「Soy-Marinated Beef Shank」

Ingredients and amounts

• 2000 g beef shank
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 slices ginger
• 适量 scallion (half a stalk)
• 15 ml dark soy sauce
• 1 piece cinnamon stick
• 7-8 rock sugar pieces
• 15 Sichuan peppercorns
• 30 ml cooking wine
• 15 ml light soy sauce
• 8 g salt
• 4 star anise
• 15 ml soybean paste

Step-by-step method

1. 1

   Step 1

   Wash the beef shank and soak in water for 1 hour to remove blood.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Poke holes in the beef shank with a toothpick or fork. Add cooking wine, Sichuan peppercorns, and ginger slices. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and marinate for 4-6 hours.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Cut the beef shank into pieces 8 cm long, not exceeding 10 cm.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Place the beef shank in a pot with cold water until submerged. Bring to a boil and skim off foam. After 3 minutes, remove from heat, take out the beef, and rinse with warm water.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Put the rinsed beef shank into a clay pot or stew pot. Add water to submerge. Bring to a boil over high heat, then add all remaining ingredients except salt.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Once boiling, reduce to low heat and cook for 90 minutes. Add salt.

7. 7

   Step 7

   After adding salt, continue on low heat for another 90 minutes. Check water level every 30 minutes; it should cover at least 80% of the beef.

8. 8

   Step 8

   After 180 minutes total cooking, remove the beef shank. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Remove from fridge, slice against the grain, and serve. Store any remaining beef shank unsliced in the refrigerator.