Chinese Muslim Style Spiced Cold Beef

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 cup oil
• 1/4 cup raw peanuts, skins removed
• 4 ounces ground beef
• 2 tablespoons szechwan bean sauce (regular, not hot)
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground szechwan pepper
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 3 tablespoons black soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 8 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 lbs flank steaks or 1 1/2 lbs tender beef
• 1 cup celery, in thin strips 1 . 5 inches long
• 1/2 cup scallion, in thin strips 1 . 5 inches long
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, in strips
• 1/2 cup watercress

Recipe

• 1 heat 1 cup oil in wok to deep-fry temperature, then deep-dry peanuts over medium-low heat until golden brown.
• 2 remove the peanuts with a slotted spoon or strainer and place on paper towels to drain and cool.
• 3 put the cooled peanuts in a small plastic bag or between two towels, then roll a rolling pin over them to crush coarsely; set crushed peanuts aside for later use.
• 4 mix the cayenne, szechwan peppercorn, sugar, garlic, vinegar, black soy sauce, and sesame oil in a bowl.
• 5 remove all but two tablespoons of oil from the wok. heat this oil, and when it is hot, add the ground beef.
• 6 stir and cook the beef until done.
• 7 stir in the bean sauce, then the sauce mixture you have just made.
• 8 mix well, then turn off the heat.
• 9 this meat sauce can be prepared a few hours in advance.
• 10 fill a big pot with enough water to cover your piece of beef.
• 11 add the bay leaves to the water and bring to a rapid boil.
• 12 add meat and cook over medium heat until done to your taste - medium rare should be about 10 minutes.
• 13 remove meat and pat dry.
• 14 place the meat on a cutting board and slice into thin pieces, as you would for roast beef.
• 15 arrange the slices on a serving platter, slightly overlapping each other.
• 16 garnish with celery, scallions, red pepper, and watercress.
• 17 pour the meat sauce over evenly, then sprinkle crushed peanuts on top.
• 18 serve at room temperature, perhaps with noodles.