Chinese Beef Stew Recipes

CHINESE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Tough beef is most flavorful, but you must simmer it gently for several hours to soften the sinewy muscle. Slow braising also encourages an exchange of flavors between the meat and the tangy sauce, enhancing both. Chinese radish adds just the right bite, much as turnips would in a Western stew. In effect, this is Chinese beef stew. Game meats or goat meat may be substituted for the beef for a delicious and unusual variation. Oxtails can also be braised in this manner or even veal shanks. Almost any cut of meat or organ that requires extensive cooking does well if braised. The flavor-packed sauce keeps the meat flavorful throughout. Turnips or carrots may be substituted for the Chinese radish, and chestnuts have a strong, sweet taste that holds up well to braising. Make a diagonal slice, roll daikon ¼ turn and slice again. Continue rolling and cutting until done. The preferred cut is brisket of beef, a boneless piece of tough meat from the underside of the steer, because of its rich, gelatinous texture when cooked. It is sold in Chinese meat markets as Chinese stew beef. Any tough beef cut can be used, such as boneless chuck and bottom round. Trim away the outer layers of fat. Cut the meat into 1½ inch strips. Cut the strips into cubes. Brown the meat on all sides in a wok over a high flame in 3 tablespoons of oil, Set it aside. Add the remaining sauce ingredients. Bring them to a boil. Add the beef to the sauce, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the wok, and braise the beef for 2 hours. After 1½ hours, add the roll-cut radish. Cook for 30 minutes more, until both the beef and radish are tender. Serve the stew immediately.

CHINESE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Cube the boiled kamto to bite size pieces.
• Saute ginger in oil.
• Add in the cubed kamto.
• Pour 2 cups of the stock that you boiled the meat inches.
• Add the oyster sauce, salt, wine, soy, cinnamon bark and sesame oil.
• Let it simmer till flavors incorporate.
• Season to taste.
• Simmer till meat becomes very tender and the sauce is absorbed.
• Great with heaping hot rice!

SLOW-COOKER BEEF STEW WITH NOODLES

Steps:

• Put the beef in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker and season lightly with salt and pepper. Whisk the flour and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl until smooth, then whisk in the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, tomato paste, chili-garlic sauce and ginger. Pour into the slow cooker and turn the beef to coat. Add the star anise. Cover and cook on low until the beef is tender, 7 to 8 hours.
• Discard the star anise and transfer the meat to a plate. Shred into bite-size pieces, removing any large pieces of fat. Skim off any excess fat from the liquid in the slow cooker. Return the meat to the slow cooker and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook as the label directs; drain. Divide the noodles and beef stew among bowls. Top with the watercress, scallions, cilantro and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

CHINESE BEEF OR PORK STEW (RED COOKED MEAT)

Steps:

• *Staranise comes in the form of an eight point star.
• ,each point having an anise seed in it.
• Most of them are broken up so use a total of eight points, more or less, to taste.
• **Theorange (or tangerine) peel has a slightly bitter taste that I like better with beef but this is personal taste.
• It comes in plastic bags and has a long shelf life.
• Start by browning the meat in a few T of oil.
• Do it in batches so it gets well caramelized.
• When the last of the meat is well browned, remove it all to a bowl.
• (Add more oil as needed).
• Add the onion, garlic, ginger, anise, orange peel and chiles to the wok (or pot); keep cooking, stirring frequently, until the onion starts to brown.
• Stir in the meat along with the sauce, bring it to a full boil, stir well and reduce heat to simmer.
• Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour (pork) or 2 hours (beef).
• Adjust seasonings, add the vegetables and simmer, covered for another half hour.
• Before serving, remove all the pieces of ginger, star anise, orange peel, chile, etc.
• Serve with steamed rice or boiled noodles.

CHINESE-STYLE BRAISED BEEF ONE-POT

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large, shallow casserole. Fry the garlic, ginger, onions and chilli for 3 mins until soft and fragrant. Tip onto a plate. Toss the beef in the flour, add 1 tbsp more oil to the pan, then brown the meat in batches, adding the final tbsp oil if you need to. It should take about 5 mins to brown each batch properly.
• Add the five-spice and star anise (if using) to the pan, tip in the gingery mix, then fry for 1 min until the spices are fragrant. Add the sugar, then the beef and stir until combined. Keep the heat high, then splash in the wine or sherry, scraping up any meaty bits. Heat oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2.
• Pour in the soy and stock (it won't cover the meat completely), bring to a simmer, then tightly cover, transfer to the oven and cook for 1½-2 hrs, stirring the meat halfway through. The meat should be very soft, and any sinewy bits should have melted away. Season with more soy. This can now be chilled and frozen for up to 1 month.
• Nestle the cooked bok choi into the pan, then bring to the table with the basmati rice straight away and tuck in.