Start by mincing garlic and chopping the onion, bell pepper, carrot, and zucchini. For the tomato, dice it into small pieces. This prep work is essential as it brings out the flavors of each ingredient.
Next, heat the olive oil in your Instant Pot on sauté mode. Once it’s hot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about two minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
Add the ground beef or turkey to the pot. Sauté until it’s mostly cooked through, breaking it up with a spatula as you go. This step is crucial for developing that meaty flavor base.
Once the meat is mostly cooked, toss in the chopped bell pepper, carrot, and zucchini. Stir everything together and let it cook for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
Now it’s time to add the dry lentils and mix in the diced tomato. Then add the Italian seasoning, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and tomato paste. Whisk all these ingredients together while pouring in the vegetable broth to combine everything well.
Next, break the lasagna noodles into smaller pieces and add them to the Instant Pot. Give everything a good stir to ensure the noodles are submerged in the broth.
Close the lid securely and set the Instant Pot to high pressure cook for three minutes. This short cook time is all you need for the ingredients to meld beautifully.
After the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for ten minutes. This step helps to finish cooking the noodles and enhances the flavors.
Once the natural release is done, carefully do a quick release for any remaining pressure. Open the lid and stir in the black pepper, red pepper flakes, and nutritional yeast. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings if needed – feel free to add more salt or spices to your liking.
Finally, fold in the spinach and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top. Allow it to sit for a few minutes; the residual heat will wilt the spinach and melt the cheese beautifully. It’s time to serve this delightful dish!