Pressure Cooker Italian Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 2 lbs lean beef or veal, cut into cubes (or 1 pound of each)
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 lb white mushroom or baby portabella mushroom, cleaned and cut into quarters
• 3-4 tablespoons olive oil (or oil of choice)
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed italian plum tomatoes with liquid (or two 14 ounce cans of tomato sauce)
• 4-6 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces (about 1 lb)
• 5 large peeled potatoes, cut in half, then quarter each half
• 1 lb fresh green string bean, cleaned and cut into bite sized pieces (can use frozen, cut green beans)
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil, crushed (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed (optional)
• salt (to your taste)
• pepper (to your taste)
• 1 1/2-2 cups boiling water

Directions

1. 1

   I browned the meat with oil and onions in my PC, you can use a separate pan for browning if you prefer.

2. 2

   Add the mushrooms and garlic, and let cook until the mushrooms release their liquid.

3. 3

   Add the tomato sauce, wine, bay leaf and all seasonings EXCEPT salt.

4. 4

   Add a bit of water, maybe 1 1/2 to 2 cups (to bring ingredient level to just over 1/3 capacity of my PC).

5. 5

   Secure lid, bring to HIGH pressure and cook for 18-20 minutes.

6. 6

   Let pressure release NATURALLY (it took about 15-18 minutes in my PC).

7. 7

   Add potatoes and carrots, give all a good stir.

8. 8

   Secure lid again and bring to HIGH pressure, cook veggies for 4 minutes.

9. 9

   Quickly release pressure (with quick release valve) and test carrots & potatoes for doneness (they should still be a bit too firm).

10. 10

    Add the green beans and give all a good stir. Secure lid and bring the PC up to LOW pressure, and cook for 2 minutes.

11. 11

    Remove from stove, quick release pressure (with quick release valve), removed lid and give the stew a stir.

12. 12

    Carefully (very hot!) sample it, adjust seasonings to taste (I added a bit of salt).

13. 13

    If stew is too thick, add a bit of water to thin to desired consistency.

14. 14

    If stew is too thin, let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.