Brazilian Beef Sirloin Tip Roast in the Instant Pot
Brazilian Beef Sirloin Tip Roast in the Instant Pot is a classic food in Brazil. Known for its delicious meat dishes, Brazil really delivers when it comes to beef roasts (carne de panela). Follow this delicious recipe for an authentic Brazilian meal.
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I still remember the first time I was introduced to Brazilian carne de panela. It was a cold, wintry day in Southern Brazil, and my friend (who just so happened to also be my neighbor) invited me and my boys to share lunch with her family. Our husbands were gone on a trip, and we mamas had each other’s back.
For some reason, up to that point I had assumed that pot roast was a uniquely American/European thing. Little did I know!
Brazil is famous for its meat dishes, and it does them extremely well. It doesn’t disappoint when it comes to pot roast.
Today, I am going to share with you an authentic Brazilian sirloin tip pot roast recipe that you can make in your very own instant pot. Ready? Because it’s going to be yum!
WHAT IS SIRLOIN TIP STEAK? WHAT CAN YOU MAKE WITH SIRLOIN TIP MEAT?
Sirloin is (of course) beef and comes from the lower back region of a cow. If you are familiar with meat cuts, you might recognize the name “round primal,” which is where sirloin tip is found. Another way to locate this area is to simply say that it borders the lower leg/back. Because this body part is used for movement, it is usually lean and tough. And sirloin tips are often sold as ground beef, roasts, or marinated steaks. They require some extra loving to make them tender and juicy, but they are amazing meat when prepared well.
HOW DO BRAZILIANS COOK SIRLOIN TIP ROAST?
Traditionally, Brazilians use a pressure cooker to cook tender and juicy sirloin tip steak roasts. With the advent of the instant pot, the process of cooking Brazilian pot roast has become that much easier.
I have a terrifying fear of using a pressure cooker. Too many pictures of explosions have filled my eyes that I cannot go back to thinking everything will turn out fine if I put a pressure cooker on my stove. Thankfully, the instant pot is so much safer for amateurs (like me), and I have never had an issue using it in place of a traditional pressure cooker–including for Brazilian recipes.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SIRLOIN TIP ROAST IN THE INSTANT POT?
Cooking a a sirloin tip pot roast in the instant pot is super simple and beginner-friendly. Usually, instant pots come with pre-assigned meat cooking settings. On my instant pot (from Brazil), for example, there is a unique setting for carne. If you are making a rather large roast, then you might have to manually input the settings. However, if you are cooking sliced meat, then a meat cooking setting is most likely adequate to thoroughly cook the pot roast.
WHAT MEAT IS BEST FOR POT ROAST?
While this recipe calls for sirloin tip steak, it is also possible to make delicious pot roasts with other types of beef. Here is a list of some of the most common cuts of beef used in pot roast:
- Brisket
- Chuck roast
- Top round roast
- Ribeye roast
- Bottom round rump roast
- Tenderloin
- Shoulder steak
DOES PRESSURE COOKING TENDERIZE MEAT?
Yes, pressure cooking tenderizes meat, which makes it an especially good method of cooking tougher meat cuts. Pressure cooking speeds up the process of making pot roasts (a traditional way of cooking tough and lean beef).
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE BRAZILIAN SIRLOIN TIP ROAST IN THE INSTANT POT?
To make delicious Brazilian carne de panela, you will need:
- potatoes
- carrots
- garlic
- onion
- tomato paste (or crushed tomatoes)
- red wine vinegar
- sirloin tip steak, cut into bite-sized pieces
- bay leaf
- beef bouillon
- oil
- ground black pepper
- salt
- Worcestershire sauce
- thyme
SUPPLIES YOU NEED TO MAKE BRAZILIAN SIRLOIN TIP ROAST IN THE INSTANT POT
frying pan (if you prefer not to sear/braise the meat in the instant pot itself)
HOW TO MAKE AUTHENTIC BRAZILIAN SIRLOIN TIP ROAST IN THE INSTANT POT
Time needed:
- Prep the roast. For Brazilian carne de panela (sirloin tip roast), this includes slicing the meat into bite-sized pieces.
- Brown/sear the roast. You can do this in a frying pan or in the instant pot itself.
- Add seasonings, including red wine vinegar, garlic, and ground black pepper.
