If you’ve been looking for an Instant Pot Dolma recipe, this Instant Pot Unstuffed dolma casserole is the one you need. It’s a great way to make dolmas-without actually having to roll up each grape leaf individually.
This dolma casserole tastes exactly like stuffed grape leaf dolmas, but it’s an easy weeknight supper to put together. Try this and you may never make grape leaf dolmas in the traditional way again!
What Is An Unstuffed Dolmas Recipe?
What are dolmas really? Dolmas are essentially stuffed grape leaves and across the Levant, they are made in a variety of different ways. At the heart of it, you’re looking at grape leaves or if you’re in the Balkans, often cabbage leaves, stuffed with rice and usually some meat. The spices vary across regions.
Dolma means stuffed. But in each case, the grape or cabbage leaves are stuffed individually. You put down a grape leaf, you put in a mixture of raw meat and rice or sometimes bulgur, and you painstakingly roll each one up. You then cook the leaves until the rice and meat are cooked, a squirt of lemon juice, and you’re ready to go.
Dolmas can be eaten hot or cold. I prefer mine–both ways, hah! Eat some hot and eat some cold, I say. Why choose?
How To Make This Unstuffed Dolmas Recipe
I love dolmas , but I hate rolling up each one. Given my lazy efficient disposition, I just can’t even cope with rolling up 1000 grape leaves before we can eat. So most of the time I end up not making them.
I have been wondering for a long time though, WHY they need to be rolled? I mean sure, it’s portable, it’s traditional, and that’s just how it’s done.
But when was the last time I did things traditionally? Ground beef shawarma rice anyone? 30-minute butter chicken recipe ? Butter chicken Pizza?
Yeah, I don’t do things traditionally, BUT I need my food to taste authentic and traditional.
So I decided to just play with this Instant Pot Dolma recipe . If I were a hipster, I’d be calling this deconstructed dolmas. But I am not a hipster.
So I call it unstuffed dolma casserole because in fact, what I did was I used the traditional dolma ingredients, but I cooked it all in one go in one pot.
- With your Instant Pot on Sauté mode, add olive oil to the pot. Add garlic and onions and stir.
- Add the ground beef and break up any large pieces. You’re just trying to break up the ground beef, not cook nor brown it.
- Add rice, grape leaves, parsley, ground allspice, salt, pepper, and water. Stir and immediately close the lid.
- Cook for 4 minutes high pressure. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 mins and then release all remaining pressure.
- Sprinkle lemon juice and chopped mint and stir with a light hand to incorporate the juice but not break the rice.
How To Cook Ground Beef In The Instant Pot
One thing that’s different about cooking ground beef in the instant pot is that you do not need to brown the ground beef. Pressure cooking will brown and cook the meat just fine. So your job is just to break up the ground beef so it doesn’t cook up as a huge lump of beef, and you are good.
In fact, if you’re new to Instant Pot cooking, you may run into a few issues if you brown the meat. What happens is that the meat might make a brown fond at the bottom of the pot, and unless you very carefully deglaze the pot, you might well get a Burn message on your Instant Pot panel.
So why take a chance, and especially if it’s not going to vastly improve the flavor anyway? I say skip it. I’ve been cooking ground beef without browning in a pressure cooker for years and I assure you, it’s equally delicious without that extra step.
You can also substitute ground lamb or ground chicken for this Instant Pot Dolmas recipe if you’d like.
Getting the burn message and unsure as to why? Check out this article on Everything You Need To Know About The Instant Pot Burn Message!
Want More Easy Casserole Recipes?
- Broccoli Chicken Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Casserole
- Reuben Casserole
- Low Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu
If you love this Unstuffed Dolmas recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it on Facebook and Pinterest so your friends can try it too!
Instant Pot Dolmas Recipe | Unstuffed Dolma Casserole
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ( 2 tablespoons ) olive oil
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Minced Garlic
- ▢ 1 cup ( 160 g ) onions, chopped
- ▢ 1 pound ( 453.59 g ) Lean Ground Beef
- ▢ 1 cup ( 185 g ) Basmati Rice , rinsed and drained
- ▢ 8 ounces by weight ( 8 ounces by weight ) brined grape leaves , drained and chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Dried Parsley , or 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Ground Allspice
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Ground Black Pepper
- ▢ 1 cup ( 250 g ) Water
For Finishing
- ▢ 1/3 cup ( 81.33 g ) Lemon Juice
- ▢ 1/4 cup ( 11.25 g ) Chopped Mint
Instructions
- With your Instant Pot on Sauté mode, add olive oil to the pot. Add garlic and onions and stir.
