Starchy side dishes are the weak part of my weeknight meals. They’re an essential part of the “protein, veg, starch” meal trio, but they’re also kind of dull. In my mind, the protein is the star of the show, the vegetables are offbeat supporting actors, and the starch is a straight man for the other two.
Starches are boring, but essential. Meals need that base, something calming and comfortable, for the exciting parts to shine. That’s where potatoes come in. (In my head, meals are zany comedy movies. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?)
These baby potatoes are so simple they’re barely a recipe: pressure steam potatoes until they're tender, drain, toss with butter and sprinkle with salt and parsley. Done. They also show how versatile an Instant pot (or other pressure cooker) can be. The hands-off cooking of a multi-cooker lets me make these baby potatoes:
- While I’m out back, grilling a steak
- On the kitchen island if the stove is covered in pots for a dinner party
- Next to another pressure cooker that’s making the main dish (like a pot roast)
The last example is why I have many instant pots - what if I need to cook a side dish? I must be ready!1
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Pressure Cooker Baby Potatoes with Butter and Parsley
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1.5 pounds potatoes 1x
Description
Pressure Cooker Baby Potatoes with Butter and Parsley. A quick baby potato side from the Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1½ pounds baby potatoes (aka new potatoes)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Pressure Cook for 8 minutes with a quick pressure release: Pour 1 cup of water into the pressure cooker pot. Add a vegetable steaming basket, then fill the basket with the baby red potatoes. Lock the pressure cooker lid. Cook at high pressure for 8 minutes in an electric pressure cooker or stovetop PC (Use “manual” or “pressure cook” mode in an Instant Pot). Quick release the pressure. Once the pressure is released, unlock the pot, opening the lid away from you to avoid the hot steam.
- Melt butter and toss the potatoes to coat: Carefully lift the vegetable basket out of the pot and set it aside. Pour the water out of the pot, return the pot to the pressure cooker base (or stovetop), and melt the butter over sauté mode (medium heat on the stovetop). Pour the potatoes into the pot with the melted butter. Sprinkle the potatoes with the salt and minced parsley, then toss to coat the potatoes with butter. Pour the potatoes into a bowl and serve.
Notes
- The baby red potatoes from my local grocery stores are a consistent size, 1½- to 2-inches in diameter. That’s the potato industry standard for “B-Size Potatoes”. If I get significantly smaller potatoes (from my CSA box, for example), I cut the pressure cooking time back to 5 minutes.
Tools
- 6 quart or larger pressure cooker (I love my Instant Pot electric pressure cooker)
- Vegetable steaming basket (I like collapsible stainless steel baskets)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
What do you think?
Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.
Related Posts
Pressure Cooker Smashed Garlic Redskin Potatoes
Pressure Cooker Champ (Irish Mashed Potatoes)
Pressure Cooker White Rice
Fast Baked Potato
My other Pressure Cooker Recipes
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- It has nothing to do with my compulsion to buy every new pressure cooker that comes out - nothing at all. Nope. Nothing. ↩
David Kennedy
Mike,
What steamer insert are you using? I have a duo 60. Just went out to Amazon and was surprised to see how expensive the steamer bowls are.
DavidRKen
Milford, CT
Jenny
This recipe was excellent! My kids even ate these potatoes. I bought the ones in the bag by The Little Potato Company. I love the way you break down your instructions. Thanks for the recipe! I love using my Instant Pot too.
Kim
Wonderful recipe! A family favorite. A great way to get my kid to eat baby potatoes!
Mike Vrobel
Thank you!
Cait
FYI. I like my Instant Pot for some things. This -- not at all. New potatoes in the microwave, with the butter and parsley, no water - 8-10min, and on the table!! And I can do it in the serving dish with a piece of plastic wrap snugged. only 1 dish to wash , in less time.
Debbie
So, how many Instant Pots do you own? I’m addicted to the IP and now have four of them! 8 qt, 6 qt, 3 qt... and now the 6 qt Ultra. Won’t be able to buy any more in the future — no place left to store them! Haha!
Mike Vrobel
I gave away a couple, so I'm down to 5...no, wait, 6. But the Instant Pot Max is coming soon...