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Can't miss the carrot stew, one nourishes the blood, the second calms the nerves, the third benefits the qi, and the flavor is absolutely unique

In the long river of Chinese food culture, carrot beef stew has become a traditional delicacy loved by people because of its unique flavor and rich nutritional value. This dish not only combines the deliciousness of beef and the sweetness of carrots in taste, but also carries a deep connotation on a cultural and historical level.

Beef, as one of the main ingredients in this dish, dates back to ancient times. It is recorded in the "Zhou Li" that beef is an important ingredient in the banquet. Carrots, a root vegetable native to Central Asia, were introduced to China as early as the Han Dynasty and gradually became a common ingredient on the table. The combination of the two not only complements each other in taste, but also achieves a perfect match in nutrition.

From the perspective of cultural background, carrot beef stew embodies the concept of "meat and vegetable matching" in Chinese food culture, which has both the freshness of meat and the nutrition of vegetables, which is a healthy way of eating. At the same time, this dish also carries people's yearning for a better life and the pursuit of health.

In the "Compendium of Materia Medica", beef is believed to have the effect of "nourishing the body and nourishing the qi, nourishing the blood and calming the nerves", and is a good product for nourishing the body. The carrot is recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" as "the lower qi tonifies the middle, the chest and the diaphragm and the stomach, calms the five internal organs, and makes people healthy food", which has the effect of regulating the body and enhancing appetite. The combination of the two is not only delicious, but also contributes to good health.

Cooking preparation

Main ingredients:

Beef: 500 grams
Carrots: 3 (about 450 grams)

Accessories:

Onion: 1 pc
Ginger: 1 piece (about 20 grams)
Garlic: 5 cloves

Seasoning:

Cooking oil: to taste
Salt: to taste
Light soy sauce: 30 ml
Dark soy sauce: 15 ml
Cooking wine: 50 ml
Star anise: 2 pieces
Cinnamon: 1 small piece
Bay leaves: 2 pieces
Dried chilies: to taste (adjust to taste)

Nutritional Information:

Beef is rich in high-quality protein and essential fatty acids, which aid in muscle growth and repair.
Carrots are rich in β-carotene, which has a good effect on vision protection.

Ingredient substitution options:

Beef can be substituted with lamb or pork, depending on individual taste and health needs.

Cooking in detail

Prepare the ingredients: Cut the beef into cubes, the carrots and onions into hob pieces, the ginger into slices, and the garlic finely chopped.
Blanching beef: Put the beef pieces in cold water, add cooking wine and some ginger slices, bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, and remove the beef for later use.
Stir-fry spices: Add an appropriate amount of cooking oil to the pot, heat until it is 50% hot, add star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves and dried chili peppers and stir-fry until fragrant.
Stir-fried beef: Add the beef cubes, stir-fry until the surface is slightly yellow, add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and the remaining cooking wine, and continue to stir-fry evenly.
Add the carrots and onions: Add the carrot and onion pieces to the pan and stir-fry with the beef so that the ingredients are well combined.

Simmer: Add enough hot water, the amount of water needs to cover the ingredients, bring to a boil over high heat, turn to low heat and simmer for 1-1.5 hours, until the beef is cooked through.
Seasoning out of the pot: When the stew is almost complete, add an appropriate amount of salt to taste, and simmer until the soup is thick and the beef and carrots are soft and rotten, then you can remove from the pot and serve on the plate.

Cooking tips

Blanching beef: Blanching can remove blood and impurities from beef and reduce the fishy smell.
Stir-fried spices: Stir-fried spices can add aroma to the dish and enhance the overall flavor.
Cooking time: The cooking time is adjusted according to the texture and personal taste of the beef, ensuring that the beef is cooked through and flavorful.
Seasoning timing: Seasoning when the stew is nearing completion can avoid the ingredients being too salty and heavy, and keep the dish delicious.

Tips for choosing the main ingredients

When buying beef, you should choose high-quality beef with tender meat and ruddy color.
When buying carrots, choose fresh carrots that are bright in color and undamaged.

Anatomy of Cooking Principles

The cooking principle of carrot beef stew is to slow simmer the beef so that the beef fully absorbs the flavor of the seasoning, and at the same time, the carrots gradually soften during the stewing process, releasing their own sweetness and nutrients. Slow cooking can make the meat more tender and the soup richer, enhancing the overall taste and flavor.

