Chinese Beef in Looing Sauce
Dive into the rich, aromatic flavors of Chinese Beef in Looing Sauce, a comforting braised dish that brings together tender beef strips simmered in a savory blend of soy sauce, rice wine, and warm spices like star anise and cinnamon. This recipe highlights traditional Chinese cooking techniques, including slow simmering to infuse the beef with bold, complex flavors, and finishing with a velvety cornstarch-thickened sauce. Perfect for pairing with steamed rice or noodles, this dish strikes the ideal balance between sweet, salty, and umami. Ready in just over an hour, it’s an irresistible, restaurant-quality meal you can make at home.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 grams beef (sirloin or flank steak)
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 500 milliliters water
- 2 tablespoons rice wine or Shaoxing wine
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 pieces star anise
- 2 pieces bay leaves
- 1 piece cinnamon stick
- 1 inch ginger (sliced)
- 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 2 stalks scallions (green onions)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch slurry)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
Slice the beef into thin strips against the grain for tenderness.
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat and add vegetable oil.
Sear the beef strips in batches until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
In the same wok, add garlic, ginger, and scallions. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the water, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice wine, brown sugar, star anise, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick to the wok. Stir to combine.
Return the seared beef to the wok and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Cover the wok and let the beef cook in the sauce for 40-50 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to form a slurry.
Once the beef is tender, add the cornstarch slurry to the wok and stir until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
Remove the star anise, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick before serving.
Garnish with additional sliced scallions, if desired, and serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
441 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 25.3 g | 32% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.3 g | 42% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 94 mg | 31% | |
| Sodium | 1161 mg | 50% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 13.8 g | 5% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.3 g | 5% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.7 g | ||
| Protein | 35.0 g | 70% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 59 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 4.2 mg | 23% | |
| Potassium | 611 mg | 13% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
