Korean Beef Stock Food

KOREAN BEEF NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the brisket into two or more pieces against the grain, so that the grain is about 2 inches in length. Season with salt and pepper and mix with the garlic, soy, and sugar. Turn to coat all sides.
• Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and add the oils. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 7 minutes.
• Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until aromatic, stirring frequently. Add the brisket, water, the anchovies, kombu, and scallion whites. Bring to a boil, then turn to a simmer until the brisket is fork tender, about 3½ hours, adding water as necessary to keep the meat submerged.
• Remove the meat and shred into bite-sized pieces. Remove and discard the kombu. For the broth, add the fish sauce and soy sauce to the cooking liquid. Taste and add more sugar, salt and pepper as needed. Add the daikon and bring back to a boil. Add the zucchini and bring back to a boil.
• In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil; add enough salt to make the water as "salty as seawater." Add udon noodles to reheat according to package instructions. Divide the udon among 4 soup bowls; then top with the shredded meat, broth, and cooked vegetables. Garnish with scallion greens and serve immediately.

KOREAN BEEF STOCK

Steps:

• Put the beef in a stockpot and add the water. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim the scum that rises, and then add the garlic, ginger, onion, scallions, salt, and peppercorns. Lower the heat to gently simmer for about 2 hours, or until the stock has reduced by about a quarter. Throughout the simmering time, skim off the scum and fat as they gather on the surface.
• Remove from the heat. Use tongs to remove the beef from the pot, reserving it for another use (see the Note below). There are usually few impurities in this stock so there is no need to let it stand undisturbed before straining. Position a fine-mesh sieve (or a coarse-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or paper towel) over a large saucepan. Gently ladle the stock through the sieve. Tilt the stockpot to ladle out as much clear stock as possible, discarding any sediment-laden liquid and any remaining bits at the bottom of the pot.
• Taste the stock. If it is not as flavorful as you would like, simmer it to reduce the liquid and concentrate the flavors. Once you are satisfied with the flavor, let the stock cool completely, cover, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or until the fat solidifies on the surface. Remove and discard the fat. The stock is now ready to use. Or, store in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• notes
• The left over meat is not fully tender by the time the stock is done, so you'll need to repurpose it. I often use it for a homey Chinese dish called 1-2-3-4-5 beef.
• In a saucepan, combine 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry, 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons sugar, 4 tablespoons soy sauce, and 5 tablespoons water. Stir to dissolve and adjust the flavors for a tangy-sweet-savory balance. Add the meat and additional water to cover. Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the beef is tender. Then raise the heat to vigorously simmer for about 15 minutes to reduce the liquid by about half. Remove from the heat and serve with rice. Scallion, ginger, and star anise can be added during simmering for extra flavor notes.