Cooking quiz

Problem: Beef stewed for too long, causing the meat to age. Remedy: Reduce the simmering time or choose a more tender part of the meat to simmer.
Question: Carrots are too soft and rotten after stewing and lose their texture. Remedy: Reduce the simmering time of the carrots or add the carrots when the beef stew is nearing completion.
Problem: The soup is too light and lacks flavor. Remedy: Increase the amount of light and dark soy sauce, or try adjusting the flavor at the right time during the simmering process.
Problem: The water evaporates too quickly during the simmering process, causing the ingredients to stick to the bottom. Remedy: Add hot water at the right time to maintain the right amount of water and avoid the ingredients sticking to the bottom.

Related dishes to share

Beef stew with potatoes

Introduction: A classic pairing of potatoes and beef, rich in taste and delicious.

Ingredients: 500 grams of beef, 3 potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 onion.

Flavor characteristics: The soft glutinous potatoes are combined with the deliciousness of the beef, and the flavor is unique.

Cooking Steps:

Blanch the beef in cubes, dice the potatoes and carrots, and shred the onions.
Saute the onion until fragrant, add the beef cubes and stir-fry.
Add the potatoes, carrots and enough water and simmer until the ingredients are cooked through.
Add salt and light soy sauce to taste.
Simmer until the soup is thick and the ingredients are soft and rotten.

Sautéed pork slices with carrots

Introduction: The quick stir-frying of carrots and meat slices is simple and nutritious.

**Ingredients:**200 grams of pork slices, 2 carrots, appropriate amount of green onions, ginger and garlic.

Flavor characteristics: The tenderness of the sliced meat complements the sweetness of the carrot.

Cooking Steps:

Marinate the meat slices, shred the carrots, and mince the green onions, ginger and garlic.
Stir-fry the chives, ginger and garlic, add the sliced meat and stir-fry until browned.
Add the shredded carrots and stir-fry quickly.
Add salt and light soy sauce to taste.
Stir-fry until the ingredients are cooked through, and the carrots are soft.

Beef stew with tofu

Introduction: The combination of beef and tofu has a delicate taste and rich nutrition.

Ingredients: 300 grams of beef, 2 pieces of tofu, 1 carrot, appropriate amount of green onion, ginger and garlic.

Flavor characteristics: The tenderness of tofu is combined with the freshness of beef, and the flavor is unique.

Cooking Steps:

Blanch the beef in cubes, cut the tofu into cubes, slice the carrots, mince the green onions, ginger and garlic.
Stir-fry the chives, ginger and garlic, add the beef cubes and stir-fry.
Add the carrots and tofu, add some water and simmer until the ingredients are cooked through.
Add salt and light soy sauce to taste.
Simmer until the soup is thick and the ingredients are flavored and then remove from the pan.

Carrot stewed pork ribs

Introduction: A classic combination of carrots and pork ribs, rich in taste and high in nutritional value.

Ingredients: 500 grams of pork ribs, 3 carrots, 1 onion, appropriate amount of green onions, ginger and garlic.

Flavor characteristics: The deliciousness of the pork ribs is combined with the sweetness of the carrots, and the flavor is unique.

Cooking Steps:

Blanch the pork ribs, dice the carrots and onions, and finely chop the green onions, ginger and garlic.
Stir-fry chives, ginger and garlic, add pork ribs and stir-fry.
Add the carrots and onion, add the water and simmer until the ingredients are cooked through.
Add salt and light soy sauce to taste.
Simmer until the soup is thick and the ingredients are soft and rotten.

Beef stew with carrots is a nutritionally balanced dish, but to further enhance its health value, consider reducing the amount of cooking oil and using healthier oils such as olive oil. At the same time, increase the proportion of vegetables and reduce the amount of meat to achieve a better nutritional balance.

The flavor of beef stew with carrots is characterized by its delicious meat and sweet vegetables, as well as its rich broth. Readers are encouraged to try adjusting the proportions of ingredients or adding other vegetables to create their own unique flavor according to their taste and health needs. At the same time, everyone is also welcome to share their cooking experience or suggestions for this recipe, so that we can explore more culinary possibilities together.

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