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Chinese Beef Stew with Chickpeas and Star Anise
This hearty, aromatic stew is our adaptation of a recipe from “Hot Sour Salty Sweet” by cookbook authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid, who explain that the dish comes from the Hui people of Yunnan province in western China. We use beef shanks in our version, as the bones contribute amazing richness and body to the broth, thereby allowing us to skip the step of browning the meat, a flavor-building technique used in many braises. Without searing, the broth boasts a clean, pure beefiness, so the spices—star anise, five-spice powder and Sichuan peppercorns—have a bold presence, yielding warm, subtly sweet and tingling peppery notes that bring depth and complexity. A generous dose of herbs adds freshness. Serve with steamed or stir-fried greens and rice or warmed flatbread.
4
Servings
Tip
Don't add all of the chickpeas to the pot with the beef. We add only half with the meat; with long cooking, these chickpeas soften, adding body to the braising liquid. We add the remaining chickpeas at the end so they retain their texture and contrast the tender beef.
2¼ hours
15 minutes active
Ingredients
-
2
tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral oil
-
6
medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
Directions
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01Heat the oven to 325°F with a rack in the lower-middle position. In a large Dutch oven over medium, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the garlic, scallion whites, cilantro stems, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns and five-spice powder. Cook, stirring frequently, until the scallions begin to brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce, 3 cups water, ½ teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper, then add the beef shanks and half the chickpeas. Cover and transfer to the oven. Cook until a skewer inserted into the meat meets no resistance, 1½ to 2 hours, stirring once halfway through.
Reviews
January 29, 2025
I love many Milk Street recipes, but
We found this to be very pedestrian and won't make again.
January 23, 2026
Easy and flavorful, one of my favorites!
This is by far one of my favorite Milkstreet recipes! It’s pretty easy to make and great for company. I made this for my sister and her boyfriend, and he asked my sister to add it to their usual meal rotation😊. The only downside is that it takes a long time in the oven, but the smell is divine! I love cooking with cilantro stems and really think it is under utilized in recipes. I usually have this with sides of steamed Chinese broccoli and brown rice for a perfect meal. I crave this when I want something filling. I’ve also tried freezing this in individual portions for an easy frozen meal when I don’t feel like cooking, and it worked out great. The only thing was that my rice was a bit soggy, so in the future I’ll try undercooking the rice and vegetables a tad so they’ll better survive the freezing process. Hope you love this recipe as much as I do!
2 questions as i am making this. How spicy is this dish using 2 tsps of Sichuan peppercorns?should i use less? And for star anise—do you use 4 complete stars or just individual pods from 1 star? 4 whole stars seems extreme.
Hi Bunnie -
Sichuan peppercorns boast beautiful citrus notes, but the magic of these lies as much in their function as in their flavor; instead of attacking the tongue with spiciness, Sichuan peppercorns induce a tingling sensation similar to drinking a super carbonated seltzer or eating a whole pack of pop rocks. So, use less if you want to cut down on that mouth-numbing feel. As for the star anise, yes, 4 complete "stars," are called for in the recipe.
Best,
The Milk Street Team
The two comments above are correct. This recipe made a unique & fabulously delicious beef stew! The only change I made was using beef short ribs and flanken beef, as beef shanks are impossible to find in my small town. Also fished out the smashed garlic along with the star anise pods afterward. I was a little concerned by the amount of star anise used, but I shouldn't have been. The flavor of it was subtle and just right, perfectly complementing the other spices. I'll definitely be adding this recipe to the frequently cooked rotation. Thanks again, Ms. Hill & Milk Street team!
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The Chinese Beef Stew with Chickpeas and Star Anise is absolutely one hundred times more tasty than Pho Soup, if you could even believe that Pho Soup could be more tasty! Delicious, rich, creamy and subtly spicy. I will definitely make this again!