Five-Spice Braised Beef with Star Anise and Soy

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Rich and tender beef slowly braised in a fragrant five-spice and star anise soy broth, infused with aromatic layers of Chinese spices. This Chinese recipe, ready in about 170 minutes, pairs beef chuck roast, vegetable oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 150 min Serves 6 Chinese cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 2 lbs beef chuck cubes and brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove beef and set aside.
  2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 5 smashed garlic cloves, 2-inch sliced ginger, and 3 whole star anise. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Return the beef to the pot and sprinkle 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder over the meat. Stir to coat evenly.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 3 cups beef broth. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
  5. Step 5: Cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for 2 to 2.5 hours until beef is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
  6. Step 6: Garnish with 2 chopped scallions and serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.

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