- Add the ground beef and break up any large pieces. You’re just trying to break up the ground beef, not cook nor brown it.
- Add rice, grape leaves, parsley, ground allspice, salt, pepper, and water. Stir and immediately close the lid.
- Cook for 4 Minutes high pressure. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 mins and then release all remaining pressure.
- Sprinkle lemon juice and chopped mint and stir with a light hand to incorporate the juice but not break the rice.
- Serve with Tzatziki on the side.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Originally Published June 25, 2018
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
If you’ve been looking for an Instant Pot Dolma recipe, this Instant Pot Unstuffed dolma casserole is the one you need. It’s a great way to make dolmas-without actually having to roll up each grape leaf individually.
This dolma casserole tastes exactly like stuffed grape leaf dolmas, but it’s an easy weeknight supper to put together. Try this and you may never make grape leaf dolmas in the traditional way again!
What Is An Unstuffed Dolmas Recipe?
What are dolmas really? Dolmas are essentially stuffed grape leaves and across the Levant, they are made in a variety of different ways. At the heart of it, you’re looking at grape leaves or if you’re in the Balkans, often cabbage leaves, stuffed with rice and usually some meat. The spices vary across regions.
Dolma means stuffed. But in each case, the grape or cabbage leaves are stuffed individually. You put down a grape leaf, you put in a mixture of raw meat and rice or sometimes bulgur, and you painstakingly roll each one up. You then cook the leaves until the rice and meat are cooked, a squirt of lemon juice, and you’re ready to go.
Dolmas can be eaten hot or cold. I prefer mine–both ways, hah! Eat some hot and eat some cold, I say. Why choose?
How To Make This Unstuffed Dolmas Recipe
I love dolmas , but I hate rolling up each one. Given my lazy efficient disposition, I just can’t even cope with rolling up 1000 grape leaves before we can eat. So most of the time I end up not making them.
I have been wondering for a long time though, WHY they need to be rolled? I mean sure, it’s portable, it’s traditional, and that’s just how it’s done.
But when was the last time I did things traditionally? Ground beef shawarma rice anyone? 30-minute butter chicken recipe ? Butter chicken Pizza?
Yeah, I don’t do things traditionally, BUT I need my food to taste authentic and traditional.
So I decided to just play with this Instant Pot Dolma recipe . If I were a hipster, I’d be calling this deconstructed dolmas. But I am not a hipster.
So I call it unstuffed dolma casserole because in fact, what I did was I used the traditional dolma ingredients, but I cooked it all in one go in one pot.
- With your Instant Pot on Sauté mode, add olive oil to the pot. Add garlic and onions and stir.
- Add the ground beef and break up any large pieces. You’re just trying to break up the ground beef, not cook nor brown it.
- Add rice, grape leaves, parsley, ground allspice, salt, pepper, and water. Stir and immediately close the lid.
- Cook for 4 minutes high pressure. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 mins and then release all remaining pressure.
- Sprinkle lemon juice and chopped mint and stir with a light hand to incorporate the juice but not break the rice.
How To Cook Ground Beef In The Instant Pot
One thing that’s different about cooking ground beef in the instant pot is that you do not need to brown the ground beef. Pressure cooking will brown and cook the meat just fine. So your job is just to break up the ground beef so it doesn’t cook up as a huge lump of beef, and you are good.
In fact, if you’re new to Instant Pot cooking, you may run into a few issues if you brown the meat. What happens is that the meat might make a brown fond at the bottom of the pot, and unless you very carefully deglaze the pot, you might well get a Burn message on your Instant Pot panel.
So why take a chance, and especially if it’s not going to vastly improve the flavor anyway? I say skip it. I’ve been cooking ground beef without browning in a pressure cooker for years and I assure you, it’s equally delicious without that extra step.
You can also substitute ground lamb or ground chicken for this Instant Pot Dolmas recipe if you’d like.
Getting the burn message and unsure as to why? Check out this article on Everything You Need To Know About The Instant Pot Burn Message!
Want More Easy Casserole Recipes?
- Broccoli Chicken Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Casserole
- Reuben Casserole
- Low Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu
If you love this Unstuffed Dolmas recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it on Facebook and Pinterest so your friends can try it too!
