Braised star anise beef

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This slow cooked beef means you can make this with economical cuts of beef. It's very tasty and east to make.

Almost done

Still wet at the stewing stage

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons groundnut oil
• 450 g (1 lb) cubed stewing steak / chuck steak etc
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon water - more if required
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 whole star anise cloves

Method

1. Heat the oil in a wok and brown the beef on all sides
2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil, cover and reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. I prefer to cover the wok whilst simmering, or it does dry out.
3. Turn the meat over and add a little more water if the meat is drying out. Remove the cover now so it can reduce a little.
4. Simmer for a further 45 minutes
5. If it is too wet, just turn the heat up for a few minutes and reduce a little. I think this should be quite dry, as pictured.
6. Remove from the wok, discarding the star anise, keep warm and rest for 5 minutes

Serving suggestions

Serve with egg fried rice or even the pictured very special egg fried rice, which was a brilliant surprise and a meal in itself.

This would be good cold too, maybe with a salad.