Slow-braised Beef Stew

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 sm eggplant, cut into roughly 3cm pieces
  • 600g chuck steak, oyster blade steak or gravy beef, fat trimmed, cut into 4cm chunks
  • Sea salt
  • 6 shallots, peeled, halved lengthways
  • 2 lg sticks celery, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 4 cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, sliced into thin strips
  • 3 whole star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 250ml passata*
  • 375ml beef stock
  • 1‌1⁄2 Tbs soy sauce
  • 1 Tbs Chinese black vinegar**
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 400g sweet potato, peeled, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • Finely sliced spring onion, to serve
  • Finely sliced green chilli, to serve
  • Coriander leaves, chopped, to serve
  • Steamed rice, to serve

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 340° F. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large flameproof ovenproof dish with a lid over high heat. Cook eggplant, turning, for 2–3 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate and set aside for later.
  2. Heat another tablespoon of oil in the same pan over high heat. Season the beef with salt and then add to the hot pan. Spread out in the pan and leave to sear until golden on the one side, then turn and continue cooking for 2–3 minutes or until browned.
  3. Add the eschalots and allow them to sear and brown for 2–3 minutes also.
  4. Then add the celery, garlic, ginger, star anise and cinnamon and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2–3 minutes or until softened and fragrant.
  5. Add the tomato puree, stock, soy sauce, vinegar and sugar and bring to the boil. Cover and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
  6. Add the sweet potato and eggplant to the beef, cover and return to the oven for a further 45 minutes or until sweet potato and beef are tender.
  7. Sprinkle beef with the spring onion, green chilli and coriander and serve with steamed rice.

Notes

  • * Passata is an uncooked tomato purée that has been strained of seeds and skins. If you cannot find it in your store, the best substitution is tomato purée or take plain canned tomatoes and run them through a sieve or a food mill.
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  • ** Otherwise known as chinkiang vinegar, you can find Chinese black vinegar from an Asian grocer. However, if you are unable to find it, substitute it with half balsamic and half white vinegar.