Sweet and Sour Beef Stew -Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Slow Cooker

This Sweet and Sour Beef Stew is a very nice variation of it's lighter garlic and soy sauce cousin. This is a heartier version that's made with beef instead of chicken or pork, and it also has a tomato sauce base. The surprise ingredients, chili powder and paprika. You will notice both the sweet and sour notes, especially with the bites of pineapple. The original recipe is made in the slow cooker, I'll list what I did using my ♥Instant Pot Pressure Cooker below. This was a big hit at Sunday dinner and will be added to our menu plan going forward. If you're looking for something a little different, don't hesitate to give this one a try folks:@)

Every spring I plant snow peas so we can have a colorful chicken sweet and sour dinner in June, 

that dinner leans more towards an oriental flavor profile.

I think of this beef version as more of a winter sweet and sour meal. 

Sweet and Sour Beef Stew-adapted from Taste of Home

2 lbs stew meat-I had a little less

2 Tblsp olive oil-can cut back a bit

15 oz can tomato sauce

2 large onions, chopped-I used one softball size

4 medium carrots, peeled, 1/8" sliced

1 large green pepper, deseeded, cut into 1" chunks-I used 2 medium, one was red

1 C canned pineapple chunks-save the juice if using pressure cooker

1/2 C packed brown sugar-original recipe uses 1/4 C brown sugar, 1/4 C corn syrup

1/2 C apple cider vinegar

2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp salt

*1 Tblsp pineapple juice

*2 Tblsp cornstarch

Cooked rice for serving.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker:

1. Turn IP to saute function. Add a little olive oil, sprinkle beef with S&P, brown in batches adding more olive oil as necessary.
2. Return all meat to vessel and add 1/2 C pineapple juice. Set manual timer to 55 minutes. Seal, cook and use automatic release.
3. While meat is cooking mix everything up to asterisk in large bowl.
4. When meat is done pour mixture over meat. Seal and set manual timer to 1 minute, use automatic release. If your crew likes softer vegetables, use 2 minutes.
5. Stir cornstarch into very small amount of pineapple juice. Pour into stew, use saute function for a minute to thicken sauce.
6. Serve over rice.

Slow Cooker:

1. Brown meat in olive oil in skillet. Transfer meat to vessel of slow cooker.
2. Mix everything up to asterisk, pour over meat. (Asterisk was added by me to thicken PC stew above.)
3. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until beef is tender.
4. Serve over rice.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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