Beef Cubes for Stew/Maraka

You will need about 1 pound of beef of your choice for a pot of stew/maraka that serves about 6.  Any budget cut like chuck roast, English roast, bottom round roast, or even sirloin will do.  Sometimes the stores sell beef that is already cut up and call it stew beef which would be fine too.

Prepare the beef by trimming any fat and cutting into about 2 inch cubes.

Option 1 - Stove Top Instructions

• Add the beef to a small pot of boiling water with 1 teaspoon salt, making sure the water is a few inches over the beef.
  
• During the first 5 - 10 minutes, remove anything that floats to the top with a spoon.
  
• Reduce heat to low and cover.   
  
• Boil until tender enough to break apart with a spoon. Depending on your cut of beef, this can take an hour to an hour and half. 
  
• See pressure cooker (Instant Pot) instructions below if you want to speed up process.

Option 2 - Pressure cooker (Instant Pot) Instructions

• Add beef to Instant Pot or any other pressure cooker. 
  
• Add 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Use manual setting at high pressure for 40 minutes.  
  
• Use quick release and check if the meat is tender enough to to break apart with a spoon.  If it is not, pressure cook again for 5 minutes at a time.
• Rinse the beef to remove any residue.