Prepare a Hot Pot in Your Instant Pot
Whether you call it a “hot pot” or “steamer,” the Asian cooking method, in which thinly sliced meat, seafood and a variety of vegetables are simmered in a stockpot, makes a family dinner enjoyable and delicious. A real hot pot of broth is placed in the center of the table, and everyone takes turns preparing the food in this broth, and then dipping it in various sauces. If you’re a seasoned home cook, you probably have a hot pot and freestanding burner; if you don’t, you can use your Instant Pot.
After all, the Instant Pot has a heating coil built right into the bottom, which you can activate with the “Sauté” function. Place the appliance in the middle of the table, add the broth for the hot pot, press the Sauté button and then press the Adjust button until the display shows More. Once the broth is boiling, reduce the heat to “Low” so that it remains over low heat, then begin gargling the meat, vegetables, noodles, tofu, and fish cakes.
If you’re planning on making your own broth and dipping sauces, you have a variety of dishes and recipes to choose from, and I won’t pretend to be an expert on any of them. It only recently occurred to me that I could use my Instant Pot to enjoy a hot pot at home, a theory I validated with some thin steak and chicken stock. Now that I know I have this ability, I look forward to making a Sichuan hot pot , Japanese shabu shabu, and Cambodian ya hon .
You can buy thinly sliced meat, perfect for hot pot cooking, at your local Asian grocery store, or slice it yourself. Place it in the freezer for an hour to make it easier to chop, and make sure you use a very sharp knife – thick, uneven slices won’t become a hot pot either.