Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Five-Spice and Star Anise
Succulent beef brisket slow-cooked with aromatic Chinese five-spice and star anise, resulting in tender meat infused with rich, warm flavors. This Chinese-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 200 minutes, pairs beef brisket, trimmed, Chinese five-spice powder, star anise pods for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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.
Ingredients
- 1 kg beef brisket, trimmed
- 2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
- 3 whole star anise pods
- 4 slices ginger, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/4 cup light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons scallions, chopped
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Rub 2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder evenly over 1 kg beef brisket. Sear brisket on all sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Step 2: Remove brisket and set aside. In the same pot, add 4 slices ginger and 4 crushed garlic cloves, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Return brisket to pot and add 1/4 cup light soy sauce, 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 whole star anise pods, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer gently for 3 hours until brisket is tender and infused with spices.
- Step 5: Remove brisket, let rest for 10 minutes, then slice thinly. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons chopped scallions over slices before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Five-Spice and Star Anise take to make?
Total time is about 200 minutes (20 min prep + 180 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Five-Spice and Star Anise?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef brisket, trimmed from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Five-Spice and Star Anise?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Five-Spice and Star Anise for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Five-Spice and Star Anise?
Chinese beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
