While reviewing an excellent cookbook, The Reluctant Entertainer's Big Boards and More: 100 Mix-and-Match Recipes to Make Any Gathering Great, I ran across a recipe for a pasta sauce that was intriguing and unique; it is a recipe from an Italian restaurant located in Portland, Oregon and the actual recipe is quite time consuming, and requires several hours in the oven before the final preparation. I adapted the recipe with a few changes to be made quicker in the Instant pot, and my recipe for Instant Pot Sugo di Carne, takes roughly an hour to make, depending on how long it takes your Instant Pot to get up to pressure.

Make sure you have some freshly baked crusty bread to soak up the luscious sauce, and a good Italian tossed salad for a complete Italian meal.

12 Servings

1/2 cup butter, divided
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 to 3 pounds beef bottom round, trimmed of fat and cut into 2" cubes
2 tablespoons granular beef bouillon

1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 large red onions, quartered and sliced
3 cups dry red wine
2 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 cup espresso, or strong coffee
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds penne pasta, or rigatoni
Parmesan cheese
fresh parsley, for garnish

1. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and the vegetable oil in the pan of an Instant Pot set on the sauté setting. Add the beef cubes and brown, stirring often. When the cubes are brown, sprinkle with the granular beef bouillon.
2. Add the remaining butter (14 tablespoons), brown sugar, tomato paste, red onions, red wine, tomatoes, espresso, and salt and pepper.
3. Cover the pot, set the valve to sealing, and set the pot to manual for 45 minutes. When the cycle has finished, release the pressure.
4. Using a slotted spoon, remove the beef cubes to a cutting board to cool enough to handle.
5. Place the juices including the onion in a blender and blend until smooth to form a thickened sauce. Add back in to the Instant Pot.
6. Cut the beef cubes into bite-size pieces or shred, and add back into the sauce.
7. Taste for seasoning and heat on the sauté setting.
8. Cook the pasta until al dente; spoon the sauce over the pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and garnish with parsley.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 473 Calories from Fat 143
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 30% Protein 24% Carb. 45%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 16 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Cholesterol 132 mg
Sodium 469 mg
Total Carbohydrate 53 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 29 g

Vitamin A 17% Vitamin C 29% Calcium 0% Iron 31%