Instant Pot Beef Pho—Quick & Easy

written by Instant Pot Cooking | December 5, 2024

Ingredients:

1 pound 455 g boneless beef eye round
1 tablespoon 18 g salt, plus more to season the beef
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon 15 ml canola oil (or any neutral-flavored cooking oil)
2 small yellow onions cut in half, skin on
2 garlic cloves smashed
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
4 peppercorns
2 star anise
1 ounce 28 g dried shiitake mushrooms
5 cups 1.2 L water
3 cups 710 ml beef stock
9.5 ounces 270 g ramen or udon noodles
Toppings: shredded red cabbage bean sprouts, thinly sliced red onion, hot sauce (sriracha), fresh cilantro, lime wedges, sliced jalapeño and hoisin sauce

Directions:

Season all sides of the beef with salt and pepper. Place the oil in the Instant Pot. Press sauté.

Once the oil is shimmering, add the beef. Sear each side of the beef for about 5 minutes.

Add the onions, garlic, cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaf, peppercorns, star anise, and dried mushrooms to the pot as well. Continue to sear the beef for 5 more minutes while stirring the vegetables and herbs around. Press cancel and then remove the beef, transferring it to a nearby plate. Tent with foil and let rest.

Pour the water and stock into the pot and add the salt. Stir to combine.

Secure the lid with the steam vent in the sealed position. Press pressure cook until the display light is beneath high pressure. Use the plus and minus buttons to adjust the time until the display reads “20 minutes.” When the timer sounds, quick release the pressure.

Remove the lid. Use a fine-mesh strainer with a handle to remove the onions, garlic, mushrooms, and spices from the broth.

Discard the onions, garlic, and spices, reserving the mushrooms. Add the mushrooms back to the pot.

Press sauté and wait a minute or two until the stock starts to bubble. Add the noodles and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender.

Ladle the broth into bowls. Use tongs to transfer the noodles to the bowls. Top with slices of beef, red cabbage, bean sprouts, sliced red onion, hot sauce, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and sliced jalapeño.