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Chinese Braised Beef Shank Recipe

5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Servings: 2 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 beef shanks
  • ½ stick of cinnamon
  • 2 cloves garlic or 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 slices ginger or 1 tsp ginger powder
  • 2 star anise can omit if you don't have it
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce can substitute with coconut aminos or light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar can substitute white sugar or rock sugar
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine or rice wine can omit if you want the recipe to be alcohol free
  • avocado oil for frying
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • cold water or beef broth from a master stock
Optional
  • green onion

Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet

Method
 

  1. Salt your pieces of beef shank and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. 
  2. Preheat a cast iron skillet or pan on medium-high heat. 
  3. Add avocado oil to the pan and let the oil preheat for about 30 seconds. 
  4. Add beef shanks to the pan brown for two minutes. 
  5. Flip the beef shanks and cook for an additional two minutes. 
  6. Add cinnamon sticks, garlic, ginger, star anise, bay leaves, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar. Cover with enough water to cover the beef shanks. 
  7. Put a lid on the pan and let simmer on low heat for 2.5-3 hours. That may seem like a long time, but trust me the meat needs it!
  8. Remove from heat. Remove spices and garnish with spring onion. Enjoy!