Tired of boring, steamed carrots? Get ready to revolutionize your side dish game with this incredibly fast and flavorful Instant Pot recipe! We’re taking humble carrots and dressing them up in a bold, buttery glaze packed with a spicy-sweet kick from mustard, cumin, and a hint of cayenne. The pressure cooker steams them to tender-crisp perfection in just one minute, making this the perfect, last-minute addition to any weeknight meal or holiday spread.
Ingredients
• 1 lb / 450g carrots, quartered lengthwise and halved
• 2 tbsp / 28g butter
• 1 tbsp Erythritol or brown sugar
• 3 tsp ground mustard
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
• ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup / 240ml water, for steaming
Instructions
1. Directions
2. Place a steamer basket and 1 cup of water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Add the prepared carrots to the basket.
3. Secure the lid and set the pressure valve to the “Sealing” position. Select “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” and cook on “High Pressure” for 1 minute.
4. Once the cooking time is complete, perform a “Quick Release” to vent the steam. Carefully remove the lid and transfer the carrots to a bowl.
5. Discard the water from the pot and pat the inside dry with a paper towel. Select the “Sauté” function.
6. Melt the butter in the pot, then stir in the Erythritol, ground mustard, cumin, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to create the glaze.
7. Add the steamed carrots back into the pot, tossing gently to coat them completely in the glaze. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
8. Press “Cancel” to turn off the heat. Serve the carrots warm, garnished with a final sprinkling of cinnamon.
Nutritional Information
• Nutrition Information
• Per Serving
• Calories: 112
• Total Fat: 6.6g
• Net Carbs: 3.50g
• Protein: 1.7g
• Fiber: 3.3g
Pro Tips
• For even cooking, ensure your carrot pieces are cut to a relatively uniform size.
• A 1-minute cook time is key for tender-crisp carrots. If you prefer softer carrots, increase the time to 2 minutes, but be careful not to overcook them into mush.
• Feel free to substitute the Erythritol with maple syrup or honey for a different flavor profile; just add it with the butter to create the glaze.
• Adjust the heat to your liking. For a milder dish, reduce or omit the cayenne and red pepper flakes.
FAQ
Q: How long does it take to cook carrots in an Instant Pot
A: For a perfect tender-crisp texture, cook the carrots on High Pressure for just 1 minute. If you prefer softer carrots, you can increase the cook time to 2 minutes, but be careful not to overcook them.
Q: Can I use a different sweetener for the glaze
A: Absolutely. While this recipe uses Erythritol, you can easily substitute it with brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey for a different flavor profile. Add it with the butter to create the glaze.
Q: How can I make this carrot recipe less spicy
A: To make a milder dish, simply reduce or completely omit the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. The carrots will still be very flavorful from the mustard, cumin, and cinnamon.
Q: What if I don’t have a steamer basket
A: If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can use the metal trivet that came with your Instant Pot. The goal is to keep the carrots elevated above the water so they steam instead of boil.
