Unlock the secret to a rich, heartwarming Filipino classic with this Instant Pot Bulalo recipe. Bulalo, a beloved Filipino beef shank soup, is renowned for its tender meat, flavorful broth, and succulent bone marrow. Traditionally, achieving this perfect tenderness requires hours of simmering over a stovetop. However, with the magic of the Instant Pot, you can bring the authentic flavors of Southern Luzon’s traditional Bulalo to your table in a fraction of the time, without compromising on taste or texture.
Often referred to as Nilagang Beef Bulalo for its preparation style (Nilaga meaning “boiled meat and vegetables”), this soup is defined by the presence of beef shank and its precious marrow. If your soup features these key elements, you’re making Nilagang Beef Bulalo; if not, it’s simply Beef Nilaga. Regardless of its full name, one thing remains certain: it is undeniably delicious, a true comfort food perfect for any season, especially when the weather turns chilly.
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Mastering Filipino Bulalo in Your Instant Pot: A Time-Saving Guide
Why the Instant Pot is Your Best Friend for Authentic Bulalo
Filipino cuisine is a masterclass in culinary resourcefulness, ensuring that every part of an ingredient is utilized to its fullest potential. Beef shank, a cut from the leg, is naturally lean and tough due to the muscle’s constant work. To transform this robust cut into the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness characteristic of Bulalo, traditional recipes call for an extensive simmering period—often five hours or more. This long, slow cook breaks down the connective tissues, rendering the meat incredibly tender.
Beyond tenderizing the beef, this extended simmer offers another crucial benefit: it allows the rich bone marrow within the shanks to slowly dissolve into the cooking liquid. This process infuses the water with an unparalleled depth of flavor, transforming it into a wonderfully savory and nutrient-rich broth. All the collagen and natural fats from the beef shank contribute to a splendid, full-bodied soup that warms you from the inside out. It’s truly an ideal dish for crisp autumn evenings or whenever you crave a hearty, comforting meal.
While the traditional method promises rich flavors, it demands a significant time commitment. That’s where the Instant Pot revolutionizes the Bulalo experience. This modern electric pressure cooker significantly accelerates the cooking process, allowing you to achieve the same tender meat and deeply flavorful broth in a fraction of the time. If you’re new to the world of Instant Pots, think of them as an upgraded, user-friendly version of old-fashioned pressure cookers, designed for convenience and efficiency. Many resources are available to help you explore its capabilities, from comprehensive guides to practical videos.
Through the ingenious application of pressure cooking, the Instant Pot effectively breaks down the collagen and fat in beef shanks, tenderizing this typically tough cut in approximately half the traditional cooking time. The result is a savory, gelatinous broth and fork-tender beef that will impress even the most discerning Bulalo enthusiasts. The biggest hurdle you might encounter when preparing Instant Pot Bulalo is sourcing high-quality beef shanks, as they aren’t always a staple in every grocery store. If beef shanks prove elusive, look for other beef cuts with bones, as the bones are essential for developing the soup’s signature rich flavor. While it might be tempting to omit ingredients for speed, such as corn, for a quicker cooking time, we highly recommend including all components for the most authentic and satisfying Bulalo experience.
Crafting the perfect Bulalo involves careful timing, as the main components—beef shanks, corn on the cob, and cabbage—cook at different rates. The beef shanks, being the toughest, require the longest pressure cooking time, approximately 30 minutes. Corn on the cob cooks relatively quickly, needing only a few minutes under pressure. Cabbage, being delicate, is best cooked without pressure to maintain its texture and vibrant color. This staggered cooking approach ensures that each ingredient reaches its optimal tenderness and flavor: first the beef shanks, then the corn, and finally, the cabbage, gently cooked in the simmering broth.
The Essential Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Bulalo
Creating an authentic and delicious Instant Pot Bulalo requires a handful of simple yet potent ingredients. Let’s delve into what makes each component crucial to this Filipino comfort dish:
- Beef Shanks: These are the star of the show. Rich in bone marrow and connective tissue, beef shanks are responsible for the gelatinous texture and deep beefy flavor of the broth. The marrow, in particular, adds a creamy richness that is characteristic of Bulalo. If whole shanks with bone are hard to find, look for beef soup bones or even oxtail, though shanks are ideal.
- Beef Stew Meat (optional but recommended): Adding stew meat alongside the shanks can enhance the overall meatiness of the soup, providing more tender beef chunks to enjoy with every spoonful. It also contributes to a richer broth.
- Large Onion: A foundational aromatic in many cuisines, onion adds a subtle sweetness and depth to the broth as it simmers, balancing the richness of the beef.
- Whole Black Peppercorns: These provide a gentle, earthy spice that complements the beef without overpowering it. They are a classic pairing with beef in Filipino cooking.
- Salt: Essential for seasoning, salt brings out and enhances all the other flavors in the soup. You’ll adjust this to taste, especially after the initial pressure cooking.
