Instant Pot: Asian Beef Noodle Soup

It’s officially fall and I’ve been craving soup. Lots of soup. This Asian Beef Noodle Soup is one I made recently and it reminded me of the Vietnamese soup known as ‘pho.’ Hearty rice noodles swim in a flavorful beef broth with thin slices of beef and fresh cilantro, giving it the perfect Asian twist to a beef noodle soup…

The recipe below uses beef sirloin which is fairly easy to find at local supermarket chains. Another time, I made this with beef oxtails – a more unique cut of beef that you might be able to find or perhaps order from your butcher. I happen to enjoy oxtails and when I used it in this recipe in place of the sirloin, I found it had much more beef flavor. To use with oxtails, season about 3-4 pounds of oxtails with salt and pepper. 

Asian Beef Noodle Soup

recipe adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
serves 4

6 cups low sodium beef broth

2 tablespoons soy sauce or gluten free tamari
2 tablespoons mirin

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon Asian chili garlic sauce (or to taste depending on your preferred spice/heat level)

1 pound beef sirloin, thinly cut

8 oz of fresh or dry rice noodles, cooked or warmed per package directions

3 scallions, sliced thin

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced

4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

pinch of red pepper flakes for garnish (optional)

In your Instant Pot:

Plug in the IP with insert set in place.

Press MANUAL and add broth, soy sauce/tamari, mirin, ginger, and chili garlic sauce (if using) to the IP. 

Add the beef to the pot and stir.

Secure the lid of the IP and ensure the valve is set to SEALING.

Press MANUAL and adjust the time to 2 minutes on HIGH pressure.

The display will reflect ON while the IP comes to pressure. Allow a few minutes for your IP to come to pressure.

Once at pressure, the display will reflect 2 (the number of minutes you initially set) and will begin to countdown to 0 minutes.

When the IP beeps after pressure cooking for 2 minutes, turn the setting on top of your IP to VENTING. Doing so allows the IP to quickly release any remaining pressure (also known as QPR or QR). I use a wooden spoon to carefully turn the setting to avoid close contact with the potential steam. You may also want to turn your IP away from cabinets to allow the released steam to escape freely. The pin at the top of your IP will drop when all pressure has been released and it’s safe to open.

Open up your IP when the pin has dropped (allow a few minutes for this to happen).

Add noodles into the broth; cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Stir in the scallions and cilantro and serve in bowls. 

Garnish each bowl with additional fresh cilantro leaves and a drizzle of 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil. If you like things on the spicy side, sprinkle a few red pepper flakes for garnish too.