Hearty Tomato Beef Stew
A comforting Chinese-style stew where tender beef brisket simmers with ripe tomatoes, sweet carrots, and creamy potatoes in a rich, savory broth. Perfect for cold days.
Story
This classic Chinese comfort dish balances the tangy sweetness of tomatoes with rich, slow-braised beef. The vegetables add natural sweetness and texture, while the broth becomes deeply flavorful after a gentle simmer.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prepare the beef
Blanch the beef cubes in boiling water for 2-3 minutes until they turn gray. Drain and rinse well to remove any foam. This step removes impurities and gives you a cleaner-tasting stew.
Start the broth
Place the cleaned beef in a large pot with water, ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon, and cooking wine. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently for about 40 minutes until the beef is nearly tender.
Add tomatoes and carrots
Add the peeled tomatoes and carrot slices to the pot. Continue simmering for 15 minutes until the tomatoes have broken down and flavored the broth.
Add potatoes
Stir in the potato cubes and tomato paste. Simmer for another 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are soft and cooked through.
Finish and season
Add the celery sections and cook for 5 more minutes. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Adjust to your taste and serve hot.