- Cut up the vegetables.
- Place the meat and vegetables together in the instant pot.
- Add a little water to the instant pot.
- Cook on the “meat” setting (about 25 minutes).
- Allow the pressure to release naturally from the instant pot.
- Serve hot.
TIPS FOR BRAZILIAN INSTANT POT SIRLOIN TIP ROAST
- Don’t over-salt. Because you can’t taste-test the meat while it is raw, wait to add extra salt until it is done cooking.
- Cut the roast against the grain. The grain is the direction of the muscle fibers. You can identify this by looking for lines in the meat and cutting the opposite way (for example, vertically if the muscle fiber is horizontal).
- Cut the meat before you even begin cooking it. This is the traditional Brazilian way to cook a sirloin tip roast, and it helps the sauce penetrate the meat.
- Let the instant pot release pressure and steam naturally. Don’t try to tamper with the pressure to make it release faster.
- If you want crispy and crunchy vegetables, cook them separately. Traditionally, Brazilians cook the meat and vegetables all together at the same time. However, if you don’t like your vegetables soft, you can wait to cook them until after the meat is done.
DO YOU HAVE TO SEAR MEAT BEFORE MAKING POT ROAST?
No, you are not required to sear meat before making a pot roast. However, there is a clear reason for braising meat before you use it in a roast: It adds flavor. The extra flavoring that you add while braising/searing meat is well worth the extra effort, in my opinion.
VEGETABLES FOR POT ROAST
Some of the most commonly used vegetables for pot roast include
- potatoes
- carrots
- onions
If you want to be adventurous with your vegetables and branch out, try adding some zucchini or squash to your pot roast.
HOW TO MAKE CRISPY VEGETABLES IN POT ROAST
To keep vegetables from becoming mushy and overcooked in a pot roast, you can cook them separately. This recipe follows the traditional Brazilian cooking method, which keeps all vegetables and meat together. However, you can achieve crispy vegetables by cooking them separately. Simply remove the meat from the instant pot once it is done cooking and then put the vegetables in the leftover juices and cook for about 5 minutes. Then release the pressure on the instant pot quickly so that the vegetables remain crispy.
HOW LONG TO COOK POT ROAST IN THE INSTANT POT PRESSURE COOKER
The time you will need to cook pot roast varies according to several factors. Here are some cooking times according to the state of the meat you are using:
- frozen meat — approximately 90 minutes
- whole steak — about 40 minutes
- sliced steak pieces — 25 minutes
CAN YOU OVERCOOK A ROAST IN THE INSTANT POT PRESSURE COOKER?
Yes, it is possible to overcook a pot roast (or any other kind of food, in fact) in an instant pot, just like any other cooking method. To avoid this, use an adequate amount of liquid but not too much (you don’t want to drown the meat and make it flavorless) and follow the directions in your instant pot’s settings and/or instruction manual for cooking roasts. Most instant pots should have similar settings for cooking meat. I usually cook a pot roast (with pre-sliced meat, as in this recipe) for 25 minutes. This keeps the roast tender and also fully cooks it.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU OVERCOOK POT ROAST
In the sad event that you overcook pot roast, you can try something to redeem the dry, chewy meat. Cut up the meat into smaller pieces and then return the roast to the instant pot and pressure cook it for a little longer. In this way, the meat can soak up more of the juices and flavors and–hopefully–tenderize again.
CAN YOU USE FROZEN BEEF FOR A POT ROAST?
Yes, you can. However, it will take longer to cook than if you thaw the meat ahead of time. In addition, bringing the beef to almost-room-temperature has other benefits, including allowing for braising and having a higher flavor quality than beef cooked while frozen. If you are able to thaw your meat ahead of time to make a pot roast, I highly recommend it.
CAN YOU MAKE SIRLOIN TIP ROAST AHEAD OF TIME?
I don’t advise making sirloin tip roast far ahead of the time you want to eat it. Cooking this roast in the instant pot is already easy and frees up your attention and time, and there is not much else you can do to make it ahead of time. However, you can try, if you wish. (See instructions below for how to make sirloin tip roast ahead of time.)
