1. Satay Beef Meatball Hotpot
Preparation
30 minutes
Cooking
50 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Satay Beef Meatball Hotpot For 4 people
Egg noodles 500 gr Beef tail bones 500 gr Beef meatballs 340 gr Straw mushrooms 300 gr Malabar spinach 200 gr Mustard greens 200 gr Napa cabbage 200 gr Bok choy 200 gr Silken tofu 300 gr Lemongrass 4 stalks Onion 1 bulb Green onion 3 stalks Minced shallots 2 teaspoons Minced garlic 2 teaspoons Satay 1 tablespoon Fish sauce 2 tablespoons Annatto oil 3 tablespoons Seasoning/ Sugar A little
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh straw mushrooms
- There are 2 common forms of straw mushrooms: fresh and dried. Typically, fresh straw mushrooms will have a better flavor for dishes.
- Choose straw mushrooms with a black or gray cap; in contrast, those that are white will not be as tasty.
- Fresh and delicious straw mushrooms should still have buds that have not opened, with a cylindrical or slightly round shape, and feel slightly firm to the touch, not soft and mushy.
- For dried straw mushrooms, check for any abnormalities on the surface of the mushrooms and ensure there is no musty smell when sniffed.
See details: How to choose delicious, quality straw mushrooms
How to choose delicious soft tofu
- To choose soft tofu that is pure and not mixed with impurities, pay attention to the color of the tofu first. Fresh and delicious tofu should be milky white, not discolored, and free from any tiny spots on the surface.
- Choose tofu that has a square shape, not broken or crumbled.
- When touching the tofu, it should feel soft, smooth, and not too heavy.
- Another way to check for impurities is to leave the tofu piece in the air for 1-2 hours; if it does not change color, it is fresh and good.
- Additionally, if you choose to use pre-packaged tofu, select a reputable brand with clear labeling, ensuring the packaging is intact and not torn, especially checking the expiration date.
- Furthermore, you can easily make soft tofu at home very quickly without much effort.
Where to buy chili sauce
- The most common option is to buy chili sauce at supermarkets because they always have a clear origin and it’s easy to control the expiration date of the product.
- Additionally, you can visit traditional markets for trustworthy options. However, it’s important to choose reputable places and pay close attention to whether the chili sauce is moldy.
- Currently, many are also sold on e-commerce platforms, providing great convenience. You just need to find a reputable brand and place an order, and it will be delivered right to your doorstep.
- Moreover, if you have time, you can easily make chili sauce at home without worrying about health issues.
How to Make Satay Beef Ball Hot Pot
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Prepare Ingredients
Wash the beef tail bones and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Use a knife to cut a cross on one side of the beef balls.
Remove the stems of the straw mushrooms, lightly scrape off any dirt on the surface, wash them thoroughly, and cut them in half. Cut the soft tofu into bite-sized cubes.
Use only the tender parts of the water spinach and mustard greens by discarding the old parts. Cut the napa cabbage and bok choy into bite-sized pieces. Wash everything and let it drain.
Trim the ends of the lemongrass, then crush two stalks while finely chopping the rest. Peel and cut the onion into wedges. Clean the roots of the spring onions.
Tip
- To eliminate the unpleasant smell from the beef tail bones, you can soak them in a mixture of crushed ginger, lemon, and salt for 30 – 60 minutes, then rinse until clean.
- To avoid the beef balls cracking and looking unappealing when cutting, don’t cut too deep; just cut 1/3 of the surface.
- Soaking straw mushrooms in a mixture of rice washing water or salt water for 25 – 30 minutes will make them whiter and cleaner.
- To prevent the soft tofu from breaking, handle it gently and avoid cutting it too small.
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Simmer the broth
Place a pot on the stove with 2 liters of water, smashed lemongrass, and onion, and cook over medium heat.
Once the water starts to heat and bubbles appear, add the beef tail bones and simmer for 30 minutes before turning off the heat.
Tip:
- To soften the beef tail bones more quickly, you can cover the pot while cooking.
- Additionally, to save time, there are pre-packaged hot pot soup mixes available on the market that are very convenient.
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Cook the hot pot
Place another pot on the stove with 3 tablespoons of annatto oil, minced lemongrass, garlic, and minced shallots, and sauté over medium heat until fragrant.
