Name: This Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup is Brothy, Slurpy Perfection
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 170 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 3 lbs beef shank, chuck or brisket, excess fat trimmed and cut into 1 ½-inch cubes; 3 slices fresh ginger; 10 cups water; 2 star anise; 2 bay leaves; 1 tsp coriander seeds; 1 cassia cinnamon stick (can substitute Ceylon cinnamon stick); 2 large tomatoes, cut into 8 wedges; 1 white onion, cut into 1-inch pieces; 6 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed; 3 slices fresh ginger; 6 scallions, whites cut into 2-inch pieces and green parts thinly sliced and reserved for serving; 2 dried chilis (or to taste); Salt, to taste; 1 Tbsp doubanjiang (Chinese spicy bean paste); 1 Tbsp tomato paste; 1 Tbsp yellow rock sugar or 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar; ½ cup Shaoxing wine or ½ cup Taiwanese clear cooking rice wine (which yields a lighter coloured broth); ¼ cup soy sauce; 3 Tbsp dark soy sauce, plus more to taste; 5-6 cups water, or enough to cover everything in the pot by 1 inch; Neutral oil; 4 portions of Chinese wheat noodles, cooked al dente according to package directions; 1 lb bok choy, cleaned and stems trimmed, blanched about 4 minutes along with the noodles; Green parts of scallions reserved from above; Chinese chili oil, to taste (optional); Chinese pickled mustard greens, finely chopped (optional)

Prep Time

20 min

Cook Time

2h 30 min

Yields

4 servings

Chewy noodles and tender beef in a rich and earthy broth. Need I say more? Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup is as iconic a Taiwanese dish as they come. Everyone loves it and everyone also makes it a little differently. This one is adapted from a hand-written recipe in a yellowing spiral notebook entitled Silvia’s Cook Book in charming block letters by my childhood bestie who used to tail her mom in the kitchen, taking notes while she made her favourite dishes from their homeland.

Doubanjiang (豆瓣醬) is a Chinese fermented soy and broad bean paste that is quintessential to this dish and worthy of seeking out at a Chinese supermarket or online to make this dish. I’ve listed pickled mustard greens as an optional garnish but beef noodle soup connoisseurs consider it a must-have!

ingredients

For Blanching the Beef

lbs beef shank, chuck or brisket, excess fat trimmed and cut into 1 ½-inch cubes

slices fresh ginger

cups water

Soup

star anise

bay leaves

tsp coriander seeds

cassia cinnamon stick (can substitute Ceylon cinnamon stick)

large tomatoes, cut into 8 wedges

white onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

slices fresh ginger

scallions, whites cut into 2-inch pieces and green parts thinly sliced and reserved for serving

dried chilis (or to taste)

Salt, to taste

Tbsp doubanjiang (Chinese spicy bean paste)

Tbsp tomato paste

Tbsp yellow rock sugar or 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar

cup Shaoxing wine or ½ cup Taiwanese clear cooking rice wine (which yields a lighter coloured broth)

cup soy sauce

Tbsp dark soy sauce, plus more to taste

5-6

cups water, or enough to cover everything in the pot by 1 inch

Neutral oil

To Serve

portions of Chinese wheat noodles, cooked al dente according to package directions

lb bok choy, cleaned and stems trimmed, blanched about 4 minutes along with the noodles

Green parts of scallions reserved from above

Chinese chili oil, to taste (optional)

Chinese pickled mustard greens, finely chopped (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

directions

Step 1

For blanching the beef: In a large pot, place beef cubes, ginger slices and 10 cups of cold water. Bring to a rolling boil. Let boil for 5 minutes or until all the scum floats to the top. Pour everything into a colander set inside the sink. Give the beef a quick rinse. Drain well.

Note: Rather than browning the meat, Chinese cooks often braise using this method. Start by briefly blanching the meat to rid impurities so the resulting broth is clean and clear. You won’t lose flavour from the beef, but you will find it satisfying to pour all of that scum down the drain and far away from your bowl of noodles!

Step 2

For the soup: Lay out a 5-inch square piece of cheesecloth for the spice sachet. Set a medium pot over medium heat. Toast the star anise, bay leaves, coriander seeds and cinnamon stick in the dry pot briefly until fragrant and darkened slightly, ensuring they don’t burn. Set bay leaves and cinnamon stick aside. Scoop star anise and coriander seeds onto cheesecloth and tie up with twine.

Step 3

Increase heat to medium-high and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger and white parts of scallion, dried chili peppers and sauté. Season with salt and continue to sauté for 3 minutes or until tomatoes and onions are slightly softened.

tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger and white parts of scallion being sauteed in a pot

Step 4

Add doubanjiang, tomato paste and sugar. Add the drained beef. Stir well and continue cooking a couple of minutes.

ingredients for taiwanese beef noodle soup in a pot

Step 5

Add the spice sachet, reserved bay leaves, cinnamon stick and all remaining ingredients: Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, dark soy sauce and water. Bring to a boil. Taste and season with salt as needed. Reduce to a simmer. Skim and discard the scum. Cover, ensuring liquid is at a gentle simmer rather than a vigorous boil. Cook for 2 hours or until beef is tender.

taiwanese beef noodle soup simmering in a pot

Step 6

Taste again and adjust seasoning with more salt and/or dark soy sauce to taste.

Step 7

Place noodles and bok choy into serving bowls. Ladle beef and broth over top. Serve immediately with reserved scallions, chili oil and/or pickled mustard greens.

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