Frost's Descent · Lunch · Qi Deficiency
Braised beef with potato & carrot on rice
Beef brisket braised until tender, with potato and carrot soaking up the gravy — cook it the night before and reheat for a lunchbox.
- 1 hr 30 min
- Serves 3
- Braise
- Easy
NeutralTonifies qi & spleenBuilds qi & blood
Why it suits you: Qi Deficiency means tiring easily and a poor appetite. Beef strengthens the spleen and builds qi and blood, while potato and carrot are gentle and easy to digest — a tender beef lunchbox that tonifies without weighing you down as Frost's Descent cools.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 75 min- 1Put the brisket in a pan of cold water, bring to the boil and blanch for 5 minutes, then rinse.
- 2Heat the oil and fry the ginger and onion until fragrant. Add the beef for 2 minutes, then the soy sauce, sugar and water. Bring to the boil, cover and braise over low heat for 50 minutes.
- 3Add the potato and carrot and braise for another 20–25 minutes until the beef is tender and a chopstick slides into the potato. Reduce over high heat until the sauce is thick.
- 4Serve with rice. For lunchboxes, portion and refrigerate; next day microwave for 4–5 minutes until piping hot.
Chef's tips
- A pressure cooker cuts the braise to 25 minutes. It tastes even better the next day — add some blanched choy sum for balance.
The TCM view
Beef is sweet and neutral, strengthening the spleen and stomach and building qi, blood and sinew; potato is sweet and neutral and settles the stomach; carrot is sweet and neutral and supports digestion and the liver; ginger and onion are pungent and warm, warming the stomach and moving qi so the tonic doesn't stagnate.
