Ingredients

• 1 T avocado oil
• 1.3 lbs. lean stew beef (mine was 140 kcal/4 ounces)
• 1 medium onion, chopped into 1″ pieces
• 3 medium celery stalks, sliced into 1″ pieces
• 3 medium¼ carrots, sliced into 1″ coins
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 4 c Yukon gold potatoes, chopped into large pieces
• 1 T tomato paste
• 1 c apple cider
• 3 c beef bone broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 t dried thyme
• 1 t dried rosemary
• 1 t dried sage
• 1 c frozen peas, thawed
• ¼ c fresh parsley, finely chopped

Instructions

• Set the Instant Pot to the saute setting on high. Add the avocado oil. Saute the beef in the oil for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to brown on all sides. Remove the beef from the pot and set aside.
• Add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic to the pot and saute for 5 minutes. Add cider to deglaze the pot and stir in the tomato paste.
• Add the beef, potatoes, bone broth, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and sage to the pot. Stir to combine.
• Put the lid on the pot. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. Let the steam release naturally for 15-20 minutes before opening the vent (to release remaining steam) and removing the lid.
• Remove the bay leaves. Stir in the peas. Distribute the stew among the bowls or glass meal prep containers and garnish with parsley.

Notes

This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). Surprise! This delicious meat and potatoes meal is a high-volume, low-calorie dish. If you are looking to lose weight this winter, add more broth-based soups and stews to your plan. They’ll help to keep you full and warm in the chilly weather.

For a thicker (and more traditional) stew, you could make a roux of flour and butter instead of using avocado oil. This will add additional calories to the dish, and I don’t tend to feel it’s worth it taste-wise. If you like a thicker stew or want a higher energy meal, this may be a good option for you.

Another option is to whisk a little cool broth with cornstarch and add the mixture to the stew at the end of cooking. Let the stew simmer an additional few minutes (uncovered) to allow time for the cornstarch mixture to work its magic.

https://summeryule.com/2019/12/06/instant-pot-beef-stew-with-cider