Instant Pot Greek Beef Stifado

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🥘 Instant Pot Greek Beef Stifado

  • Prep time: 20 mins

  • Cook time: 45 mins (plus pressurized time)

  • Servings: 6

  • Total time: approx. 1 hour 15 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch chunks

  • 1.5 lbs pearl onions (fresh or frozen/thawed)

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 1/2 cup red wine (dry, like Agiorgitiko or Cabernet)

  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

  • 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes or tomato purée

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves

  • 1/2 tsp ground allspice

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Sear the Beef: Set your Instant Pot to Sauté (High). Add 2 tbsp olive oil. Season beef with salt and pepper, then sear in batches until browned on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.

  2. Sauté Aromatics: Add the remaining oil and the pearl onions. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until they get a bit of color. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

  3. Deglaze: Pour in the red wine and vinegar. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release all the browned bits (the fond).

  4. Combine: Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice, and bay leaves. Return the beef and any juices to the pot.

  5. Pressure Cook: Close the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Select Manual/Pressure Cook (High) for 45 minutes.

  6. Release: Allow a Natural Release for at least 15 minutes before venting the remaining steam.

  7. Finish: Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves. If the sauce is too thin, use the Sauté function for 5 minutes to reduce it to your liking.

💡 Tips & Notes

  • The Onion Trick: If using fresh pearl onions, soak them in boiling water for 2 minutes to make peeling them much easier. Frozen pearl onions work perfectly and save a ton of time.

  • Don’t Chop: Keep the pearl onions whole! They are meant to be soft, sweet nuggets in the stew, not a blended base.

  • The Vinegar is Key: Don’t skip the red wine vinegar. It cuts through the richness of the beef and balances the sweetness of the onions and cinnamon.

🥗 Nutritional Info (Per Serving)

Calories Protein Fat Carbs Fiber
420 kcal 34g 22g 14g 3g

✨ Benefits

  • Rich in Iron: Beef chuck is an excellent source of heme iron and Vitamin B12.

  • Anti-Inflammatory: The use of warm spices like cinnamon and cloves provides antioxidant benefits.

  • Gluten-Free: Naturally thickened by the onions and tomato, making it a safe choice for many diets.

❓ Common Questions (Q&A)

Q: Can I use different meat?A: Yes, lamb is a popular alternative. If using lean stew meat, reduce the cook time by 5 minutes, though chuck roast is preferred for its fat content.

Q: What should I serve this with?A: Traditionally, it is served with hilopites (Greek egg noodles), orzo, or creamy mashed potatoes. A side of feta cheese and crusty bread is mandatory for soaking up the sauce.

Q: My sauce is too watery, what did I do wrong?A: Nothing! The Instant Pot prevents evaporation. Just use the “Sauté” function after cooking to simmer the sauce down until it reaches a thick, gravy-like consistency.

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