until the pasta is al dente, 6-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat ½ tbsp butter and ½ tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat.
Saute the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes until the shallots are translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Season the shrimp with salt and pepper; add to the pan and cook until they have turned pink, 2-3 minutes.
Remove the shrimp from the skillet; set aside and keep warm.
Add wine and lemon juice to the skillet, bring to a simmer. Add ½ tbsp butter and ½ tbsp oil.
When the butter has melted, return the shrimp to the pan along with the parsley and cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper and toss to mix. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top and serve immediately.
Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top and serve immediately.
Keyword dinner for one, easy dinner, fast and easy, linguine, meal for one, pasta, quick and easy, quick dinner, scampi, shellfish, shrimp
Did you know? Traditional “white” pasta has gotten a bad rap lately but there are plenty of healthier alternatives out there, either withcarbs andwithout!
Suggestion: Looking for more super quick and easy “meals for one” options? Try this spinach feta pizza for one!
Remove casings from sausages and discard. Place sausage in a cold pan and turn heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently to break up sausage, until cooked through. Remove sausage from pan.
Turn heat up to medium-high and add Brussels sprouts. Cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan to keep oil from burning.
Add water and continue to cook for another 2 minutes until Brussels sprouts are crisp-tender. Add soy sauce, vinegar and sausage bits and toss to coat. Serve warm.
Keyword Brussels sprouts, Chinese sausage, easy dinner, fast and easy, keto, low calorie, low carb, one pan meal, one skillet meal, quick and easy, quick meal preparation
The Chinese sausage I use in this recipe differs from a traditional Lap Cheong, which is a dried sausage. The one I use is a fresh sausage seasoned with a Chinese-style sauce. It can be found in the meat department of your local grocery store by the Italian pork sausages.
It’s all the rage so guess what? I hit the streets to get the lowdown on 10 different models and their accessories! I hope you enjoy this review of Instant Pot.
Instant Pot
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I’m sure you’ve heard of Instant Pot. It’s That Thing that has everyone talking. That wondrous, marvelous, amazing, extraordinary, almost transcendent piece of kitchen equipment that the whole world is raving about. Since you’re here, reading this review, I assume that you’re considering buying and you’re looking to see if this is the brand for you.
The fact is that Instant Pot is the best-selling and most popular pressure cooker out there. It’s user-friendly and has many, many uses, from the obvious (pressure-cooking) to things you may not be aware of such as making yogurt, cooking eggs and even sterilization. The problem (at least for me) is that there are 10 different models available. T.E.N. Which one is the right one for you? I’m going to break it down for you here.
My review of Instant Pot.
Basic Instant Pot Features
There are certain features that all Instant Pots have in common so I’m going to cover those first:
High-Pressure Cooking Function that cooks food up to 70% faster.
Slow Cooker Function.
Steamer Option for cooking vegetables, seafood, and eggs. Steamer accessories are included with Instant Pot.
Saute Function for sauteing, browning and reducing.
Rice Cooker Option to cook rice in as little as 4 minutes.
Warm Setting for keeping food at the proper temperature when it’s finished cooking.
Stainless Steel Inner Port has a 3 ply bottom and is dishwasher safe.
Accessories included: stainless steel steam rack with handles, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup and condensation collector.
Free Instant Pot App for iOS and Android devices that’s loaded with hundreds of recipes as well as an online community to provide support and guidance.
More than 10 built-in safety features, including Overheat Protection, Safety Lock and more to ensure safe pressure-cooking
All Instant Pots except the Lux 6 in 1 have these additional features:
Low-Pressure Cooking Function for cooking items such as hard or soft-cooked eggs as well as more delicate vegetables and fish.
Yogurt Making Function.
Pot By Pot
Now that we know the basics, let’s get down to the brass tacks: the pot-by-pot comparison so you can choose the perfect Instant Pot for you! Ready? Let’s roll.
This very basic and economical Instant Pot has 12 one-touch Smart Programs, a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel lid, components and a 6-quart large capacity to cook for up to 6 people
Instant Pot Lux 6 in 1 also comes in an 8-quart size for larger households.
Instant Pot Lux Mini has all the features of the 6-quart but in a 3-quart size. It’s great for small households, making side dishes or for anywhere that space is limited.
This is the original model of Instant Pot. It’s basic, affordable and the best-selling model out there due to its ease of use.
It has 14 Smart Programs and 12 preset temperatures. The 6-quart size cooks for up to 6 people.
Instant Pot Duo 80 has all the features of the Duo 60 but in an 8-quart size.