Instant Pot Dolmas Recipe | Unstuffed Dolma Casserole
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ( 2 tablespoons ) olive oil
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Minced Garlic
- ▢ 1 cup ( 160 g ) onions, chopped
- ▢ 1 pound ( 453.59 g ) Lean Ground Beef
- ▢ 1 cup ( 185 g ) Basmati Rice , rinsed and drained
- ▢ 8 ounces by weight ( 8 ounces by weight ) brined grape leaves , drained and chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Dried Parsley , or 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Ground Allspice
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Ground Black Pepper
- ▢ 1 cup ( 250 g ) Water
For Finishing
- ▢ 1/3 cup ( 81.33 g ) Lemon Juice
- ▢ 1/4 cup ( 11.25 g ) Chopped Mint
Instructions
- With your Instant Pot on Sauté mode, add olive oil to the pot. Add garlic and onions and stir.
- Add the ground beef and break up any large pieces. You’re just trying to break up the ground beef, not cook nor brown it.
- Add rice, grape leaves, parsley, ground allspice, salt, pepper, and water. Stir and immediately close the lid.
- Cook for 4 Minutes high pressure. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 mins and then release all remaining pressure.
- Sprinkle lemon juice and chopped mint and stir with a light hand to incorporate the juice but not break the rice.
- Serve with Tzatziki on the side.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Originally Published June 25, 2018
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
If you already signed up, you should have received an email with a password to give you unlimited access to our FREE Printable Library. The password is case sensitive. Enter it below and get printing!
Password:
Instant Pot Dolmas Recipe | Unstuffed Dolma Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 1 cup onions, chopped
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 cup Basmati Rice rinsed and drained
- 8 ounces by weight brined grape leaves drained and chopped
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley or 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon Ground Allspice
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 cup Water
For Finishing
- 1/3 cup Lemon Juice
- 1/4 cup Chopped Mint
Instructions
- With your Instant Pot on Sauté mode, add olive oil to the pot. Add garlic and onions and stir.
- Add the ground beef and break up any large pieces. You’re just trying to break up the ground beef, not cook nor brown it.
- Add rice, grape leaves, parsley, ground allspice, salt, pepper, and water. Stir and immediately close the lid.
- Cook for 4 Minutes high pressure. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 mins and then release all remaining pressure.
- Sprinkle lemon juice and chopped mint and stir with a light hand to incorporate the juice but not break the rice.
- Serve with Tzatziki on the side.
Instant Pot Dolmas Recipe | Unstuffed Dolma Casserole https://twosleevers.com/instant-pot-dolma-recipe/
This Instant Pot Horchata recipe is as delicious as the original with less sugar! And with a little help from your Instant Pot, it’s super quick to make!
Make Makes This Quick Horchata Recipe So Great
- Fast. Make a homemade horchata recipe in under 30 minutes with the help of your Instant Pot.
- Easy. It’s as simple as adding all of the ingredients to your Instant Pot and cooking under pressure.
- Delicious. Absolutely packed with sweet cinnamon sugar flavor.
- Dietary-friendly. Not only is it delicious, but it is also Vegan, Vegetarian, and Dairy-free.
I love horchata but I can’t drink the one you get in restaurants because of all the sugar. The mixes are fabulous, but once again, too sugary.
I tried making my own with raw rice, and honestly, while it turned out very tasty, it was not something I could see myself doing very often. It requires planning if you’re going to do it right.
Soak the rice for hours. Blend, and then let it sit for hours and then strain. I mean, worth it for a special occasion, but not something for every day. That’s why I came up with this fantastically simple Instant Horchata recipe!
What Is Horchata?
Horchata is a creamy, sweet, cinnamon-infused drink that originates from Latin America, with the Mexican version being the most well-known in the U.S.
Traditionally made by soaking rice (sometimes with almonds) and blending it with water, cinnamon, and sugar, it’s then strained to create a smooth, refreshing beverage.
It’s served cold and has a lightly sweet, comforting flavor with warm cinnamon notes. It’s perfect on its own or paired with spicy dishes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 32 ounces Unsweetened Rice Milk - This forms the creamy, velvety base of your horchata. Using unsweetened rice milk gives you full control over the sweetness level and ensures the drink isn’t overly sugary. It also helps the cinnamon flavor shine through while keeping the drink dairy-free and naturally smooth.
- 6 tablespoons Sugar or Other Sweetener Equivalent - This sweetens the horchata and balances the warm spice from the cinnamon. If using a sugar substitute like Truvia, it cuts down on carbs and calories while still delivering that classic sweet profile. Start with the full amount, then adjust to taste after cooking.
- 1 stick Cinnamon - The cinnamon stick infuses warm, aromatic flavor into the rice milk as it pressure-cooks. Breaking it into chunks increases the surface area, allowing more cinnamon essence to steep into the drink for that signature horchata flavor.
