Instant Pot Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1-2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1 1/2-2 pounds beef stew meat
- cooking oil
- 1 medium onions
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or red wine
- 6 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 medium Russet potatoes
- 1 large sweet potato
- 3 medium carrots
- 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 4-5 cups beef broth
- star anise (optional)
- water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or flour
Directions
In a large zip-top bag, combine flour (1/3 cup), sea salt (1-2 teaspoons), black pepper (1/2 teaspoon), onion powder (1/2 teaspoon), and italian seasoning (1/2 teaspoon). Add beef stew meat (1 1/2-2 pounds) and shake until well coated.
Set the instant pot to SAUTE, add cooking oil and brown the meat on all sides. Meat will not be cooked through. (Be sure not to crowd the pot - you may have to work in batches). Transfer browned meat onto a large plate.
Place the pot back in the pressure cooker and add onions (1 medium) and garlic (3-4 cloves) and sauté for a minute or two then add the balsamic vinegar or red wine (2 tablespoons) and tomato paste (6 tablespoons) until just hot enough to deglaze the pot, about 1 minute.
Add the beef back into the pot along with Russet potatoes (4 medium), sweet potato (1 large), carrots (3 medium), italian seasoning (2 teaspoons), rosemary (1 teaspoon), parsley (1/2 teaspoon), thyme (1/2 teaspoon), Worcestershire sauce (1-2 teaspoons), beef broth (4-5 cups), star anise (optional) and stir to combine. If there is not enough liquid to cover the vegetables, add water - only as much as needed.
Add the lid on the instant pot and set to 20 minutes with High Pressure on Manual mode. Allow the pressure cooker to release naturally for at least 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper if necessary (discard star anise if used).
**Optional: To thicken stew: Make a slurry by whisking of cool water with cornstarch or flour (2 tablespoons) (all purpose, gluten free or arrowroot powder). Set the instant pot to SAUTE and allow the stew to come to a boil and thicken up.