Instant Pot Beef Pares

Ingredients

• 1 kg beef (1.5"-2" cubes, use your preferred cut for pares)
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar (optional; helps reduce gamey flavor)
• 3.5 cup water (3-4 cups; adjust depending on desired sauce amount)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 star anise
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 tsp peppercorns
• 1 yellow onion (large, sliced)
• 3 ginger (slices)
• 3 tbsp garlic (minced)
• 0.5 cup soy sauce
• 0.25 cup oyster sauce
• 3 tbsp brown sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 beef cube (bouillon cube)
• 0.25 cup water (for slurry)
• 2 tbsp cornstarch (for slurry)
• chili sauce (for garnish)
• green onion (for garnish)
• fried garlic (for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the cubed beef in a large bowl and cover with water. Massage the meat gently and let it soak for 30 minutes to help remove impurities. Rinse and drain well.

2. 2

   Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Once hot, add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Cook until the spices are fragrant.

3. 3

   Add the sliced yellow onion to the pot and sauté for about 2 minutes until soft. Add the ginger slices and minced garlic, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

4. 4

   Add the drained beef to the pot along with the optional rice wine vinegar. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the alcohol smell has evaporated.

5. 5

   Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and beef cube. Pour in enough water (3-4 cups) to cover all the ingredients, ensuring you do not exceed the maximum fill line of the cooker.

6. 6

   Lock the lid in place and ensure the steam valve is set to the sealing position. Cook on High Pressure for 35 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the beef cubes.

7. 7

   Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, manually release any remaining pressure.

8. 8

   Remove the lid and set the Instant Pot back to Sauté mode. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup water and 2 tablespoons cornstarch to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the pot and simmer until the sauce thickens to your liking.

9. 9

   Garnish the dish with chili sauce, chopped green onions, and fried garlic. Serve hot with garlic rice and calamansi on the side.

Notes

The soaking step helps remove impurities from the beef for a cleaner-tasting stew. If using a regular pot instead of an Instant Pot, the cooking time will be significantly longer (likely 1.5 to 2 hours) until the beef is tender. For the garlic rice, the author recommends a 'garlic overload' version using garlic prepared in different ways.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• beef
• Filipino
• stew
• Instant Pot
• pressure cooker
• dinner