Instant Pot Duo Mini has all the features of the Duo 60 but in a 3-quart size. It’s great for small households, making side dishes or for anywhere that space is limited.
Instant Pot Duo Nova is an updated Duo. It has 12 one-touch Smart Programs plus a new progress indicator to let you know when your Instant Pot is coming to pressure and when the cooking cycle begins.
The new easy-seal lid automatically seals your Instant Pot to keep flavors, nutrients and aromas sealed inside.
Accessories included: an extra sealing ring, a steam rack with handles, and a recipe booklet.
This smaller Instant Pot Duo Nova has all the features of the standard-sized Duo Nova but in a 3-quart size.
Instant Pot Duo Plus is an updated Duo. Duo Plus upgrades include the easy seal lid to automatically seal when pressure-cooking and a cooking progress indicator, so you know when cooking begins. It has 15 one-touch Smart Programs and can prepare meals for up to 6 people.
A larger version of the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9 in 1 has all the features of the regular Duo Plus but in an 8-quart size.
Instant Pot Duo Plus Mini has a 3-quart capacity. It’s great for making side dishes or for anywhere that space is limited. It has 13 one-touch smart programs but does not have the cake or beans/grain option offered in the larger size.
A central dial with a simple turn and press provides added precision in program selection and adjustment. 16 one-touch Smart Programs include complete temperature customization and preset cooking times for up to 6 hours.
The automatic altitude adjustment takes the guesswork out of recipe conversion while the new self-closing pressure valve adds a higher safety rating.
Instant Pot Duo Evo is a hybrid of the Duo Plus and the Ultra and has features you won’t find in other models. It has 10 one-touch Smart Programs and 48 customizable preset options, making it a must-have for cooking enthusiasts!
It has the biggest display of all the models we’ve looked at so far, big, bold and angled so it can be read from a distance while the new cooking progress indicator shows clearly where you are in the cooking cycle. The 1200W heating element reduces preheating time allowing you to make meals faster.
The easy seal lid automatically seals the pressure cooker while the improved steam-diffusing cover takes the fear out of the pressure release process. Pressure release time is shortened with the new QuickCool technology.
The cookware-grade inner pot made from 304 (18/8) stainless steel features non-slip, cool-to-the-touch silicone handles and a flat bottom that can be used on gas, electric and induction stovetop/cooktop.
Accessories include stainless steel steam rack with long handles and an extra sealing ring.
This WiFi-enabled cooker lets you schedule, cook, adjust and monitor the progress of your meals on the go from your mobile device with the Instant Pot app. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. As if that’s not awesome enough, you’ll have access to thousands of pre-programmed recipes and 13 one-touch Smart Programs!
The sustained 15psi pressure in this cooker not only cooks food faster while using less energy, it also enables you to do home pressure canning. It automatically releases pressure in the pot when the food is cooked. New Nutriboost technology creates a boiling motion during pressure-cooking to break down food, adding nutrition, flavor, and taste to soups and bone broth.
A new-brushed stainless steel exterior body, stainless steel interior cooker and inner pot are made from food-grade 304 stainless steel and accessories include 2 heat-resistant silicone mitts.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp offers the best of all worlds with the simple flip of the lid!
The pressure cooker lid offers all the options of a regular Instant Pot while the air fryer lid offers 5 dry cooking functions: use it to quickly air fry, roast, bake, broil and dehydrate.
Accessories include a multi-level air fryer basket as well as a dehydrating and broiling tray designed to ensure optimal results time after time.
A lot of people I know call their Instant Pot a game-changer. They’re absolutely hooked.
Much of their fondness comes from a place of convenience. There is a shorter cooking time for large, tough cuts of meat, wild rice, steel-cut oats and lentils plus its ability to cook meat from frozen.
As a one-pot meal creator, it will leave you with fewer dirty dishes, leading to a quicker cleanup time. You can’t hate that!
What about you? Which Instant Pot are you going to choose? If you already have one, tell me what you think about yours! I’d love to hear from you.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Stir in the peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain.
Add oil to a saute pan and heat over medium-low heat. Saute garlic for 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
Increase heat to medium-high, add tomatoes, basil and parsley. Cook for 1 minute.
Add pasta, salt and pepper to pan, cook for 3 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.
Keyword fast and easy, green peas, low calorie, meal for one, meatless, pasta, pasta sauce, pasta with peas, pasta with tomatoes, penne, quick and easy meal, quick dinner, vegetarian
Did you know? Traditional “white” pasta has gotten a bad rap lately but there are plenty of healthier alternatives out there, either withcarbs andwithout!
Suggestion: For a more protein-rich meal, add some Italian meatballs!
