Braised Beef with Bamboo Shoots (Chengdu-Sichuan)

Ingredients:

3 1/2 oz (100g) young bamboo shoots, fresh or canned
1/2 oz (15g) rock sugar (or substitute)
2 1/4 lb. (1 kg ) lean boneless beef
4 tbsp (60 ml) vegetable oli
2 tsp. ginger, sliced
2 tbsp. salted fermented soybean
2 tsp. scallions, chopped
2 tsp. salt
10 whole Sichuan peppercorns
3 1/2 tbsp rice wine
1 star anise

Directions:

1. Soak the bamboo shoots in cold water and cut into small pieces. Blanch quickly in boiling water, drain, and rinse in cold water. Set aside.

2. Cut the beef into 1 inch (3 cm ) chunks and place in a pot with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil and skim off the foam. Then add the ginger, scallion, peppercorns, and star anise. Bring back to a boil and add the sugar. Stir until it dissolves. Turn the heat to low and simmer.

3. While the beef is cooking heat the oil until the surface ripples. Add the soybean paste and stir-fry until it turns slightly red. Add to the beef. When the beef has cooked for about one hour, add the salt, rice wine and the bamboo shoots. Stew the beef another hour until it is very tender, and serve.

thanks for sharing.................