Beef is an ingredient that can provide many nutrients to our bodies and can be prepared into a variety of dishes, one of which is braised dishes with appealing flavors. Today, let’s cook with TasteVN to prepare a recipe for braised beef with carrots that is suggested to treat the family right away!
1. Braised Beef with Carrots
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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
40 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Braised Beef with Carrots Serves 3
Beef short ribs 500 gr Carrots 400 gr Lemongrass 5 stalks Minced shallots 2 teaspoons Minced garlic 2 teaspoons Fish sauce 3 tablespoons Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Braised beef seasoning packet 25 gr Braised beef spice powder packet 25 gr Common spices a little (Seasoning/ Sugar/ Ground pepper) White wine a little
How to choose fresh and delicious beef short ribs
- To cook this dish, you should choose beef short ribs or cuts of meat that have a mix of fat, tendons, and meat intertwined, which will be very delicious and not overwhelming.
- Beef short ribs are the meat located in the chuck area of the cow, extracted from the front rib bones of the cow. This is the most delicious part of the cow, interspersed with fat, meat, and tendons. When eaten, you will feel the softness, the fatty richness of the fat, and the crispy deliciousness of the tendons. Usually, people use beef short ribs to prepare grilled dishes, stews, braised dishes,… which are all incredibly appealing. The price of beef short ribs ranges from 160,000 VND – 280,000 VND/kg (price updated on December 27, 2021).
- You should prioritize choosing pieces of beef that have bright red color mixed with white tendons and bright yellow fat, with soft, small fibers that do not look too smooth.
- If you gently press on a piece of good beef with your hand, it should have a good firmness and elasticity, not feel sticky to the touch, and should not have any unpleasant or abnormal odors.
- You should avoid buying pieces of beef that have a pale green or dark red color, with dark yellow fat, white spots on the meat fibers, and a mushy and slimy feel when touched.
How to cook Beef Stew with Carrots
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Prepare the ingredients
For the beef ribs, to eliminate the odor, wash them with salted water mixed with a little white wine, then use a clean damp cloth to wipe them down and cut into bite-sized cubes.
Peel the carrots and clean them, and for the lemongrass, smash it and then cut both into pieces about the thickness of a finger.
How to clean beef and eliminate the odor
- The simplest way is to use garlic or shallots to marinate the beef.
- Another method is to rub the beef with salt for about 5 minutes.
- Ginger is also a very good ingredient for eliminating odors; just roast the ginger, scrape off the skin, pound it and rub it onto the meat.
- It would be a mistake to skip alcohol. Soaking the beef in alcohol for 15 minutes will make the odor disappear immediately.
- Additionally, you can also use lemon juice or vinegar with the beef for 5 – 7 minutes, which is also very effective.
See details: Tips to eliminate the odor of beef that everyone should know
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Marinate the beef
Place the beef in a bowl and marinate with 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground pepper, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon of minced shallots, 25g of beef stew seasoning, 25g of beef stew liquid, mix well to absorb the spices for 20 minutes.
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Cook the beef with carrots
Place a pot on the stove with 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, smashed lemongrass, and the remaining minced garlic and shallots, sauté until fragrant over medium heat.
Then add the beef and stir-fry for about 5 minutes. Next, add 500ml of water and cook for 20 minutes over low heat.
When the water has reduced, add all the carrots and stir well, then add 200ml of water, cook for 10 minutes, season to taste, then turn off the heat.
Tip:
- To prevent the beef from becoming tough when stir-frying, only stir-fry until the meat is sealed, no need to cook it too much.
- You can use coconut water instead of plain water for this dish, it will be very delicious.
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Final Product
This beef dish will be the perfect choice for a weekend day when you want to change up your meals. The beef is cooked just right, not too tough but rather very tender, combined with carrots and a perfectly flavorful sauce. It’s hard to resist the allure it brings.
This beef stew with carrots can be enjoyed with cucumber or bread dipped in the sauce. Now that we’ve talked about it, let’s enjoy our final product right away!
2. Beef stew with coconut water
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Preparation
40 minutes
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Cooking
1 hour 15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Beef stew with coconut water For 4 people
Beef 500 grams Coconut water 1 liter Carrot 1 piece Onion 1/2 piece Lemongrass, smashed 2 stalks Tomato 2 pieces Star anise 15 grams Ginger, smashed 1/2 piece Basil a little Curry powder 1 tablespoon Five-spice powder 1/2 teaspoon Annatto oil 2 tablespoons Chopped onion 1 tablespoon Chopped garlic 1 tablespoon Fish sauce 2 tablespoons Common seasoning a little (Salt/ seasoning powder/ ground pepper)
How to choose fresh and delicious ingredients
How to choose fresh and delicious beef
- To buy fresh and delicious beef, choose pieces that are deep red, natural, and bright; when pressed, the meat should feel elastic.
- The marbling of good beef will have a creamy white color, and the surface of the meat should not have strange white or black spots.
- Definitely do not buy beef that has round white spots like grains of rice, as this indicates beef infested with parasites.
- Be cautious with pieces of meat that have overly bright colors; if they feel slimy and soft when pressed, they are likely chemically treated beef.
How to choose delicious, juicy tomatoes
- Delicious, juicy tomatoes will have a bright red color, an intact outer skin, no scratches, and a mild fragrance.
- It is best to buy tomatoes with the stem still firmly attached, and the stem should be fresh and not wilted.
- Avoid buying tomatoes that are bruised, spoiled, or have an unpleasant smell as these are tomatoes that are about to go bad and should not be used.
How to prepare Braised Beef with Carrots and Coconut Water
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Prepare the ingredients
Wash the carrots, tomatoes, and onions thoroughly and let them drain. Cut the tomatoes into wedges, chop the onions into sections, and slice the carrots into bite-sized pieces.
For the beef, wash it with diluted salt water, let it drain, and then cut it into bite-sized cubes.
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Marinate the beef
Place the beef in a bowl with a mixture of seasonings including: 2 tablespoons of annatto oil, 1/2 teaspoon of five-spice powder, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of ground pepper, 1/2 smashed lemongrass, and half of the chopped onion and garlic.
Then, mix well and marinate the beef for 30 minutes to absorb the flavors!
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Beef Stew
Place a pot on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Wait for the oil to heat up, then add 1 tablespoon of curry powder along with onions, garlic, lemongrass, and ginger, and sauté until fragrant. Next, add the marinated meat and stir-fry on medium heat for 10 minutes.
Then, add 1 liter of fresh coconut water to cover the meat, along with star anise, cinnamon, and tomatoes, and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Finally, add carrots and onions and continue to simmer on medium heat until everything is tender. Adjust seasoning to taste and turn off the heat.
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Final Product
Scoop the beef stew with coconut water into a bowl, add thinly sliced onions and basil. This dish can be enjoyed with bread or rice noodles, both are very delicious.
The dish is rich in flavor with tender beef that absorbs the spices, while the radish and onions are just cooked, complemented by the enticing aroma of lemongrass and star anise.
How to choose fresh and delicious carrots
- You should choose roots that are of moderate size, not too large, slender, and feel firm when held.
- Fresh carrots have a bright, deep orange color, smooth skin, not rough, and the green tops are vibrant and firmly attached to the body without separation.
- Avoid choosing roots with wilted, bruised tops, slimy texture when touched, soft flesh, and many dark spots on the surface, as these are carrots that have been stored for too long and can affect health.
- Generally, large roots are not as tasty as small ones, as they are older carrots that contain more fiber and very few nutrients.
See more:
The above article has provided you with 2 ways to make carrot beef stew that are extremely easy to make but very nutritious. Wishing you success and a delicious meal with your family!