HOW TO MAKE SIRLOIN TIP ROAST AHEAD OF TIME
Making a sirloin tip roast ahead of time is tricky because the meat gets cold and toughens again. To avoid this, follow these directions:
- Simply brown the meat (rather than fully cooking it). Follow the directions in the recipe for this.
- Slice the vegetables.
- Mix together the ingredients for the sauce.
- Store the meat, vegetables, and sauce in the refrigerator. You can store all the ingredients together, if you wish, as a type of marinade.
- Remove the meat from the refrigerator and let it warm up to almost room temperature before you cook the sirloin tip roast.
WHAT TO EAT WITH SIRLOIN TIP POT ROAST
The most traditional food to eat with pot roast is, of course, mashed potatoes. Other great sides for a delicious pot roast meal include dinner rolls, salad, and lemonade. If you’re wanting to create a completely Brazilian meal, check out homemade Brazilian bread, Brazilian Pudim (Flan Dessert / Baked Pudding), and Brazilian Avocado Smoothie: Vitamina.
HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER BEEF SIRLOIN TIP POT ROAST MADE IN THE INSTANT POT
If you have leftovers of this Brazilian beef sirloin tip pot roast, you can easily store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Pour both the juices and the meat + vegetables into an airtight container with a lid. Make sure that the meat is fully covered by the juices so that it does not dry out. The vegetables will gradually disintegrate and become mushy. However, the flavors might enhance a bit in the meat itself as the meat continues to soak in the sauce and seasonings.
HOW TO FREEZE LEFTOVER BEEF SIRLOIN TIP POT ROAST MADE IN THE INSTANT POT
You can safely store a cooked pot roast in the freezer. Store the pot roast in an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer bag. To keep the roast from getting freezer burn and drying out, pour the gravy/sauce over the meat. Time recommendations for the safe freezing of pot roast vary, but a safe amount of time to assume is three months.
HOW TO REHEAT POT ROAST LEFTOVERS
How to reheat frozen pot roast leftovers:
- Loosen the pot roast from its freezer container by placing it under warm water.
- Put the pot roast in a greased oven dish.
- Cover the pot roast with aluminum foil or a dish lid.
- Heat at 350F (180C) until heated through, about 45-60 minutes. Add more water/liquid as needed throughout the baking time.
How to reheat refrigerated pot roast leftovers:
- Put the pot roast in a greased oven-safe dish.
- Cover the pot roast with aluminum foil or a dish lid.
- Heat at 350F (180C) until heated through, about 45-60 minutes. Add more water/liquid as needed throughout the baking time.
HOW TO USE LEFTOVER SIRLOIN TIP POT ROAST MEAT
Here are some ideas for re-creating leftover pot roast meat into new dishes:
- tamales
- quesadillas
- fajitas
- meat-topped salad
- sandwiches
- sloppy joes
HOW TO EAT BRAZILIAN POT ROAST
You don’t need me to explain this one to you. Your natural gut instincts will serve you well when you smell the flavors of this carne de panela.
Bom apetite!
Brazilian Beef Sirloin Tip Roast in the Instant Pot
Equipment
- 1 instant pot (electric pressure cooker)
- 1 frying pan (if you are not braising/searing the meat in the instant pot itself)
- cutting board
- good knife
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced onion, cut in rings/wedges
- 1 tomato, minced (about 1 cup) – or – 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup minced green onion
- 2 medium carrots, chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 1 cup)
- 2 medium potatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 1 1/2 cups)
For the Sirloin Tip Roast:
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups beef sirloin tip, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cube beef bouillon
- 1 Tbsp dried thyme
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar – or – red wine
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- salt, to taste (for seasoning after cooking)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a frying pan or high heat or in the instant pot itself (on the saute setting).
- Add the sliced meat and bouillon, red wine vinegar, ground black pepper, garlic, and thyme. Stir.
- Cook (turning the meat over onto all sides) until every side is seared/braised and looks slightly cooked, stirring often.
- Chop up all the vegetables and place them in the instant pot, with the meat underneath. (If you want crispy vegetables, see the note.)
- Add the bay leaves, water, and salt and stir well.
- Change the instant pot setting to "meat" or manually input 25 minutes on normal pressure.
- Let the beef sirloin tip roast cook in the instant pot. When finished, allow the pressure from the instant pot pressure cooker to release naturally.
- Remove the bay leaves and serve hot.
Notes
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