Chinese Beef With Anise Hyssop Food

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 STYLE BEEF IN A STAR ANISE AND SOY MARINADE

Steps:

• Place all of the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add the steak and mix to cover with the marinade. Leave to marinade for an hour.
• Heat the oil in a hot wok. Add the beef and the marinade and fry for 3-4 minutes until the meat is browned. Drain off any excess liquid from the beef that may arise from the cooking process.
• Add any vegetables you might wish to create a stir fry.

CHINESE BEEF WITH ANISE HYSSOP

Steps:

• Combine flank steak with chopped herb, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sherry.
• Marinate for several hours.
• Remove meat from marinade, reserving any remaining sauce.
• Heat wok or large skillet, add oil and stir-fry meat quickly over medium-high heat till brown.
• Add chicken broth and remaining marinade and heat through.
• Stir in cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring till thickened.

BEEF STEW WITH STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Pour the stock into a large, heavy pan. Add the beef, garlic, chopped coriander roots, cinnamon sticks, star anise, soy sauce, fish sauce and sugar. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Skim off any form that rises to the surface of the liquid with a slotted spoon.
• Meanwhile, divide the bean sprouts among four individual serving bowls. Remove and discard the cinnamon sticks and star anise from the stew with a slotted spoon.
• Ladle the stew over the bean sprouts, garnish with the chopped scallions and chopped fresh coriander (cilantro) and serve immediately.

ANISE BEEF

Steps:

• Trim as much fat as possible from the beef.
• If using a nonstick pan, no oil is necessary. Otherwise, heat oil in skillet. Add beef to hot pan and brown on all sides.
• Reduce heat to low and add soy sauce, 3 tablespoons water, sherry, star anise and five-spice powder. Cover and gently simmer meat until it is tender, about two hours, cooking for one hour on one side, and turning to cook after the first hour on the second side. Depending on the amount of fat, it will take 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to cook.
• When meat is tender, remove from pan and cool. Add the remaining 1 cup water to the pan, and heat the juices to serve over meat.
• Serve meat at room temperature or chilled.

SPICY AND TINGLY BEEF

Steps:

• Place the meat in a large pot and cover with cold water by about 2 inches; bring to a boil. Let boil for 3 minutes, then turn off the heat, drain the water and transfer the meat to a cutting board. When it's cool enough to handle, cut the meat into approximately 1-inch cubes.
• In the same pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium. Add the onion, scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise and dried red chiles, and sauté for about 30 seconds. Reduce heat slightly, and stir in Pixian sauce, letting it cook until the red oil rises. Add the beef, cooking wine, soy sauce and 2 cups water.
• Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high. Once the mixture is boiling, reduce heat to low so the liquid holds at a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer for another 30 minutes, until meat is tender and the sauce is reduced. If the pan starts to dry out, exposing the meat, add a splash of water as needed.
• Once the meat is cooked, add the tomato, Sichuan peppercorn powder and chile powder, and stir to combine. Turn off the heat, and cover for about 5 minutes so the flavors can meld. Serve over warm rice or noodles, and finish with a drizzle of Sichuan chile crisp.

CHINESE BRAISED BEEF WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Heat a little of the oil in a large flameproof dish. Add the beef chunks, in batches, and fry until browned. When each batch is browned, transfer the beef to another dish. Very roughly chop the onions, ginger, garlic and coriander stalks. Put in a food processor and whizz to a paste.
• Wipe any oil out of the dish you browned the beef in. Add the paste with a good splash of water and gently fry, scraping up any beef bits, until the paste is fragrant and softened (add more water if the paste sticks). Stir in the five-spice, star anise and peppercorns, cook for 1 min, then add the sugar, soy sauces and tomato purée. Return the beef and any juices to the dish, then stir in enough stock to just about cover. Bring to a gentle simmer. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Cover the dish, put in the oven and cook for 21⁄2 hrs until the beef is really tender.
• Lift the beef out of the sauce into a dish, to keep warm. Boil the sauce until reduced by about half and thickened. Meanwhile, fry the ginger in the oil until golden and crispy. Return the beef to the sauce. serve the beef spooned over rice and scattered with the crispy ginger.