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Boiled beef tendon is a familiar dish in many households, it has a fragrant and tender taste, blending well with dipping sauce, loved by both young and old. However, this dish can also go wrong if you don't know the secrets during the cooking process. Let's explore how to boil beef tendon deliciously right here with Mytour!
1. Introduction to boiled beef tendon
Beef tendon is often highly regarded on drinking tables for its flavor and the 'you get what you want' texture, both tender and crispy. This is because beef tendon extends from the chest to the neck of the cow, near the shoulder. This part has little fat and lots of muscle due to frequent chewing and swallowing activities. We all know that cows also have the habit of chewing again and are very 'meticulous' in their meals. Therefore, it's no wonder that beef tendon is considered chewier than other cuts, endlessly enjoyable. So, if you don't know what delicious dish to make with beef tendon then don't miss out on this great suggestion.
Photo: Collected
Although beef tendon can be cooked into countless dishes that suit the taste of drinking enthusiasts like: stir-fried, hotpot dipping, grilling, sautéing, braising..., boiled beef tendon still remains the most mentioned. That's because of its easy preparation, bringing out the original flavor of the meat on the table, paired with a rich sauce that tantalizes the palate. Boiled beef tendon is truly a dish that even amateur chefs can impress their families with. So, don't overlook this article and make sure to note down the incredibly delicious way to boil beef tendon right below.
2. Incredibly Delicious and Simple Method to Boil Beef Tendon
To achieve the standard boiled beef tendon, the ingredients are crucial. Don't skip any ingredient as they are all readily available and will bring surprising gustatory effects to you.
Preparing Ingredients
- 500g Beef Tendon
- 500ml Pure Fish Sauce
- Lime Juice
- 3 Lemongrass Stalks, 1 Ginger Root, 1 Chili, 2 Garlic Cloves
- Salt, Seasoning Powder, Ground Pepper, ½ - 1 tablespoon of MSG per taste
- 5 tablespoons White Sugar
Steps to Boil Beef Tendon
Step 1: Preprocessing
To prevent boiled beef tendon from having an odor, rub salt or use alcohol, then rinse with clean water. Let the meat dry, then start marinating one side with 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of seasoning powder, and 1 tablespoon of pepper. You can wear gloves to evenly rub the seasoning on the meat, avoiding uneven seasoning. Next, roll the meat into a tight cylinder with the marinated side facing inwards. Make sure to roll tightly and use string to tie it firmly. Rolling the meat into a compact shape will make it more fragrant, firm, delicious, and visually appealing when boiled.
Photo: Collected
While waiting for the seasoning to penetrate the meat, prepare the remaining ingredients. Wash the ginger thoroughly, then finely chop it. Remove the tough outer layers of the lemongrass, wash it clean, and cut into 3-4cm pieces, then crush with a mortar and pestle.
Step 2: Bring Water and Spices to a Boil
Many people simply boil meat in boiling water, this is the common way to boil meat. However, you can create a more effective method to boil beef tendon with a flavorful broth. Before adding the meat, add 500ml of fish sauce, 5 tablespoons of sugar, along with ginger and lemongrass prepared as above into the boiling water. Continuously stir to dissolve the sugar, wait until the water continues to boil and you'll smell the aroma.
Photo: Collected
Step 3: Boil the Meat
Next, simply add the beef tendon to boil for about 1 hour over medium heat, and you've got yourself a delicious boiled meat dish.
Photo: Collected
Step 4: Prepare Dipping Sauce
However, boiled beef tendon will be even more perfect when accompanied by a delicious dipping sauce. The most suitable dipping sauce for beef is none other than ginger fish sauce. However, making tasty ginger fish sauce is also an art. Follow the proportions below: 2 teaspoons of water, 1/4 teaspoon of MSG, 1 teaspoon of white sugar, finely chopped ginger, garlic, chili, fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of lime juice, mix well.
Photo: Collected
Season the fish sauce until it suits your taste and matches your family's preferences. If you're not used to sweetness, you can omit sugar from the dipping sauce, as the meat itself has a sweet flavor anyway.
Step 5: Slice the Meat
If you slice the meat while it's still hot, it will be prone to breaking apart, sometimes expanding and making it difficult to roll, resulting in an imperfect final product. Therefore, if you're not in a rush, you can let the meat cool down and put it in the refrigerator to firm up. Once it's firm, remove it from the fridge, slice, and you're ready to go.
To make the boiled beef tendon perfect up to the last step, don't forget to prepare a sharp knife for slicing the meat thinly. The thinner the slices, the more tender and easier to eat, suitable for every member of the family.
Photo: @cherryle209
3. Result Achieved after Processing
The standard boiled beef tendon should be uniformly cut, with ample fat, forming a consistent block without being loose or unevenly sized. When enjoyed, the beef tendon is fragrant and rich in flavor, with a harmonious blend of seasoning, sufficient saltiness, spiciness, sweetness, and the strong aroma of ginger and lemongrass. Particularly, the meat should be tender but not mushy, with just the right amount of chewiness, making it easy to eat. Dipping the beef tendon in spicy-sour ginger fish sauce is even more fitting, paired with hot rice, creating a simple yet exquisite family meal. This is a delicious dish from beef that many people love.
Photo: @cenjkt
4. Tips for Boiling Crispier and Tastier Beef Tendon
Many non-professionals cannot determine whether the beef tendon is fully cooked and whether it's time to turn off the stove. After a certain period, many people will cut the beef tendon to check. If the meat is still pink or tough, they will put it back in the pot. This method seems harmless but can make the meat lose its full aroma, inadvertently reducing the quality of the dish.
So, to check if the meat is cooked, don't rush to turn off the stove. Use a cooking chopstick to pierce the center of the meat. If it goes through easily and no red liquid comes out, it means the meat is cooked.
After boiling, if you don't have time to wait for the meat to firm up in the refrigerator, immediately prepare a basin of ice water to cool the beef tendon instantly. Just after about 5 minutes, the meat will cool down and firm up, and you can confidently slice it.
Photo: Collected
As you can see, boiled beef tendon is actually very simple with common ingredients and doesn't require much precision in the process. You just need to spend about an hour cooking, even without standing at the stove, and you'll have a delicious dish for the whole family. Hopefully, with our boiled beef tendon recipe, you've got some ideas for your upcoming meals. Don't forget to check out more cooking tips and tricks on Mytour Blog to save cooking time!
