Braised Anise Beef I Recipes

ANISE BEEF

Steps:

• 1. Use a cleaver to cut beef into 1-inch cubes. Place star anise and peppercorns on a 3-inch square of cheesecloth. Bring corners together and tie with kitchen twine.
• 2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over high heat for 1 minute. Stir fry garlic and ginger until garlic is golden, 30 seconds.
• 3. Add beef cubes. Stir fry until lightly browned about 2-3 minutes.
• 4. Add cheesecloth bag, wine, soy sauce, sugar and dried orange peel; mix well. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Add 2/3 cup water.
• 5. Reduce heat to low and cook 1 1/2 hours. Add carrot and continue cooking 45 minutes or until beef is very tender and carrot is cooked.
• 6. Remove cheesecloth bag and discard. Serve stew hot over rice.

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.

BRAISED BRISKET WITH PLUMS, STAR ANISE AND PORT

Steps:

• Season brisket all over with salt and pepper. Place it in a large container and cover with garlic and half the thyme sprigs. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours. Let meat stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. Wipe off garlic and thyme.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. On the stovetop, place a very large Dutch oven over high heat. Add oil. Place brisket in pot and cook, without moving, until browned, about 7 minutes per side. (Cut meat into two chunks and sear in batches if it doesn't fit in a single layer.) Transfer to a plate.
• Add onions to pot and reduce heat to medium-high. Cook onions, tossing occasionally, until golden brown around the edges and very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Pour in port and wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in star anise, bay leaves and remaining thyme. Scatter half the plums over the bottom of the pot and nestle brisket on top. Scatter remaining plums over meat. Cover pot and transfer to oven. Cook, turning every 30 minutes, until meat is completely fork tender, about 5 hours. After 4 hours, uncover the pot so some of the liquid can evaporate and sauce can thicken.
• If you have time, let brisket cool completely in the pot, then refrigerate, covered, overnight. (This makes it easier to remove the fat from the top with a slotted spoon.) Reheat meat in a 300-degree oven for about 45 minutes before serving, if necessary. If sauce seems thin, remove meat from the pot and bring liquid to a simmer. Let cook until it's reduced to taste. Slice meat and serve with the plum sauce, garnished with thyme leaves if you like.

BRAISED ANISE BEEF I

Steps:

• 1. Leave beef whole. Crush garlic. 2. Heat oil in a heavy pan. Brown beef quickly on all sides. 3. Add garlic, soy sauce, water, salt, sherry, pepper and star anise, and heat. Simmer, covered, 1 hour. (Use an asbestos pad so meat won't burn.) 4. Turn meat. Add sugar and simmer slowly 1 hour more. Serve hot or cold. NOTE: If the meat gets too dry during cooking, add 1 tablespoon water mixed with 1 tablespoon soy sauce. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.