*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                      SZECHUAN (SICHUAN) BEEF STEW

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Beef                             Chinese
               Asian

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  4                    Spring onions -- trimmed and
  1                    Fresh ginger (1" piece) -- after slicing thin
  3                    Pieces orange peel
  2      pounds        Flank steak -- halved
         it            by hitting it
  3                    Star anise
    1/4  cup           Softened lard or frying oil
                       -----SEASONING-----
  2      teaspoons     Garlic -- finely chopped
    1/2  cup           Light soy sauce
    1/3  cup           Rice wine or dry sherry
  1      tablespoon    Hot bean paste
  1      tablespoon    Chinese brown peppercorns
  2      tablespoons   Dark soy sauce
  2      tablespoons   Sweet bean paste
  2      teaspoons     Sugar

Cut the meat into 5 cm (2 inch) cubes and place in a deep pot with the spring onions, ginger, star anise, and the orange peel. Cover with water and bring to a boil, skim and then simmer for 2 hours, tightly cover- ed over low heat. Heat the lard and fry the seasoning ingredients for 1 minute, then pour into the pot and recover. Simmer 1 hour more or until meat is very ten- der.
Transfer meat to a serving dish and thicken the sauce with a paste of corn flour and cold water. Pour over the meat after discarding the onion, ginger, star anise and orange peel.

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