Braised Beef with Soybeans
A hearty Chinese comfort dish where melt-in-your-mouth beef is slowly braised with soaked soybeans until deeply flavorful and rich.
Story
This classic family dish brings together tender beef with nutty soybeans in a slow braise. The key is patience—letting everything simmer together until the flavors meld beautifully.
Ingredients
beef chuck
500g, cut into 3cm cubes
dried soybeans
150g
fried pork skin (zha pi)
2 sheets
ginger
3 slices
garlic
2 cloves, smashed
star anise
2 pieces
soy sauce
3 tablespoons
dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon
rock sugar
1 small piece
cooking wine
2 tablespoons
water
enough to cover ingredients
Instructions
1
Soak the soybeans
Place dried soybeans in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes until they plump up slightly.
2
Prepare the beef
Blanch the beef cubes in boiling water for 2-3 minutes to remove impurities. Drain and set aside.
3
Start the braise
Add beef, drained soybeans, fried pork skin, ginger, garlic, and star anise to a large pot or slow cooker. Pour in soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, and add the rock sugar. Cover with water.
4
Braise until tender
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low. Cover and simmer gently for about 2 hours until beef is fork-tender and soybeans are soft.
5
Finish and serve
Adjust seasoning to taste. The sauce should be rich and slightly thickened. Serve hot over steamed rice.
