Major Snow · Dinner · Qi Deficiency
Braised beef shank with chestnuts and red dates
Beef shank braised until tender with sweet chestnuts and red dates — a rich sauce for rice that builds qi and warms you.
- 1 hr 45 min
- Serves 3
- Braise
- Easy
WarmingBuilds qi & bloodWarms digestion
Why it suits you: Qi Deficiency means tiring easily and feeling the cold, and Major Snow calls for warming nourishment. Beef builds qi and blood, chestnuts and red dates strengthen digestion, and a long braise makes it soft and easy to digest — stop at 70% full.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 90 min- 1Put the whole beef shank in cold water, bring to the boil and cook for 3 minutes, then drain, rinse and cut into thick pieces. Cut the carrot into chunks.
- 2Fry the ginger in a little oil in a wok until fragrant, add the beef and stir-fry for 2 minutes, then add both soy sauces, the star anise and water and bring to the boil.
- 3Cover and braise over low heat for 50 minutes. Add the chestnuts, carrot and red dates and braise 30 minutes more, until a chopstick slides into the beef.
- 4Add the slab sugar, turn up the heat and reduce the sauce until thick. Taste, then serve with the sauce and steamed rice.
Cautions
- Chestnuts are starchy; if you are watching your blood sugar, count them as part of your carbohydrate and eat less rice.
Chef's tips
- Short on time? After blanching, pressure-cook everything except the slab sugar for 25 minutes, then open the lid and reduce the sauce.
The TCM view
Beef is sweet and warm and nourishes the spleen, stomach, qi and blood; chestnuts are sweet and warm and support the spleen and kidneys; red dates are sweet and warm and build the middle; carrot is sweet and neutral and settles digestion. Sweet and warm overall, it tonifies without drying — ideal for weak digestion and cold hands in winter.
