Beef Rolls Taiwan Style (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Braised Beef Shank
01 -
1.5-2 kg beef shank without bone
02 -
2 chunks fresh ginger
03 -
1 liter water, with extra for initial boil
04 -
10 g rock sugar (or 2 teaspoons normal sugar)
05 -
1 small stick of cassia cinnamon
06 -
1 dried bay leaf
07 -
1 pod of star anise
08 -
1 tiny bit of dried tangerine peel
09 -
3 whole cloves
10 -
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
11 -
1 teaspoon white or black peppercorns
12 -
3 garlic cloves, crushed
13 -
2 scallions, chopped into big pieces
14 -
3 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
15 -
3 tablespoons light soy sauce
16 -
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
→ Assembly
17 -
6 ready-made scallion pancakes
18 -
Neutral oil for cooking
19 -
1 medium cucumber, cut into thin strips
20 -
3 scallions, cut tiny
21 -
3 tablespoons cilantro, cut small
22 -
2-3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
# Instructions:
01 -
Chop beef shank into 4-5 inch pieces. Put in a pot with ginger and cover with water. Heat until boiling and cook briefly for 30 seconds. Empty out, wash the beef well, and clean your pot. Throw away the ginger bits.
02 -
Put beef back in your clean pot. Throw in sugar, cinnamon, bay leaf, star anise, tangerine peel, cloves, both kinds of peppercorns, garlic, scallions, Shaoxing wine, and both soy sauces. Add 1 liter water or more to fully cover the meat.
03 -
Let it reach a boil, then turn down the heat. Cover and let it bubble gently for an hour or until a fork goes in easily but the meat stays firm. You don't want it falling apart.
04 -
Take the beef out from the liquid and let it cool down. Once it's not hot anymore, wrap it up and stick it in the fridge until totally cold, at least 2 hours but leaving it overnight works better for cutting.
05 -
Cook your pancakes in oil until they're crispy on each side following what the package says. While that's happening, slice your cold beef thinly across the grain. Get your cucumber, scallions, and cilantro all cut up.
06 -
Smear some hoisin on each warm pancake. Add some scallions, cilantro, meat slices, and cucumber strips. Roll them up tight and cut each one in the middle.
07 -
Put your beef rolls on a plate and eat them right away while they're still warm.
# Notes:
01 -
Making sure the beef is totally cold before slicing makes all the difference for nice thin cuts.
02 -
You can save the cooking liquid after straining it for use in other dishes.
03 -
If you want to make pancakes yourself instead of buying them, look up a classic recipe for better taste.