Pressure Cooker Nikujaga

Nikujaga is a staple dish to many Japanese. Nikujaga always includes meat and potatoes.

Usually potatoes and thinly sliced beef or pork are simmered in dashi based soup, seasoned with the standard Japanese condiments – soy sauce, sake, mirin (and sometimes sugar).Besides meat and potatoes, there are onion and carrot.  These four ingredients are almost always in any variety of Nikujaga.

Author: Namiko Chen

Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 10 green beans
• 1 large onion
• 1 large carrot
• 2 medium potatoes
• 1 package (7 oz/198 g) shirataki noodles
• ½ lb. (230 g) thinly sliced beef (chuck or rib eye steak)
• 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) vegetable oil
• Pinch kosher salt

Seasonings

• 1 Tbsp. (13 g) sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) dashi (recipe here)
• 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) mirin
• 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) sake
• 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) soy sauce

Equipment you will need:

• Pressure cooker (I use Instant Pot)
  

Instructions

1. Cut the green beans in half or thirds, and bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.
   
2. Blanch the green beans for a few minutes until tender. Drain and set aside.
   
3. Cut the onion into wedges then cut them in half.
   
4. Peel and cut the carrot into rolling wedges (We call this cutting technique “Rangiri”).
   
5. Peel and cut the potatoes into quarters and soak them in water to remove starch.
   
   
6. Open the shirataki noodle package and drain the liquid. Cut the shirataki noodles into thirds (or shorter length).
   
7. Cut the thinly sliced meat into smaller pieces.
   
8. Press the “Sauté” button on your Instant Pot and heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil.
   
9. When the pot is hot, saute the onion. When the onion is coated with oil, add the meat and stir all together.
   
10. Add the potatoes and carrots. And add the shirataki noodles.
    
11. Add 1 Tbsp. sugar, 1 cup (240 ml) dashi, 3 Tbsp. mirin, 2 Tbsp. sake, and 3 Tbsp. soy sauce.
    
12. Cover and lock the lid. Make sure the steam release handle points at “sealing” and not “venting”. Press the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button on the Instant Pot to stop sauté. Press the “meat/Stew” button to switch to the pressure cooking mode. Press “minus” button to change the cooking time to 15 minutes.
    
13. If you’re using a stove-top pressure cooker, you won’t have the buttons to press. Just cook on high heat until high pressure is reached. Then reduce the heat to low but maintain high pressure for about 15 minutes.
14. When it is finished cooking, the Instant Pot will switch automatically to a “Keep Warm” mode. Slide the steam release handle to the "Venting" position to let out steam until the float valve drops down, OR let the pressure release naturally (takes about 15 mins).
15. Unlock the lid and taste the Nikujaga. If necessary, season with kosher salt. Toss in blanched green beans to heat up a little, and transfer to a serving dish.
    

http://www.justonecookbook.com/pressure-cooker-nikujaga/