Ingredients
- 4 star anise (whole)
- 1/4 chunks
- 3 cups water
- 2 pounds stew meat
- 6 tablespoons oil
- 4 tablespoons pale dry sherry
- 4 tablespoons black soy sauce
- 2 1/2 tablespoons szechwan sweet bean sauce
- 1/4 cup scallions (chopped)
- 5 teaspoons szechwan chili bean sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon ginger root (minced)
- 1/2 tablespoon peppercorns (crushed)
COMBINE SAUCE INGREDIENTS, SET ASIDE. HEAT OIL IN A 4 TO 6 QUART POT. ADD GINGER, GARLIC, AND SCALLIONS, AND COOK FOR A FEW SECONDS. ADD BEEF AND COOK UNTIL MEAT LOSES ITS RED COLOR. STIR IN SAUCE AND MIX WELL. ADD 2 C. WATER, COVER, AND SIMMER FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. ADD REMAINING WATER AND COOK OVER LOW HEAT UNTIL BEEF IS TENDER, ABOUT ANOTHER HOUR. THERE SHOULD BE 1 1/2 CUPS OF SAUCE LEFT IN THE POT WHEN BEEF IS DONE. SERVE HOT!!! THE PREPARATION TIME IS THE WORSE PART, BUT ITS WORTH IT. MOST OF THE INGREDIENTS CAN BE FOUND AT A NEIGHBORHOOD ASIAN OR CHINESE STORE.