Chinese Beef Recipes - Braised Beef with  Mushrooms Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 kg/2 lb topside of beef

• salt and freshly ground pepper

• 60 ml/4 tbsp soy sauce

• 30 ml/2 tbsp hoisin sauce

• 30 ml/2 tbsp honey

• 30 ml/2 tbsp wine vinegar

• 5 ml/1 tsp freshly ground pepper

• 5 ml/1 tsp aniseed, ground

• 5 ml/1 tsp ground coriander

• 6 dried Chinese mushrooms

• 60 ml/4 tbsp groundnut (peanut) oil

• 5 ml/2 tsp corn-flour (cornstarch)

• 15 ml/1 tbsp water

• 400 g/14 oz canned tomatoes

• 6 spring onions (scallions), cut into strips

• 2 carrots, grated

• 30 ml/2 tbsp plum sauce

• 60 ml/4 tbsp chopped chives

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Method:

1. Pierce the beef several times with a fork. Season with salt and pepper and place in a bowl.

2. Mix the sauces, honey, wine vinegar, pepper and spices, pour over the meat. cover and leave to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

3. Soak the mushrooms in warm water for 30 minutes then drain. Discard the stalks and slice the caps. Heat the oil and fry the meat until well browned, turning frequently.

4. Mix the corn-flour and water and add it to the pan with the tomatoes. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours until tender.

5. Add the spring onions and carrots and continue to simmer for 10 minutes until the carrots are tender. Stir in the plum sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.

6. Remove the meat from the sauce and cut it into thick slices. Return it to the sauce to heat through then serve sprinkled with chives.