The beauty of pressure cooking is that it allows the home cook to make traditionally labor-intensive dishes like stews, braises, briskets, and pot roasts literally in a matter of minutes, opening up vast new possibilities for weekday cooking.

In a thorough introduction, Victoria Wise explains how to use the modern pressure cooker (which has been completely reengineered for safety and ease of use) and outlines what it particularly excels at, from basic beans and grains to hearty one-pot entres. Then she presents outstanding dishes such as Lamb Shank Braised with Garlic and Rosemary (cooking time 25 minutes); Sunday Chicken Poached Belgian-Style (25 minutes); Risotto with Shrimp, Fennel, and Saffron (18 minutes); Tamales with Black Bean and Plantain Filling (16 minutes); In-House Clam Bake (20 minutes); and Peanut Butter Swirl Cheesecake (30 minutes).