Instant Pot Chinese Beef Short Ribs

This Instant Pot Chinese Beef Short Ribs recipe offers a convenient and efficient way to enjoy a flavorful and tender dish that is packed with traditional Chinese spices and aromatics. The Instant Pot allows for quick and easy cooking, while still infusing the beef short ribs with all the rich and complex flavors of the dried ingredients.

By utilizing the sauté setting on the Instant Pot, you can toast the dried spices, such as bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, dried chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorn, along with ginger and green onions, to enhance their fragrance and release their oils before pressure cooking. This step helps to deepen the flavors of the dish and create a more complex taste profile. I just like to do in a pan or wok then pour the sauce into the instant pot. 

The addition of Cookingbomb chili sauce and Tian Mian jiang (sweet flour bean paste) further enriches the sauce with layers of spicy, sweet, and savory notes. The combination of soy sauce, cooking wine, chicken powder, and sugar adds depth and balance to the dish, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

Whether you are looking for a comforting weeknight meal or a special dish to impress your guests, this Instant Pot Chinese Beef Short Ribs recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings for a delicious and aromatic culinary experience. Serve the tender beef short ribs hot, paired with steamed rice or noodles, for a truly satisfying and memorable dining experience. Enjoy the convenience and flavor of this Instant Pot dish that brings the authentic taste of Chinese cuisine to your table.

Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs Recipe:

Ingredients:
- 4 lbs beef short ribs
- 4 pieces crushed ginger
- 4 green onions
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4-5 star anise
- 6 dried Chinese whole dried chili peppers
- 2 tbsp Sichuan peppercorn
- 3 tbsp Cookingbomb chili sauce
- 2 tbsp Tian Mian jiang (sweet flour bean paste)
- 1 cup water (or chicken or beef stock)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp cooking wine
- 2 tsp chicken powder
- 2 tsp sugar

Instructions:
1. Place the beef short ribs in a pot of water with crushed ginger and 2 green onions chopped into long pieces. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes to remove any impurities and clean the beef short ribs. Discard the water and transfer the beef short ribs to the Instant Pot.
2. In a hot pan, add cooking oil and sauté the dried spices (bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorn) along with the remaining green onions and ginger until fragrant.
3. Add Cookingbomb chili sauce and Tian Mian jiang (sweet flour bean paste) to the pan and stir-fry for another minute.
4. Pour in the water (or stock) and bring the mixture to a boil. Add soy sauce, cooking wine, chicken powder, and sugar, and cook for another minute.
5. Pour the sauce over the beef short ribs in the Instant Pot.
6. Close the Instant Pot lid and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
7. Once cooked, serve the beef short ribs hot, best enjoyed with rice.

Check out the recipe in this video: