The chestnuts in this recipe are not actually chestnuts at all, but Chinese water chestnuts, which add a sweet flavor and crunchy texture to the stew. Canned water chestnuts are fine for this recipe, but if you live near an Asian market, feel free to use fresh water chestnuts – they have more flavor.
The recipe calls for adding a small amount of rice wine or dry sherry to the stew, but you can substitute rice vinegar or even red wine vinegar if desired.
The recipe calls for adding a small amount of rice wine or dry sherry to the stew, but you can substitute rice vinegar or even red wine vinegar if desired.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours, 00 minute
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons pure olive oil or other vegetable oil, or as needed
- 1 white onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon finely minced or crushed garlic
- 2 pounds stewing beef, cut into cubes
- 4 cups water, or 1 cup beef broth and 3 cups water
- 2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup whole water chestnuts, halved
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 14 fluid ounce can sliced baby corn
- 1 cup chopped bok choy (baby bok choy if possible)
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Freshly ground black or white pepper, to taste
Preparation:
1. Heat the oil in a large deep-sided saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is softened. Add the beef and brown. (Cook the beef in 2 batches if necessary).
2. Add the water (and the beef broth if using). Heat to boiling. Stir in the rice wine or sherry, hoisin sauce and tomato paste. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add the water chestnuts, carrots, and baby corn. Bring back to boiling, turn down the heat and simmer for 30 more minutes. Add the bok choy and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, stir together the light and dark soy sauce, sugar and cornstarch. Turn up the heat and add the cornstarch mixture to the stew, stirring quickly to thicken. Taste and add black or white pepper if desired. Turn down the heat and simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve over rice. Serves 4 - 6.
More Chinese Stew Recipes
Beef Stew
Vegetarian Country Stew
Red Cooked Beef in Soy Sauce
2. Add the water (and the beef broth if using). Heat to boiling. Stir in the rice wine or sherry, hoisin sauce and tomato paste. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add the water chestnuts, carrots, and baby corn. Bring back to boiling, turn down the heat and simmer for 30 more minutes. Add the bok choy and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, stir together the light and dark soy sauce, sugar and cornstarch. Turn up the heat and add the cornstarch mixture to the stew, stirring quickly to thicken. Taste and add black or white pepper if desired. Turn down the heat and simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve over rice. Serves 4 - 6.
More Chinese Stew Recipes
Beef Stew
Vegetarian Country Stew
Red Cooked Beef in Soy Sauce
