#one-pot-meal

#one-pot-meal

A true one-pot meal, this Indian-spiced rice is made with store-bought spicy simmer sauce, paired with tofu and cauliflower. It's hearty, filling and you can load it up with a range of herbs or crunchy nuts as toppings. We are staying in a little loft in San Francisco right now, trying to find our next place to live. The kitchen is tiny: two electric burners, a microwave, roughly 2 feet of counter space.

In under 30 minutes, this one-pot meal hits all the key food groups - protein, veggie, and starch - for a satisfying, wholesome dinner. Baby bok choy and frozen edamame take next-to-no time to prep before they're layered into the Instant Pot with white rice and a few umami boosters, like toasted sesame oil and mirin. If baby bok choy isn't readily available where you are, sliced cabbage, spinach, or really any dark leafy green will work just as well.

Put oil in large pot or Dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until it dries out a bit, a minute or two. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add broth or water and scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Add firm vegetables and bring to a boil.

Think of this recipe as the warmer, heartier cousin to pasta salad. It has all of the beloved mix-ins of the cold classic—juicy tomatoes, plenty of vegetables, and fresh herbs—while being far more satisfying.