Instapot Beef Stew

I love when I can come home on a busy day, throw a bunch of ingredients in the instapot and have dinner ready within the hour.  Recently we harvested some fresh beans, potatoes and carrots from the garden, so beef stew was a perfect fit.

1-2# stew meat
4 potatoes, quartered
5 carrots, cut into chunks
2 c. celery, cut into large pieces
1 onion, sliced into large pieces
2 c. chopped fresh green beans
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 small can tomato paste
4 c. beef broth
2 T. red wine or balsamic vinegar
1/2 star anise (optional)
1/3 c. flour
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. each of salt and pepper
1 t. onion powder
2 T. olive oil

Put the instapot on saute, add oil.  Mix flour, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, and onion powder.
Mix in the meat, coating, then add the meat to the instapot.  Brown for 5 minutes, then add the onion and garlic.  Saute another 2-3 minutes.  Stir in the tomato paste, wine, and broth. Mix well.  Add all the vegetables and star anise.  Put lid on instapot and cook on manual for 25 minutes.  Allow to cool naturally.  After removing lid, mix 3 T. cornstarch and 1/2 c. water, put instapot back onto saute and stir into the stew.  Continue stirring until broth thickens.