Pressure Cooker Beef & Broccoli (in the Instant Pot)
1 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck roast, well trimmed and sliced into thin strips (I have used round steak, too)
salt and pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
¾ cup beef broth
½ cup soy sauce (low sodium is best)
⅓ cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
⅛ tsp. red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
1 pound broccoli florets
3 Tbsp. water
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
Season beef with salt and pepper. Put olive oil in the pressure cooker pot and select saute. When oil begins to sizzle, brown meat in batches until all meat is browned. Do not crowd. Transfer meat to a plate when browned.
When all meat has been browned and removed from pot, continue with Saute and add chopped onion to the pot. Saute for 1-2 minutes until onion starts to soften. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute more.
Add beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add browned beef and any accumulated juices. Select Cancel/Keep Warm. Then select Manual High Pressure. Set timer for 10 minutes.
Microwave or steam broccoli for 2-3 minutes or until tender. (Or you can simply add the broccoli to the cooked beef in the pot when it is done, letting the heat steam it. I would put the lid on during this time to keep heat in.)
When beep sounds on pressure cooker, allow 10 minutes NPR (natural pressure release). Then release any remaining pressure. Remove the lid.
In a cup combine cornstarch and water; stir until smooth. Add to pressure cooker and stir well to combine. Select Saute and stir until sauce comes to a boil and thickens. Add steamed broccoli. Serve over hot, cooked rice. (if you have two pressure cookers or 2 inner pots you can make the rice in your pressure cooker, as well!)
