Before instant pot invented, I didn’t like to cook stew. It just took too much time and effort. Normally, it would take me at least three hours or more.
But now you only need one hour max, then you will have one pot of delicious healthy stew.
We love to eat this on a cold day. It’s definitely my husband’s favorite. Oxtails are the best kind of meat for stew. They create a deeply rich flavor. Once oxtails are cooked, they are very tender with a silky texture.
Oxtails are also a good source of protein and iron.
Oxtail Stew Recipe
Delicious oxtail stew with celery, bell pepper, tomatoes, carrots and potatoes!
Ingredients
- 7 lbs oxtail (most weight on bones)
- 4 sticks celery
- 1 bell pepper (removed seeds and sliced thick)
- 2 tomatoes (sliced thick)
- 3 carrots (peeled and sliced thick)
- 5 small red potatoes (peeled)
- 1 tbsp minced shallots
- 1 1/2 tbsp minced lemongrass
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp ground anise powder
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- dash freshly ground pepper
- 2 dried anise
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1/2 tbsp chicken stock seasoning
- 4 cans chicken or beef stock
Instructions
- Gather ingredients and prep for chopping
- Chop / slice ingredients
- Rinse oxtails underwater, then soak them in saltwater for a few minutes. Rinse again and pat dry.
- In the large bowl with oxtails: add all the ingredients except bay leaves, dried anise, chicken, or beef stock.
- Marinate at least 30 minutes
- Heat a large frypan over medium-high heat. When hot, coat bottom with some butter
- Quickly sear oxtails on both sides, you will probably need to do two batches.
- In instant pot, turn on saute option for 5 minutes, add in tomatoes, star anise, and bay leaves. Place oxtails next. Then add in chicken or beef stock. Close lid.
- Switch from sauteing to pressure cook option on high heat. Set the timer for 40 minutes.
- When it's done, open the lid, skim all the fats. Taste it and add more salt if needed.
- Then add all vegetables in the pot. Turn on pressure cook again with set time 5 minutes.
- It's done. When it's ready to eat, sprinkle some fresh ground pepper and garnish with cilantro.
