Instant Pot Sesame Ginger Beef

Making Instant Pot Beef with Rice

This Sesame Ginger Beef in the Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to make an Asian inspired recipe with minimal effort! A little bit sweet, a touch of spice and a little bit of pepperiness result in a dish bursting with flavor.

With an Instant Pot, taking advantage of the pressurized cooking keeps the cooking time way down. It also helps tenderize the beef by breaking up the collagen in the meat’s fibers quickly. That is why you can use essentially any cut of beef for this recipe. So don’t waste your money on a nice cut of steak for this easy sesame ginger beef!

I used an affordable Sirloin Tip Steak for this Sesame Ginger Beef that cost about $4/pound. Any lean cut makes for a nice healthy dinner. I’m not a big fan of fatty cuts of meat for this Instant Pot Beef. It’s easier not having to contend with the extra fat.

Also, the handy thing about cooking beef in an Instant Pot or similar pressure cooker, is being able to cook everything in one single pot. You are able to sauté the beef, add your sauce, and top it with a bowl of rice for one convenient meal cooked in the same pot.

Not only does it making cooking super simple, it is always nice for the person responsible for cleaning everything up afterwards!

How To Avoid Making The Beef Tough In An Instant Pot

Instant Pots do work wonders for quick meals. However, it is still possible to make the beef tough and chewy if you overcook it. To avoid that happening, just make sure that you pay attention to the timer and don’t let the beef cook too long.

The pressurized cooking time is only 10 minutes, so just be sure to keep an eye on it and don’t forget about your sesame ginger beef and rice.

Cutting The Meat For Instant Pot Beef

This Sesame Ginger Beef uses thin strips of beef steak. You could compare the thin cut strips to the same time of beef you use for Steak Fajitas.

Often times you can find this type of beef pre-cut in the meat department. Cutting the beef is the most labor intensive part of this entire recipe, so if you are wanting to save time, just skip that step and buy some pre-stripped beef.

If you are cutting your own, then make sure to cut against the grain of the meat. The easy way to see which way the grain of the meat runs, press down the flat side of your knife on top of the beef. That makes seeing the grain direction a bit easier.

Cut at a 90 degree angle to whichever way the grain runs.

How to Make Instant Pot Asian Beef

After your steak is cut into thin strips, it’s time to turn your Instant Pot on to Saute-High. Add a drizzle of sesame oil and once it’s fragrant, add the beef to the pot. Cook for 2 minutes

While the beef is cooking, in a small bowl whisk together the Sesame Ginger Sauce with the following ingredients

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup beef broth

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 tablespoon minced garlic

Do I have to use sesame oil

If you don’t have sesame oil in your kitchen, I highly recommend adding it if you enjoy Asian inspired recipes. While you could theoretically substitute olive oil, you will loose a lot of flavor. Sesame oil has a strong flavor that adds to the dish. I don’t recommend skipping it.

Cooking Beef with PIP Rice

Place the included trivet with your Instant Pot over the beef. In a small oven proof glass bowl, add the following

1 cup rinsed white long grain rice

1 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)

Set the bowl on top of the trivet, being sure the bowl of rice sits at least 1 inch below the top of your inner pot. Do not ever try and jam your lid on the pressure cooker or have a snug fit against the bowl.

Cook the beef and rice under high pressure for 10 minutes. When the cooking time is done and your Instant Pot beeps, allow it to sit untouched for an additional 10 minutes. This is referred to as a natural pressure release.

How to thicken sesame sauce

Using potholders, remove the bowl of rice and set on a heatproof surface. Using kitchen tongs, remove the beef from the inner pot and place on a plate. Turn the Instant Pot to Saute-High. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Add to the sauce and cook the sauce for 4-5 minutes to thicken it.

Fluff the rice with a fork and distribute among four bowls. Serve with beef and sesame ginger sauce. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, lime wedges and sriracha for those who like more spice.

What if I don’t want to make rice

If you want to make this Sesame Ginger Beef without any rice for a simple low carb recipe served over some steamed broccoli or sautéed green beans, you can simply skip it. Leave the rice out of the recipe and cook everything else according to the directions.

Whether you make it with or without rice, this easy beef dinner in your Instant Pot is not only a great weeknight meal, but is also fantastic for easy meal prep!

More Instant Pot Asian Inspired Recipes

These recipes are all inspired by the ingredients and cooking styles of various Asian dishes and cooking methods.

Instant Pot Chicken Ramen with Sweet Chili Oil – Make homemade ramen in your Instant Pot that has a great kick of spice.

Pressure Cooker Korean Beef Bowls – Ground meat and rice are cooked up in this easy dish and served with fresh pickled vegetables for so much flavor and texture.

Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken & Rice – Turn your favorite take-out into an easy weeknight dinner with the help of your pressure cooker.

Instant Pot Fried Rice – Make this classic side dish in your pressure cooker to serve with any Asian inspired meat.

• Instant Pot Chicken Ramen with Sweet Chili Oil
• Pressure Cooker Korean Beef Bowls

Notes

*This recipe is for white long grain rice only. If you use brown rice, it won’t be cooked in the cooking time it takes to cook the chicken. I you want to use brown rice, follow the instructions, remove the beef from the pot when the time is done. Then return the lid to the pot and cook the brown rice under pressure for an additional 10 minutes.

Serving: 1 g | Calories: 337 kcal | Carbohydrates: 9 g | Protein: 22 g | Fat: 23 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14 g | Cholesterol: 73 mg | Sodium: 1220 mg | Sugar: 6 g