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Bò Kho (Beef Stew)

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g beef shank (1 lb, but into 1.5cm thick pieces)
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 4 garlic cloves (peeled and sliced)
  • 2 small onions (one chopped loosely, one sliced thin)
  • 2 Tbsps Shaoxing/Shao Hsing cooking wine
  • 10 cm piece of ginger (peeled and cut into thick pieces)
  • 5 Tbsps tomato paste
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 4 whole star anise
  • 4 cm cinnamon stick
  • 1 lemongrass stalk (lightly pounded and cut into 1" pieces)
  • 6 cups beef stock (low sodium or unsalted)
  • 2 large carrots (peeled and cut in large pieces)
  • 2 large potatoes (peeled and cut in large pieces)
  • 2 Tbsps fish sauce
  • Fresh basil (for serving)
  • Fresh cilantro (for serving)
  • Fresh lime wedges (for serving)
  • 4 bánh mì (Vietnamese baguettes) (for serving)

Instructions
 

  • Melt the butter in Instant Pot on "Sauté" setting, add pieces of beef shank in batches, browning the pieces, then setting aside. Add garlic and the one onion cut in large pieces, stirring to cook until browned and onion softens. Add Shaoxing and stir. Make a packet using a piece of cheesecloth, and wrap the bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon stick, and lemongrass pieces, tying tightly. Add packet to the pot with the ginger, tomato paste, and stock. Stir well until tomato paste has mostly dissolved. Add carrots and potatoes and place the meat back in the pot, ensuring it is covered in liquid. Close Instant Pot, sealed on "Meat/Stew" setting and cook for 50 minutes. Release pressure, add fish sauce, stirring well. Ladle into bowls and serve with thinly sliced onion, basil, cilantro, lime pieces and baguette.
Keyword Beef, Beef Shank, Soup, Stew, Vietnamese