Our Favorite Time Saving Kitchen Gadgets for Indian Cooking

With our busy lives, we always look for ways to cook more quickly and efficiently. In trying to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with our loved ones, here is a list of three time saving kitchen appliances that can help you prepare tasty and healthy Indian meals in no time.‍

Hello Instant Pot, Good Bye Pressure Cooker

If you cook Indian food often, then chances are you’re already familiar with using a pressure cooker. However, a pressure cooker needs to be monitored and is often subject to causing messes, explosions, and even burns or other injuries. An instant pot, on the other hand, is designed with safety mechanisms for safer usage because the heat source is electric. It does not require a gas or a stove, and consumes 70% less energy while still efficiently preserving nutrients in foods. An instant pot is also better than a pressure cooker because it is faster and actually does the job in half the time-- not to mention it’s a breeze to clean up. 

You’ll be able to make more lunches and dinners in a hurry, since it is tailored to replace most kitchen appliances including a steamer, rice cooker, food warmer, yogurt maker, sautéing vessel, and so much more, speeding up the cooking time by 2 to 6 times. In addition, instant pots make food more flavorful; spices seem to infuse better in a closed heated pot than they do when cooking on a stove top. And last but definitely not least, instant pots do a much better job at containing smells. Although the aroma of ginger, garlic, onion, and spices smell delicious, no one necessarily wants the smell on their clothes. 

What Can I Make In An Instant Pot?

‍Here are some recipes to try out in an instant pot: dal tadka, basmati rice, baigan ka bhurta, palak paneer, dhokla, idli, sambar, and more. The list is endless. You can find a recipe for instant dal tadka at the end. 

Rotimatic - An Easier Way to Make Fresh Rotis

‍Who doesn't love homemade rotis? Yet, sweating and toiling in the kitchen to make dough balls and puff them manually is not always feasible. A rotimatic is a robotic Indian flat bread maker. It makes round rotis (whole wheat, gluten free, your choice), and can also make pizza crusts and naans. A rotimatic mirrors human judgment and automatically measures to adjust the proportion of flour and water in real-time, so that every dough ball is consistently kneaded, evenly thin and round. It then roasts each roti until puffed.

What Can I Make In a Rotimatic?

Rotimatics can also make pooris, aloo parathas, methi parathas, onion parathas, gobi parathas, and multigrain parathas with multigrain atta. Fresh rotis can be a great addition to your instant pot recipes.

Air Fryers - Less Oil, Less Calories

‍Along with the instant pot and rotimatic, another kitchen appliance gaining a lot of attention and popularity recently is the air fryer. An air fryer is an appliance that uses hot air and a bit of oil to "fry" food. Air fryers require less oil than traditional fried foods, making them generally healthier than their oil-immersed counterparts. Using an air fryer to cook can cut calories and fat content. With a fraction of the oil, cooking experts say it can "fry" certain foods as well as a deep-fryer. Not to mention, just one deep-frying session can leave your place smelling and feeling as greasy as a fast food kitchen. 

What Can I Make In An Air Fryer?

‍Here are a few delicious Indian snacks and meals you can cook up in an air fryer, while using less oil and without compensating on taste: french fries, fried chicken, tandoori aloo tikka, tandoori paneer naan pizza, samosas, vada pav, charga, tandoori aloo gobi, and many more. As stated before, the possibilities are endless. 

Chances are you may have at least one of these kitchen appliances at home. If not, you should definitely consider buying them because we have a delicious new recipe for you to try down below!

Instant Dal Tadka:

‍Ingredients Needed:

• 1 tbsp of oil
• 1 tbsp of Cumin seeds
• ½ Onion finely chopped 
• 6 Curry leaves
• ¼ tbsp Asafoetida
• 1 /4 tsp Turmeric powder
• ½ tsp Coriander powder
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cloves of Garlic
• 1 cup of Toor dal
• 3 cups of Water 

Instructions:

1. Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat the oil in it. Add cumin seeds, green chili, curry leaves, garlic and asafoetida.
2. After the garlic turns light brown, add the chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes until the onions turn golden brown.
3. Add tomatoes, turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and salt and cook for another 2 minutes.
4. Add the washed toor dal and water. Stir it all up. 
5. Change the instant pot setting to manual or pressure cook mode at high pressure for 5 mins. After the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release for 5 minutes.
6. Garnish with cilantro and additional garam masala.
7. IP Instant Daal Tadka is now ready!