- Corn on the Cob: Sweet and slightly starchy, corn adds a lovely textural contrast and a natural sweetness that brightens the soup’s profile. Cut into discs, it’s easy to serve and eat.
- Cabbage: This delicate vegetable provides a fresh, slightly bitter counterpoint to the rich broth and meat. Its tender texture when lightly cooked is a delightful addition. It’s crucial to add it at the very end to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Water: The base of your broth. Use enough to cover the ingredients and fill your Instant Pot appropriately, ensuring proper pressure buildup and broth volume.
Each ingredient plays a vital role in building the complex yet harmonious flavor profile of Bulalo, transforming simple components into a truly exceptional soup.
Serving Your Perfectly Cooked Instant Pot Beef Bulalo
Once your Beef Bulalo emerges from the Instant Pot, steaming and fragrant, it’s ready to be savored. Traditionally, this hearty soup is served with a classic Filipino dipping sauce: a vibrant mix of fish sauce (Patis) and Calamansi juice.
Fish sauce, or “Patis,” is a quintessential ingredient in Filipino and Southeast Asian cooking. Made from fish that are salted and fermented for up to two years, it delivers an intense burst of umami flavor. Its potency means it should be used judiciously, adding a savory depth that can’t be replicated. If Patis isn’t available, or if you’re hesitant to try it, soy sauce makes a suitable, albeit slightly different, substitute for that savory kick.
Calamansi, often referred to as a Calamondin or Philippine Lime, is a small, versatile citrus fruit native to the Philippines. It boasts a distinct sour flavor, which mellows and becomes less tart as the fruit ripens. A staple in Filipino culinary practices, Calamansi is widely used in marinades, as a condiment for grilled fish and meats, and even in refreshing beverages. If fresh Calamansi is out of reach, a combination of lime juice and lemon juice can provide a similar citrusy tang.
Now, it’s time to gather your loved ones and delight in this simple yet profoundly flavorful traditional Filipino dish, made effortlessly with your Instant Pot. The rich broth, tender beef, sweet corn, and crisp cabbage create a symphony of textures and tastes. Don’t forget to explore our other Filipino recipes for more culinary adventures, and feel free to share your favorite dishes you’d like to see simplified with modern cooking techniques!
Bulalo Recipe – Made Easy with the Instant Pot
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Equipment
- Instant Pot or other Electric Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb Beef Shanks
- 1 lb Beef Stew Meat
- 1 Large Onion
- ½ Head of Cabbage
- 1 tablespoon Whole Black Peppercorns
- 4 Ears Corn on the Cob
- 1-4 tablespoon Salt
- 6-8 Cups Water Just use enough to cover everything in the Instant Pot and reach just shy of the max fill line.
Instructions
- Cut the whole onion into quarters and remove the skins.
- Cut the cabbage into quarters and then rinse it well.
- Cut the corn cobs into 1 inch discs.
- Place the beef shanks, stew meat, onion, black pepper, and salt in the inner pot.
- Pour enough water to cover all of the ingredients and it reaches just shy of the max fill line.
- Make sure you have your all purpose sealing ring inside the lid of your instant pot.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, lock it and make sure the toggle is set on sealing.
- Press the manual button and select 30 minutes.
- Once the Instant Pot beeps let it sit for 10 minutes to do a natural release.
- After the 10 minutes has passed release the pressure and open the instant pot.
- Stir everything and give the soup a taste. This is where you can adjust the salt level.
- Add in the corn and replace and lock the lid. Make sure the toggle is on sealing.
- Press the manual button and select 10 minutes.
- Once the Instant Pot beeps immediately release the pressure and remove the lid.
- Press the cancel/off button and then put in the cabbage. It is a tight fit but the cabbage will cook down and shrink.
- Press the Saute button and select the more setting using the adjust button. This should take between 10 and 20 minutes.
- Alternatively you can put the cabbage in and then close the lid. Leave the unit on the Keep warm setting and the cabbage will soften up in around 30 minutes to an hour. I like to make the soup in the afternoon and then throw the cabbage in and leave it on warm until dinner time.
Video
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Nutrition
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If you’re still on the fence about using an Instant Pot or want to deepen your understanding of this versatile appliance, you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled an entire section dedicated to Instant Pot basics, providing valuable information, tips, and resources to help you master pressure cooking. From understanding its various functions to troubleshooting common issues, consider this your go-to guide for all things Instant Pot.
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Craving More Authentic Filipino Cuisine?
If your journey through Filipino flavors has just begun with this delightful Bulalo, you’re in for a treat! We encourage you to explore more of our easy-to-follow Filipino recipes, designed to bring the rich culinary heritage of the Philippines into your home. Next up, why not try our Pork Bistek Tagalog recipe? This savory dish, featuring thinly sliced pork cooked in a soy sauce-calamansi marinade and generously topped with caramelized onions, is another Filipino favorite that translates beautifully to the Instant Pot. It’s a must-try, especially if you have a love for onions!