Then, add the beef broth: 1 tablespoon of satay, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of seasoning powder, stirring well for 10 – 15 minutes.
When the broth starts to boil again, add the beef balls and green onion tops, cooking for an additional 10 minutes, then season to taste and turn off the heat.
Tip: To avoid affecting the dish’s flavor, do not use too high a flame when sautéing the ingredients as they can easily burn.
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Final Product
This hotpot dish is perfect for everyone to sip and chat. The broth, thanks to the beef tail bones, is rich and unforgettable, and the beef balls are chewy, especially with the spicy kick from the satay chili that makes everyone rave about it.
The spicy beef ball hotpot is unparalleled when served with egg noodles, soft tofu, and various types of mushrooms and vegetables. What could be better than dipping it in a bowl of chili sauce mixed with a bit of satay? Now, let’s not just talk about it; let’s enjoy our final product right away!
.jpg "2 Ways to Cook Delicious and Easy-to-Make Satay Beef Ball Hotpot with Sour and Spicy Flavor for a Party 5")
.jpg "2 Ways to Cook Delicious and Easy-to-Make Satay Beef Ball Hotpot with Sour and Spicy Flavor for a Party 6")
.jpg "2 Ways to Cook Delicious and Easy-to-Make Satay Beef Ball Hotpot with Sour and Spicy Flavor for a Party 7")
2. Sour and Spicy Beef Hot Pot
Preparation
30 minutes
Cooking
55 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Sour and Spicy Beef Hot Pot For 4 people
Beef bones 500 gr Beef 300 gr Brisket 300 gr Beef balls 300 gr Water spinach 300 gr Pineapple 1/2 fruit (ananas) White radish 100 gr Lemongrass 2 stalks Onion 1 bulb Bird’s eye chili 2 fruits Cinnamon 3 gr (1 stick) Star anise 5 gr (2 flowers) Rock sugar 1/2 tablespoon Common spices a little (Seasoning/ Salt/ MSG)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh marrow bones
- Choose marrow bones that are red in color without discoloration, dark spots, or tiny blemishes on the surface.
- To enhance the flavor of the dish, it is better to use fresh marrow bones than frozen ones.
- Marrow bones with clear origin and reputable brands will ensure the health of the whole family.
How to choose fresh beef
- Choose bright red beef with interspersed white streaks, and the fat should be bright yellow.
- When touched, it should feel firm, with good elasticity, not mushy. The meat fibers should appear soft, small, and not too smooth.
- Avoid buying meat that has turned pale green or dark red, with dark yellow fat, or shows white spots or tiny blemishes on the surface. Additionally, meat that is mushy and slimy, especially if it emits a strong foul smell, indicates that it has been stored for too long.
See details: How to properly choose fresh beef
How to choose fresh pineapple
- Fresh pineapples have a bright yellow body, uniform color. The crown should be lush, not broken, and a bright green color.
- Round and short fruits typically have more flesh than longer ones.
- When held, it should feel solid, and pressing on the flesh should not leave a dent.
- Fruits with fewer eyes usually tend to be sweeter than others.
- Choose fruits with the characteristic aroma of pineapple, but not too strong, as this could indicate that the pineapple has been stored for too long and is about to ferment. Conversely, if there is no smell, it means it has not yet reached the necessary ripeness.
See details: How to properly choose good pineapple
How to choose fresh and delicious white radish
- Sweet and firm white radishes have a slender shape, while those with a thicker tail often have a very bland taste.
- You should choose radishes with intact stems and roots, as these are freshly harvested.
- In addition, fresh and delicious radishes have smooth, shiny skin, no scratches, feel firm when pressed, and are not dented or soft.
- Avoid choosing radishes that have smooth, shiny skin but with wilted or rotten stems, as these are radishes that have been injected with preservatives.
Where to buy Chinese medicinal spices
- Chinese medicinal spices are easy to find at traditional herbal medicine shops everywhere.
- In addition, markets specializing in selling Chinese herbs also have all the spices you need.
- Moreover, you can order online from reputable sites and have them delivered quickly to your home.
