Szechuan Beef Stew

Ingredients

900 gr beef chuck
2 garlic
60 ml soy sauce
14 gr sugar
240 ml water
2 gr pepper
1 gr fennel seed
1 gr black pepper
1 gr ginger
16 ml oil
16 gr cornstarch
30 ml water

Instructions

Cut beef into 5 cm cubes. Combine garlic, 2 Tablespoon. soy sauce and 1 tsp. sugar in large bowl; stir in beef cubes until well coated. Let stand 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine 1 cup water, remaining 2 Tablespoon. soy sauce, 2 tsp. sugar, red pepper, fennel, black pepper, cloves and ginger; set aside. Heat oil in Dutch oven or large skillet over high heat. Brown beef on all sides in hot oil. Stir in soy sauce mixture. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 2 hours, or until beef is very tender. Combine cornstarch with 2 Tablespoon. water; stir into beef mixture. Cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens, about 1 minute. Serves: 6