Fall Vegetables You Should Be Steaming + Free Printable

Steaming vegetables is the preferred method when you want to keep as many nutrients intact as possible. An easy way to steam veggies is with a pressure cooker. Your Crockpot Express will make quick work of it and you’ll be amazed at how flavorful and tender the veggies will be.
How to Steam Beets in a Crockpot Express
Beets are one of the vegetables that doesn’t get much love until you realize just how amazing they taste, if cooked the right way! Roasting is a popular way to cook them, but steaming them is also a delightful way to experience their unique flavor. Beets are an excellent source of fiber, iron and Vitamins C and B6. They’re also packed with potassium, copper, manganese and folate. Beets are known for their ability to help detox your liver, so consuming them is not only tasty, but nutritionally beneficial to your overall well being.
Beets are very dirty. If left unwashed, they will leave red stains everywhere. After removing the greens and cutting off the root end, cut the tops off to sit level with where the beet starts bulging out. Place them in your pressure cooker with about 1/2 cup of water at bottom, then cook for 8 minutes on high pressure.
Pressure cooked beets can be served whole or sliced. If you prefer them to be tender throughout, cut them in half and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes per beet. Sliced or chopped veggies will only need 3-4 minutes of cooking time.
How to Steam a Medley Of Veggies in a Crockpot Express
Using your steamer basket, quickly steam veggies such as florets of fresh cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers in practically no time at all. When you use fresh veggies, the magic of water in the bottom plus the pressurized cooking will render tender and colorful veggies that are healthy and delicious. It’s no secret we need to consume more veggies and this medley is a great way to reap the benefits of more than one veggie at a time.
This recipe is for two, just double it if you are cooking for four.
Ingredients:
1 medium cauliflower, broken into florets (my pieces were too big and I should have cut them further)
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Method:
Fill the bottom of your pressure cooker with water and add the rack.
Steam veggies for 3-4 minutes maximum, just until tender crisp.
Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice before serving.
This is a veggie side dish that’s perfect when served with almost any meat or fish entrée. Also, when you use the pressure cooker to steam veggies there is no need for added butter or oil because they will become tender and still retain most of their natural moisture.
How to Steam Butternut Squash in a Crockpot Express
Butternut squash is readily available during the fall and winter seasons, but it can be challenging to know the best way to cook it. It’s full of Vitamins A and C and is a versatile ingredient in many fall recipes. You can oven roast it or steam it, but the Crockpot Express makes quick work of steaming this delicious veggie.
Once you learn how to cook Butternut Squash with your pressure cooker, you’ll be able to whip up an easy side dish any time! It works great for Thanksgiving too. Just place chunks of cut butternut squash in your steamer basket, add a cup of water to the bottom and let it work its magic!
Ingredients:
3/4-1 lbs butternut squash cut into chunks (you can peel if you’d like)
2 cups of water for the bottom of the Crockpot Express
Method:
Place the cut butternut squash in your steamer basket. Add 2 cups of water to your pressure cooker. Place the steamer basket into the pressure cooker and place the lid on top. Lock it into position, making sure that the steam valve is set to “sealing.” Press Manual, then High Pressure. Set the timer to 4 minutes. Once done cooking and the Crockpot Express beeps, let it release pressure naturally for 5 minutes. After that, you can release all remaining pressure manually. When removing the butternut squash from the steamer basket, use a fork or spoon to fluff it before serving with your favorite vegan dish such as soups, casseroles, or more!
How to Steam Cauliflower in a Crockpot Express
Cauliflower is everywhere during the fall, and steaming it and turning it into a mashed side dish is a lovely way to eat this vegetable. It’s also a great substitute for mashed potatoes or rice if you’re watching your carb intake.
Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower cut into florets
2 cups of water for the bottom of the pot. For a thicker mashed side dish, you can use 3 cups of water total.
Method:
Place the cauliflower in your steamer basket. Add 2 or 3 cups of water to your pressure cooker. Place the steamer basket into the pressure cooker and place the lid on top. Lock it into position, making sure that the steam valve is set to “sealing.” Press Manual, then High Pressure. Set the timer to 4 minutes. Once done cooking and the Crockpot Express beeps, let it release pressure naturally for 5 minutes. After that, you can release all remaining pressure manually.
When removing the cauliflower from the steamer basket, use a fork or spoon to fluff it before serving with your favorite vegan dish such as soups, casseroles, or more!
How to Steam Sweet Potatoes in a Crockpot Express
While most people toss their sweet potatoes in the oven and roast them to tenderness, your Crockpot Express can use the steam method to produce a cooked and delicious potato. Rich with vitamins A, C, and B6 as well as potassium, manganese and copper, steamed sweet potatoes are awesome when used in other recipes, too. Steaming them ahead of time and scooping the flesh out of the skins for later use is a great meal prep idea.
Ingredients:
1-2 sweet potatoes, cut into cubes or half rounds. You can peel them first if you’d like.
Method:
Place the cut sweet potato in your steamer basket. Add 2 cups of water to your pressure cooker. Place the steamer basket into the pressure cooker and place the lid on top. Lock it into position, making sure that the steam valve is set to “sealing.” Press Manual, then High Pressure. Set the timer to 4 minutes. Once done cooking and the Crockpot Express beeps, let it release pressure naturally for 5 minutes. After that, you can release all remaining pressure manually.
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