How to make spicy and sour beef ball hot pot
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Preparing the beef
Soak the beef and brisket in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes, then rinse clean. Slice the beef into bite-sized pieces, and cut the brisket into pieces of similar size.
Tip: To ensure the beef is tender when enjoyed, cut against the grain, not with it.
How to remove the smell of beef
- To enhance the flavor of the dish, you can remove the smell by crushing ginger, roasting it, and rubbing it on the meat, then rinsing again.
Additionally, using alcohol is also very effective by soaking the meat in alcohol for 15 minutes.
- Another common ingredient for removing odors is using lemon juice or vinegar with the beef for a few minutes.
- It would be a mistake to overlook using salt to rub over the meat for 5 minutes, as it will eliminate the fishy smell immediately.
See more: All about effective methods to remove the smell of beef
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Prepare other ingredients
Peel the white radish, wash it clean, cut it into finger-sized pieces, and then halve them.
Cut the beef bones into bite-sized pieces and wash them clean to drain.
Pick the young leaves of the water spinach, wash them. Peel the pineapple and remove the eyes.
Peel the onion and ginger, cut them in half, crush the lemongrass, and finally slice the chili diagonally.
Tip:
- To avoid burning your hands from chili seeds, wear gloves while preparing.
- The most common way to remove pineapple eyes is spiral cutting. First, peel the skin, then stand the pineapple upright and identify the diagonal lines along the eyes, then use a knife to make two straight cuts, continuing until all eyes are removed.
- Another popular method is vertical cutting. Similar to the spiral method, but when removing the eyes, just follow a vertical direction.
- Additionally, to save time, pre-peeled pineapples are now widely available in supermarkets or markets, which is very convenient.
See more: 5 simple ways to peel pineapple that don’t take much time
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Simmer the broth
Place a pan on the stove with cinnamon, star anise, and roast over medium heat until it turns golden and fragrant, then transfer to a bowl.
Using the same pan, continue to add onion and ginger, sautéing over medium heat until fragrant, then turn off the heat.
Take a pot and add beef brisket, marrow bones, cinnamon, star anise, onion, ginger, half a pineapple, white radish, smashed lemongrass, and 3 liters of water, cooking for 40 minutes before turning off the heat.
Remove the beef brisket, marrow bones, and white radish to another pot. Then use a strainer to filter the remaining broth into the pot with the marrow bones, discarding the other simmering ingredients.
Tip: To enhance the flavor of the dish, avoid burning the ingredients while cooking by stirring constantly.
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Cook the hot pot
With the broth that has been filtered, continue to simmer over medium heat with 1/2 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of seasoning powder, 1/2 tablespoon of monosodium glutamate, and 1/2 tablespoon of rock sugar, stirring well for about 10 minutes.
When the water starts to boil again, add the remaining beef balls and season for an additional 5 – 7 minutes to taste, then turn off the heat.
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Final product
Coming to today’s hot pot dish is definitely a perfect choice for family gatherings. The broth has the natural sweetness of various simmered bones, combined with the crunchy and chewy texture of the beef balls, plus a bit of sour and spicy flavors that alleviate the richness, making the dish much more enjoyable.
The spicy sour beef ball hot pot is best enjoyed with various vegetables and a bowl of dipping sauce, along with freshly cooked beef that makes it irresistible for everyone. Let’s enjoy it right away!
How to choose delicious fresh beef balls
- Currently, beef balls are sold everywhere such as supermarkets, markets,… with 2 main forms: packaged and sold by quantity.
- If using the packaged form, choose those with clear origin, brand, intact packaging and importantly, pay attention to the product’s expiration date.
- In contrast, for retail sellers, observe whether the beef balls are slimy or not because that indicates they have been stored for too long, which is not good for health; also choose reputable places to avoid the situation of beef balls being treated with chemicals.
- Additionally, you can easily make beef balls at home with a very simple recipe that doesn’t take too much time and ensures much better quality.
See more
The article above has provided you with 2 beef ball hot pot recipes that can diversify your menu, making it more varied and stimulating everyone’s appetite for delicious food. Wishing you success and a truly enjoyable meal with your family!
*Refer to the images and recipes from 2 YouTube channels: Cooky TV and Bếp Của Vợ
