Ox cheeks are a cut best braised (first fried and then slow cooked for hours) or fantastic pressure cooked, so easy in the Instant Pot. The meat becomes melt-in-the-mouth tender. Instant Pot Ox Cheeks in Stout are delicious.
Where can I find Ox Cheeks?
You will find ox cheeks in your local good butcher, Waitrose also has them. You can also use beef cheeks.
What are ox cheeks like?
This was my first try with ox cheeks and I have to say: do not try to slice or dice them (it's mission impossible). Leave them whole. They are very sinewy raw but that all disintegrates when pressure cooking, leaving you with fork-tender meat.
Tip
Porcini and, in general, dried mushrooms can be quite expensive. I got mine from Grape Tree in town. I think a 40 g bag was £1. If you have one nearby it's worth going in for the raw cashews and the big buckets of herbs and spices, which tend to be 3 for 2.
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Ready for the recipe? I know Alli is. Here you go Alli, I'm not keeping you waiting any longer.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Ox Cheeks in Stout
Equipment
- Instant Pot or pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 onions small - medium, chopped
- 1 stalk celery chopped quite small
- 3 carrots cut in biggish pieces
- 830 g ox cheeks Waitrose, it was two cheeks and I attempted to dice one, left one whole, I wouldn't bother dicing next time. You can of course buy more to cook this.
- Salt
- Milled black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 500 ml Guinness or stout
- 1 Knorr Beef Stock Pot
- 1 bay leaf
- 40 g porcini or mixed dried mushrooms
Instructions
- Press Sauté and add about 1 teaspoon of olive oil, when it's starting to warm up (don't wait until it says HOT), add the chopped onions, celery and carrots and stir. Let sauté for about 5 minutes.1 teaspoon olive oil, 3 onions, 1 stalk celery, 3 carrots
- Add the ox cheeks, about a teaspoon of salt and a good few twists of the black pepper mill, let the meat get some colour (about 3-5 minutes) stirring every once in a while.830 g ox cheeks, Salt, Milled black pepper
- Add the paprika and turmeric powder followed by a bit of the Guinness. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon with the help of the Guinness.1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Add the rest of the Guinness, the beef stock pot, the bay leaf, porcini, stir well.1 500 ml Guinness, 1 Knorr Beef Stock Pot, 1 bay leaf, 40 g porcini or mixed dried mushrooms
- Lock the lid in. Steam set to Sealing. Pressure cook on high for 65 minutes. Let it do a natural release at the end, i.e. don't do anything until the float valve pops back down and the lid is safe to open (if this hasn't happened after 15 minutes and you're super hungry, feel free to release the rest of the steam).
- At the end, remove the lid, press Sauté and let it bubble with the lid off until the sauce has thickened / reduced, you could add a thickener but I don't find it needs it.
Video
Notes
Other recipes you'll love
The comfort of Beef Stew with Dumplings, Beef Barley Soup, Beef with Mexican Spices, ITurkey Stew.
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Wendy Burdon says
This recipe is an absolute winner!! The ox cheeks are so tender you can cut them with a spoon!!! Proper comfort food!!
Richenda says
You can get ox cheeks in Morrisons too. If you have a sharp knife they are easy to cube and only need 45mins to cook plus npr.
I love your recipes almost as much as I love my instant pot!
Chris says
This is one if our favourite instant pot recipes! It's delicious!