Instant Pot Korean Beef
Wow, this was delicious! And I was so excited to share it that I just about couldn’t wait, it was all written down and filled it with enthusiasm, but - I waited. The recipe needed a few modifications to be perfect for Whole30, and somehow I managed to hold off until it was acceptable to share 😊 - the patience has paid off. After a couple more experiments, I can share with even more enthusiasm! Yay!
The flavors of Asian based spices truly stand out above many others for me. I remember the amazing flavors of a Korean short rib dish I tasted several years ago, so this recipe idea for Korean Beef naturally caught my eye, and, in the Instant Pot, has the potential to be a double winner! Sure enough, it proved to be as delicious as expected, along with being simple to prepare in the instant pot! If you don’t have an Instant Pot, this would also be very good prepared in a crock pot.
There was an ingredient I had never used before - Gochujang Sauce. Now I don’t know about you but if I see an ingredient that is unfamiliar, it often gets the “ehh, I will skip that”, can’t be that important right? But then reading on, the author specifically said, “whatever you do, don’t skip the Gochujang Sauce!” Well ok then! On the shopping list it goes and even though unfamiliar to me, it was right there on the shelf at the first market I checked. I was disappointed to see that sugar was a main ingredient in the sauce, but only 2 tablespoons were called for in the recipe so I used it anyway as I was curious about the flavor. It is an experiment after all, and we will just see where this leads. I loved, loved, loved the flavors in this recipe, the simplicity of preparing it, and the use of the instant pot which infuses the flavors into the beef and produces such tender meat.
So the question is, can I eliminate the sugar and make my own Gochujang Sauce? It took a couple of tries but now here is a recipe that results in the same great flavors as the Korean Beef made with the store bought Gochujang sauce. I feel so much better being able to share this and offer you the alternative recipe of making your own keto, paleo, and whole30 friendly sauce made with real food. So, if you are impatient to try the flavors, buy some Gochujang sauce, but if you have the time to make your own sauce, and prefer to avoid the processed sugar, go for the full meal deal!
INGREDIENTS -
3-4 pound boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup reduced sodium organic beef broth
1/2 cup coconut aminos (soy sauce substitute)
1/3 cup coconut sugar (brown sugar substitute)
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
2-4 Tbsp Gochujang sauce, depending on how much spice you like, 2 was perfect for me! (Homemade Gochujang sauce recipe below)
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp pepper
HOMEMADE GOCHUJANG SAUCE -
1/3 cup miso paste
1/8 cup honey, date syrup, or pure maple syrup
1/3 cup Korean chili flakes (I found on amazon)
1/4 cup coconut aminos
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup water
To make the homemade Gochujang sauce blend the ingredients for the sauce together in a small food processor, adding water last to achieve the consistency of a paste. You can add additional water if you prefer a thinner sauce.
Cut up the beef chuck roast into one inch chunks and place in the bottom of the instant pot. Whisk together the remaining ingredients - beef broth, coconut aminos, coconut sugar, garlic, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, Gochujang sauce, onion powder, and pepper - and pour over the top of the beef. Cook on manual high heat for 40 minutes, allowing pressure to release naturally. So in real people time, plan about an hour and a half for this meal.
Serve over a bed of rice, cauliflower rice, potato, sweet potato, or chunks of broccoli. Served over broccoli it will remind you of a beef and broccoli dish from Panda Express!
The leftovers are great so don’t hesitate to make a large batch. If you are trying to reduce your meat intake a bit, just pile your plate high with vegetables and add a little Korean Beef on the side, and enjoy!
