PRESSURE COOKING 101 RECIPES

Steps:

• To prepare pork, combine garlic, brown sugar, chile flakes, salt and pepper. Rub marinade all over pork. If you have time, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to up to 24 hours. Otherwise, proceed with recipe.
• Set electric pressure cooker to sauté (or use a large skillet). Add pork in batches and sear until browned all over, about 2 minutes per side. Add 3/4 cup water to pot (or to skillet to deglaze, then move to pot), cover, and set to cook for 90 minutes on high pressure. Or cook in a slow cooker for 5 to 7 hours until tender.
• While pork cooks, prepare sauce: In a small pot, warm peanut oil over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger, and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Set sauce aside. (It can be made up to 1 week ahead and stored in the refrigerator.)
• Manually release steam. Let pork cool until you can handle it, then shred it into bite-size pieces. Pork can be made to this point up to 3 days ahead.
• While pork cools, strain liquid from bottom of pot. Pour off fat (or chill liquid, then scoop off solidified fat with a spoon). Reserve.
• Prepare cucumbers: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients except sesame seeds, and let sit, tossing one or twice, for at least 20 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds.
• When ready to serve, heat broiler. Toss pork with sauce and 1 to 2 tablespoons cooking liquid — just enough so pork is evenly coated but not wet or runny. Spread mixture on a rimmed baking sheet, and broil until crisped on top, 2 to 3 minutes; it will char in places, and that’s fine.
• Serve pork over rice or on slider rolls, with cucumbers and kimchi, if desired.

Steps:

• Pick over beans, rinse and drain. Be sure to not fill the pressure cooker above the halfway mark. Combine ingredients in the cooker and cook for 22 to 25 minutes. For firm cooked beans, check for doneness after minimum time indicated. For soft cooked beans, add 2 extra minutes under high pressure. When cooking time is up, quick release pressure by placing cooker under cold running water. Drain immediately. Always clean the lid and vent thoroughly after cooking beans.
• Optional presoak: Cook the beans under high pressure for 1 minute, using 4 cups of water per cup of dried beans. Quick release the pressure under cold running water, drain and rinse the beans. Always discard any loose or free floating bean skins before further cooking. Follow cooking instructions above but adjust cooking time to 7 to 10 minutes.