Instant Pot Vietnamese Pork Stew
This easy Whole30-friendly Instant Pot Vietnamese Pork Stew is a streamlined version of the classic braised dish, thit ko tàu, caramelized pork belly cooked in coconut water. It’s one of my favorite umami-packed stews that can be made faster and easier in a pressure cooker!
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil avocado oil, or ghee
- ¼ cup thinly sliced shallots
- ¼ pound shiitake mushrooms stemmed and cut in half (or into quarters if large)
- 3 quarter-sized slices peeled fresh ginger
- 4 garlic cloves smashed and peeled
- 3 pounds pork shoulder cut into 2-inch cubes
- 1 cup coconut water
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce and more to taste
- 3 large carrots peeled and cut into ½-inch diagonal slices
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 3 scallions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Turn on the sauté function of the Instant Pot and add the coconut oil or your fat of choice when the metal insert is hot.
- Toss in the shallots and shiitake mushrooms, and cook until the shallots are softened and the mushrooms are cooked, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Stir in the ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the pork cubes and stir well.
- Pour in the coconut water and the fish sauce. (I normally use ¼ cup fish sauce, but if you’re new to fish sauce, start with 3 tablespoons.) Stir well, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Cancel the sauté function. Lock the lid of the Instant Pot and program it to cook for 40 minutes under high pressure.
- When the stew is finished cooking, allow the pressure to drop naturally. If you’re impatient, wait 15 minutes and then manually release the pressure.
- Check that the pork pieces are fork tender. (If it’s still a little tough, cook under high pressure for another 5 to 10 minutes.) Taste and adjust the seasoning of the sauce with more fish sauce or salt if needed. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to a serving platter. Cover to keep warm.
- Carefully add the cut carrots to the cooking liquid (watch out for hot splashing liquid!) and cook for 2 minutes under high pressure.
- Release pressure manually and remove the lid when the contents have depressurized.
- Spoon the carrots and cooking liquid onto the pork and garnish the stew with sliced scallion or cilantro.
Notes
What can you serve with it?
- Quick Asian Sugar Snap Peas – A fast and flavorful stir-fry with garlic, fish sauce, and lime juice for a fresh, crunchy contrast.
- Chinese Garlic Green Beans – Crisp-tender green beans tossed in a garlicky sauce that pairs beautifully with the lobster.
- Simple Cauliflower Rice – A grain-free alternative to classic fried rice, packed with veggies and umami-rich seasonings.
- Zoodles (Spiralized Zucchini Noodles) – A light, noodle-like option that soaks up the sauce without the carbs.
- Not paleo and craving simple carbs to sop up the delicious sauce? Serve the pork stew with steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles.
How to store leftovers
Leftovers can be kept in an airtight sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 3 months. It reheats beautifully so it's perfect for meal prep! If you only have a little stew left, toss it in an Instant Pot with extra broth and chopped up veggies to make soup!Nutrition
Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 34g | Fiber: 2g