As temperatures drop, a hearty beef stew is the perfect comfort food to warm up your body and soul. This Instant Pot beef stew recipe has a secret ingredient that adds depth of flavor and nutrition to the dish. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:
– 2 pounds stew beef
– 1 onion, chopped
– 3 carrots, chopped
– 3 celery stalks, chopped
– 3 garlic cloves, minced
– 2 tablespoons tomato paste
– 1 can diced tomatoes
– 4 cups beef broth
– 1 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1 teaspoon paprika
– 1 bay leaf
– 1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions:
1. Turn on the Instant Pot and select the sauté function. Add the olive oil and brown the beef on all sides. Remove the beef and set it aside.
2. In the same pot, sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until they are softened.
3. Add the tomato paste, canned tomatoes, beef broth, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, and sweet potato to the pot. Stir well.
4. Return the beef to the pot and stir again. Close the Instant Pot lid and seal the valve.
5. Select the stew function and set the timer for 35 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to build pressure before the timer starts. Once the timer goes off, release the pressure manually.
6. Open the lid and remove the bay leaf. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe makes about 6 servings, and it can be served with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

The secret ingredient in this beef stew recipe is the sweet potato. Not only does it add sweetness and texture to the dish, but it also provides plenty of nutrients. Sweet potatoes are a nutritious root vegetable that are high in fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium, and beta-carotene. Adding sweet potatoes to your beef stew is a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet and boost your overall health.

To summarize, here are the key points of this Instant Pot beef stew recipe:
– Browning the beef before cooking enhances the flavor of the final dish.
– Onion, carrots, celery, and garlic are aromatic vegetables that are used as the base for many stews.
– Tomato paste, canned tomatoes, and beef broth are common ingredients in beef stew that add depth of flavor and moisture to the dish.
– Sweet potato is a secret ingredient that adds nutrition and sweetness to the stew.
– The Instant Pot is a convenient and efficient cooking tool that saves time and energy.
– This beef stew recipe yields 6 servings and can be served with bread or mashed potatoes.