How To Make Horchata In Your Instant Pot
- Cook. Combine all ingredients (rice milk, sweetener, and cinnamon) in your Instant Pot , and pressure cook at High Pressure for 4 minutes.
- Serve. Allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, release remaining pressure and your drink is ready to serve over ice, or even better, chill it so you’re not diluting it further.
I gave it some thought and realized I was overdoing this. What are we trying to do? Essentially we’re trying to make rice milk. Guess what? You can BUY rice milk. Already made. I wondered if it would work as well? All I’d have to do is add cinnamon and infuse the cinnamon into it.
I know how to infuse flavors quickly–you use an Instant Pot . Once I started making my iced tea in an Instant Pot , I know I’ll never make it any other way. So I used the same principle of tea making to instant horchata making.
The end result has no added sugar because I used a sweetener. It’s a little thinner than store-bought horchata, I suspect because of no real sugar or perhaps flour fillers? I’m not really sure. It’s thinner but it tastes good. So unless it’s a special occasion, I think this is how I’ll be making it.
Tips And Tricks
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to ensure your Instant Pot Horchata turns out perfectly smooth, flavorful, and refreshing every time.
- Break the cinnamon stick for stronger flavor. Increasing the surface area helps the cinnamon infuse more deeply into the rice milk during pressure cooking.
- Use unsweetened rice milk for total control. Sweetened varieties can make the drink overly sugary, so start with unsweetened and adjust sweetness at the end.
- Sweeten to taste after cooking. Different sweeteners have different strengths, so add a portion first and adjust once the mixture cools slightly.
Variations
Here are some fun and flavorful variations you can try to put your own twist on Instant Pot Horchata while keeping its classic creamy, cinnamon-kissed charm.
- Vanilla Horchat a- Add 1–2 teaspoons of vanilla extract after cooking for a warm, bakery-like flavor that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon.
- Almond Horchata - Replace 1 cup of the rice milk with unsweetened almond milk or add 1–2 teaspoons almond extract for a nutty, aromatic twist.
- Coconut Horchata - Swap in 1 cup of canned light coconut milk or add ½ teaspoon coconut extract to give the drink a tropical creaminess.
- Chocolate Horchata - Whisk in 2–3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and a splash of vanilla after cooking for a rich, chocolatey version.
What To Enjoy With Instant Pot Horchata
Here are some delicious pairings that complement the sweet, creamy, cinnamon-forward flavor of Instant Pot Horchata.
- Spicy Mexican dishes - Tacos , enchiladas , or chile verde pair beautifully because horchata cools and balances the heat.
- Churros - The crispy, cinnamon-sugar coating is a natural match for horchata’s creamy sweetness.
- Tres Leches Cake - The rich, milky flavors echo the horchata and make for an indulgent dessert pairing.
How Long Does It Last?
This Horchata recipe is the perfect sweet treat. I love to keep some in the refrigerator to enjoy when I’m craving something sweet but I don’t feel like cooking. Since it lasts up to a week when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it’s easy to keep on hand.
Can You Freeze It?
Yes, you can freeze horchata, but the texture may change slightly once thawed. Because horchata contains rice milk and cinnamon-infused liquid, it can sometimes separate or become a bit grainy after freezing.
To freeze it, pour the horchata into an airtight container, leaving room for expansion, and store it for up to 2–3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw it in the refrigerator and give it a vigorous shake or whisk to help restore its creamy consistency.
More Instant Pot Drink Recipes
- Indian Lassi Recipe - A delicious traditional Indian beverage that you’re sure to love as much as Instant Horchata!
- Mulled Apple Cider - A delicious cider you can make in just 30 minutes.
- Masala Chai - An authentic Chai recipe you can make in your Instant Pot.
- Instant Pot Iced Tea - a super easy, hands-off method that makes the smoothest tea you’ve ever had.
- Hibiscus Tea - A perfect drink for Summer!
- Lemongrass Tea - A cold, refreshing drink for the summer.
Horchata Recipe | Instant Pot Horchata
Ingredients
- ▢ 32 ounces ( 907.19 g ) Unsweetened Rice Milk
- ▢ 6 tablespoons ( 6 tablespoons ) Sugar Or Other Sweetener Equivalent , or sweetener of choice (I used Truvia sugar substitute)
- ▢ 1 stick ( 1 stick ) Cinnamon , broken into smaller chunks
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, and pressure cook at High Pressure for 4 minutes.
- Allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, release remaining pressure and your drink is ready to serve over ice, or even better, chill it so you’re not diluting it further.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
