If there’s one thing every busy mom dreams of, it’s a kitchen that runs itself — or at least something close! Between work, errands, and making sure the kids are fed and happy, cooking from scratch every single day can feel impossible. That’s why I’ve fallen head over heels for my kitchen MVPs: the Instant Pot and my trusty rice cooker.
These two gadgets have completely changed how I cook our favorite Pinoy comfort dishes. Imagine having arroz caldo, adobo, or sinigang ready in half the usual time — walang bantay, walang tutong, pero masarap pa rin!
Here are some tried-and-tested instant pot Filipino recipes that’ll make your weeknights a breeze:
🥢 Instant Pot Adobo
Classic, savory, and oh-so-tender! The pressure cooker infuses every piece of pork or chicken with soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic flavor — without you needing to stir or check constantly. In 25 minutes, you’ve got ulam and extra sauce for tomorrow’s baon!
🍚 Rice Cooker Arroz Caldo
Rainy day? Sick kiddo? No problem. Toss in rice, chicken, ginger, and broth — then let your rice cooker do the rest. The result: comforting lugaw that tastes like it simmered for hours. Add boiled eggs, fried garlic, and a drizzle of calamansi for that warm, cozy finish.
🥩 Instant Pot Beef Nilaga
Tender beef, flavorful broth, and veggies cooked just right — all done in half the usual time!
Combine beef shanks or short ribs, potatoes, cabbage, and corn in your Instant Pot with peppercorns and fish sauce. In 40 minutes, you’ll get fall-off-the-bone beef and a broth so rich you’ll want a second bowl of rice.
🍲 Instant Pot Sinigang
Tangy, rich, and deeply comforting. Pressure cooking makes the pork fall-apart tender while keeping that asim-tamis balance just right. It’s the kind of dish that makes the whole house smell like home.
🧄 Rice Cooker Garlic Rice
Don’t underestimate the humble rice cooker! You can sauté garlic directly in it (some models allow this!) or mix crispy garlic bits with leftover rice for a quick and easy breakfast or side dish.
Cooking Filipino food doesn’t mean slaving over a stove anymore. With modern tools and a little creativity, you can bring your favorite flavors to the table faster — so there’s more time for family, Netflix, and maybe… a second cup of coffee. ☕
