Savor the Delight: Southern-Style Braised Beef - Mytour

Braised beef is a simple yet irresistible dish loved by all, from the young to the old. Each region has its unique preparation, seasoned to match different tastes. Join Mytour in the kitchen and learn to make Southern-style braised beef right now.

Ingredients for Braised Beef

Southern-style braised beef is not overly complex. Just ensure you have all the necessary ingredients listed below and follow the instructions for a delicious beef dish for the whole family.

• Beef: 700g
• Ginger: 2 small branches
• Lemongrass: 3 stalks
• Garlic: 3 cloves
• Potatoes: 2 tubers
• Carrot: 1 tuber
• Spring onion: 1 small tuber
• Tomato: 2 small fruits
• Star anise: 2 pieces
• Cinnamon: 1 stick (or use 1 bay leaf)
• Fresh coconut water: 1 fruit
• White wine: 1/3 cup
• Five-spice powder: 1 teaspoon
• Sesame oil: 2 teaspoons
• Seasonings: fish sauce, salt, pepper, broth powder, oyster sauce…
• Lime leaves, cilantro
• Bread for serving

The ingredients for making beef stew are simple and can be bought at any grocery store. Northern-style beef stew harmonizes spices, often adding ripe momordica to create beautiful color; Central-style beef stew is spicy, while Southern-style beef stew tends to be slightly sweet and uses fresh coconut water in preparation. To make delicious beef stew, it's recommended to use ribeye or brisket with some marbling for a crispy, sweet taste. When choosing beef, pay attention to:

• Fresh beef should have a bright, even red color, with white marbling.
• Choose pieces with small, fine grains for tenderness. Larger pieces indicate older beef, resulting in a tougher texture
• Fresh meat has good elasticity, with the meat drying quickly without being sticky. Lightly press your finger, and the dent immediately returns to its original state for fresh meat; otherwise, it's aged meat.

The distinctive spices of beef stew that you can't overlook are cloves, cinnamon, and five-spice powder. However, use only a very small amount to create aroma, as too much can make it overly strong. One more small note is to marinate beef with a very small amount of finely chopped ginger. Since ginger is hot, marinating too much for an extended period can make the meat mushy.

How to Cook Southern-Style Beef Stew

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Rinse the beef with white wine and a smashed ginger piece to eliminate any unpleasant odor. Then, wash it thoroughly and pat it dry with a paper towel. If there's any excess fat, remove it. Cut the beef into neat square pieces.

• Peel and wash the potatoes and carrots before cutting them into bite-sized pieces. If you have time, carve the carrots into decorative shapes for a visually appealing presentation.
• Peel the spring onion and cut it into square pieces.
• Dice the tomatoes into small, even pieces.
• Finely chop the ginger and garlic. Remove the tough outer layer of the lemongrass and then smash and cut it into segments.

Step 2: Marinate the Beef

Place the beef in a large bowl. Marinate it with chopped ginger, minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of broth powder, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, 1 tablespoon of five-spice powder. Mix well and cover the bowl tightly. Let it marinate for at least 2 hours.

Step 3: Cook the Beef Stew

• Heat the color oil in a pot. Sauté the lemongrass until fragrant, then add the tomatoes and stir-fry. Next, add the marinated beef and stir-fry until it's browned.
• Pour coconut water and additional water into the pot to submerge the meat. Bring it to a boil, skim off any foam, then reduce the heat. Add cinnamon and star anise, simmering for about 1 hour until the beef is tender. If you have a pressure cooker, use it to save cooking time.
• Add potatoes and carrots, simmer for an extra 10 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Add spring onion and simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Dissolve 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 1/3 cup of water. Slowly pour it into the beef stew, stirring to achieve the desired thickness.
• Serve the Southern-style beef stew in a bowl. Garnish with basil, spring onion, and coriander on top, then enjoy.

Enjoying Southern-Style Beef Stew

With the method of cooking beef stew as mentioned above, it's not too difficult to create a delicious and enticing dish. The finished beef stew should have a beautiful brownish-yellow color, with harmonious hues of various vegetables. The beef should be tender but not mushy, and not overly chewy. The dish emanates the distinctive aroma of cinnamon and star anise, with a sweet and refreshing taste from the coconut water. The beef stew should not be too dry; it should have a slightly thickened sauce. Scoop the beef stew into a bowl, and serve with a few slices of bread. Just a taste, and everyone will surely be amazed by this delightful flavor. Additionally, you can enjoy the beef stew with white rice, which is also fantastic.

Many people have succeeded with the Southern-style beef stew recipe. Hopefully, this will be a suggestion to enrich your family meals. Take note of the recipe from Mytour Blog shared above and showcase your culinary skills for the whole family. Wishing you all success!