Lisa George
Instant Pot Bo Kho Time! It’s no secret that I’m a form of obsessive about my Instant Pot. Whenever Mike suggests one thing for dinner, I’ll counter with the identical factor, made within the Instant Pot. A typical dialog goes one thing like this:
Me: Whatcha really feels like for dinner?
Mike: I don’t know…Something that goes properly with the beer I’m consuming proper now, like chili?
Me: Instant Pot chili?!
Mike: Don’t desecrate the sanctity of chili with Instant Pot.
Me: How about Hainanese rooster rice?
Mike: mmm I really like HCR
Me: Instant Pot Hainanese rooster rice!
Mike: What’s the distinction between that and common Hainanese rooster rice? 🤔
Anyway, you get the concept, I’m all in regards to the Instant Pot. I don’t even know why as a result of to be trustworthy, the Instant Pot isn’t actually on the spot and I’m not truly positive if I just like the outcomes higher than cooking on a range. I feel I prefer it as a result of all the pieces is contained and since making soup/inventory in it’s so superior. I’m hoping that awesomeness will switch to different dishes. But, I suppose if it solely finally ends up being a speedy soup/inventory maker, I’m not that dangerous off.
I wished to do a kind of side-by-side comparability of two dishes made with the very same elements: one on the range and one within the Instant Pot. I went with bo kho as a result of the bo kho that I made on the range was simply TOO good and I just about knew that this Instant Pot model would lose to the stovetop model.
Okay, I’m truly mendacity. I didn’t know if it will lose or not. I had excessive hopes for it. With hopes excessive, I saved some stovetop bo kho within the fridge and went out to the grocery retailer to purchase elements for an additional batch of stew.
I made this within the Instant Pot virtually the identical method that I did on the range. For some purpose, I stupidly determined to make use of pearl onions right here as a result of they have been cute. But, clearly, an onion reduces into chunks will yield the identical impact. Also, I diced up the lemongrass earlier than deciding that complete lemongrass can be the best way to go as a result of chopping up lemongrass is an unimaginable time suck, so skip out the chopping should you do make this.
Other than that, the 2 fundamental variations have been: much less liquid (the Instant Pot is a closed surrounding so there’s no evaporation) and including the greens in at a later time. I added them after the meat was stress cooked on excessive for 35 minutes as a result of I used to be apprehensive that they’d get overcooked. Looking again at it now, I’m positive it will have been tremendous and should you’re not too terribly involved in regards to the structural integrity of your greens, throw them in simultaneously the meat.
And, the winner was…the stovetop model! The Instant Pot stew did take much less time, however, in the end, the meat that was braised on the range had a greater texture. Taste clever they have been fairly shut however I most well-liked the stovetop model as a result of it had a extra concentrated deeper trace of tomato and the flavors melded a bit extra. But, you recognize, this Instant Pot bo kho was actually, actually good. If you’re in a rush, you will get this stew achieved in below an hour should you’re speedy at prep. And to me, that’s a winner.
Note from Mike: Despite what the recipe says, it took Steph the identical period of time to make each variation; the one profit to this one is fewer dishes to clean, which certainly is sort of a profit to some folks.
Note from Steph: Okay, the additional time was chopping up the lemongrass and I’ve fastened that now!!
- 1 lb beef chuck, cubed
- 2 tablespoons flour
- salt and freshly floor pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion, reduce into chunks (I used pearl onions)
- 1 inch piece ginger, sliced
- 1 shallot, quartered
- Four cloves garlic, flippantly crushed
- three stalks lemongrass, reduce into Four inch lengths and flippantly bruised
- 1/Four cup tomato paste
- three cups beef inventory
- three complete star anise
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- three complete cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon sugar, or to style
- 1-2 tablespoons fish sauce, or to style
To serve:
- chopped cilantro
- sliced inexperienced onion
- sliced jalapeños
- lime wedges
Lightly pat the meat cubes dry with a clean paper towel then toss within the flour, coating every dice. Dust off the surplus and season with salt and freshly floor pepper.
With the Instant Pot in Sear mode on excessive, warmth the oil within the insert. When the oil is sizzling, sear the meat cubes on all sides till deeply golden. Remove and put aside.
If the pot is dry, add a little bit of oil, then add the ginger slices, shallot, garlic, and lemongrass and prepare dinner, stirring, till the shallot and garlic are gentle, however not brown, about 1-2 minutes. Stir within the tomato paste and beef inventory. Add the meat again in in addition to the star anise, fennel, cloves, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick. It helps should you put the spices in a cheese material or giant tea bag for simple removing later.
Put the lid on, set the stress to excessive and prepare dinner time to 35 minutes. Quick launch the stress when cooking time is accomplished. Give the stew a stir, then add within the potatoes and carrots and prepare dinner on excessive stress for 7 minutes. Quick launch after which stir within the sugar and fish sauce, adjusting for style. Enjoy!
Optional: Vietnamese beef stew isn’t thickened, however should you like your stew on the marginally thicker facet, make a roux from 2 tablespoons of butter and a couple of tablespoons of flour. Melt the butter in a small pot over medium warmth. Whisk within the flour and prepare dinner, whisking till brown and wealthy. After seasoning the stew, whisk the roux into the stew and convey it to a simmer.
Also, if you wish to put within the greens unexpectedly, you possibly can! I didn’t as a result of I used to be apprehensive that they might overcook, however, should you’re searching for the final word in ease, simply put all the pieces without delay and prepare dinner for 35 minutes on excessive stress.
See Pictures;
