When the weather turns cold and you crave something deeply satisfying, this Instant Pot Harissa Bean Stew delivers bold flavors with minimal effort. This hearty one-pot meal combines tender white beans with the smoky, spicy warmth of harissa paste, creating a rich and comforting stew that tastes like it simmered all day but comes together in under an hour. The pressure cooker transforms simple pantry ingredients into a complex, aromatic dish that will fill your kitchen with incredible smells and your belly with pure satisfaction.
Serves: 6-8 people
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups dried white beans (cannellini or navy beans work best)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste (find it in the international aisle)
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 large carrots, sliced into rounds
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Fresh parsley for serving
Getting Your Beans Ready
Start by rinsing your dried beans under cold water and picking out any small stones or damaged beans. You don’t need to soak them overnight when using the Instant Pot, which makes this recipe perfect for those spontaneous dinner decisions. The pressure cooker will soften even the most stubborn beans to creamy perfection.
Building the Flavor Base
Turn your Instant Pot to the sauté setting and heat the olive oil until it shimmers. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes soft and translucent. The onion should smell sweet and inviting as it cooks. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Stir in the harissa paste and let it cook for about 30 seconds. This brief cooking time helps bloom the spices and intensify their flavor. The mixture will become very fragrant and might make you want to lean in for a deeper smell of those warming spices.
Adding the Vegetables and Seasonings
Pour in the diced tomatoes along with their juice, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the vegetable broth, carrots, celery, bell pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together so the spices distribute evenly throughout the liquid.
Add the rinsed beans to the pot and give everything a final stir. The liquid should cover the beans and vegetables by about an inch. If it doesn’t, add a bit more broth or water until everything is properly covered.
Pressure Cooking Magic
Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and make sure the pressure valve is set to sealing. Select the manual or pressure cook setting and set the timer for 25 minutes on high pressure. The pot will take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the cooking time begins.
When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then carefully turn the valve to venting to release any remaining pressure. This gradual pressure release helps keep the beans intact rather than turning them to mush.
Final Touches
Remove the bay leaf and discard it. Give the stew a gentle stir and taste for seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed. The beans should be tender and creamy, and the vegetables should be perfectly cooked but not mushy.
Stir in the fresh spinach and watch it wilt into the hot stew within a minute or two. The bright green color adds a beautiful contrast to the rich, reddish-brown broth. Finally, stir in the fresh lemon juice, which brightens all the deep, earthy flavors and adds a subtle tang that makes everything taste more vibrant.
Serving Your Stew
Ladle the stew into bowls and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. This stew tastes even better the next day, so don’t hesitate to make a big batch for leftovers. It pairs wonderfully with crusty bread for dipping, over rice for a heartier meal, or simply enjoyed on its own as a complete, satisfying dinner.
The combination of protein-rich beans, vegetables, and warming spices makes this stew both nutritious and deeply comforting. Each spoonful delivers layers of flavor that develop and deepen as you eat, making it the kind of meal that truly warms you from the inside out.
