Chinese Five Spice Crusted Beef Recipes

CHINESE FIVE SPICE SIRLOIN

Steps:

• Mix the grapefruit, tomatoes, onion parsley, 1 1/ 2-ounce ginger, oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until needed.
• Remove all the fat from the sirloin and split the meat in half length-wise. Make an incision at one end of the "eye" and with steel, such as a skewer, make a tunnel hole through the meat without breaking the outer meat.
• Mix remaining ginger with basil and garlic. Using the scallions as plungers, push the basil mixture with the scallions into the center of the sirloin. Coat the outside of the meat with the five-spice powder.
• Roast the sirloin to the desired temperature. Slice the meat into thin even pieces and arrange on a plate beside the grapefruit salad.

CHINESE FIVE SPICE (MADE EASY)

Steps:

• NOTE: SOME FIVE-SPICE RECIPES WILL HAVE YOU TOAST THE WHOLE FENNEL AND STAR ANISE FIRST. YOU MAY DO THIS, BUT I GENERALLY PREFER NOT TO FOR A CLEAN, FRESH FLAVOR. HOWEVER, IF USING THE SPICE SPECIFICALLY FOR BARBECUED MEATS OR PHO SOUP, I RECOMMEND LIGHTLY TOASTING THEM FIRST IN A DRY SKILLET OVER MEDIUM HEAT FOR A SMOKY FLAVOR BEFORE THE FINAL GRINDING. YOU MAY SUBSTITUTE THE SZECHUAN PEPPERCORN WITH WHITE PEPPER, WHICH IS A POPULAR BLEND FOR USE IN CHINESE COOKERY. KEEP IN MIND -- "A LITTLE BIT OF FIVE SPICE POWDER GOES A LONG WAY". WHEN SEASONING FOODS, START WITH A SMALL AMOUNT, THEN ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
• MEASURE all ingredients into a clean spice mill or coffee grinder, whether whole or ground, using pre-ground cinnamon as the only exception: 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon cloves, 1 tablespoon fennel, 1 tablespoon star anise, 1 tablespoon Szechuan peppercorn.
• GRIND mixture in a clean spice mill or coffee grinder in 15-30 second increments, until mixture is finely powderized.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Use measure-for-measure in any recipe calling for Chinese Five Spice powder.

CHINESE FIVE SPICE

Steps:

• In a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, combine all ingredients (in batches if necessary); grind until mixture becomes a fine powder. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

CHINESE FIVE SPICE SPARE RIBS

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, white wine vinegar, sesame oil, honey, five-spice powder, garlic, and ginger in a large storage bag. Shake to mix well. Add ribs to marinade; refrigerate 4 to 8 hours, turning bag occasionally.
• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Remove ribs from marinade and place in a roasting pan; cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Cook ribs for one hour, turning occasionally. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove foil from pan and bake an additional 20 minutes, turning once, until ribs are nicely browned.

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.

CHINESE COLD SPICED BEEF

Steps:

• Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger and stir-fry about 30 seconds. Add beef shanks and brown briefly; stir-fry about 1 minute.
• Add rice wine, soy sauces, water, cinnamon, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 2 hours. Check and add liquid if needed.
• Stir in sugar. Simmer an additional 10 minutes or until beef is tender.
• Remove beef from wok. Cool; place in ziplock bag and refrigerate until chilled or freeze along with a little of the cooking liquid.
• To use after chilling: slice beef thinly; arrange attractively on a platter and garnish with cilantro, if desired.
• To use after freezing: thaw beef in refrigerator and drain off liquid. Continue as above.