Chinese Cuisine
Tomato Braised Beef Brisket
A comforting Chinese-style beef brisket stew simmered with fresh tomatoes, carrots, and onions. The tomatoes are cooked down into a rich sauce that balances the hearty beef with a pleasant tangy sweetness.
- Total
- 1 hour 30 minutes
Quick Recipe Summary
- Cuisine
- Chinese
- Category
- Chinese Cuisine
- Method
- Stir-fry
- Total Time
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Main Ingredient
- Beef Brisket
About This Recipe
A comforting Chinese-style beef brisket stew simmered with fresh tomatoes, carrots, and onions. The tomatoes are cooked down into a rich sauce that balances the hearty beef with a pleasant tangy sweetness.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Uses a steady cooking method that helps the ingredients absorb flavor gradually.
- Beginner-friendly enough for cooks who are still building confidence in the kitchen.
- Good for learning how seasoning and simmering build flavor over time.
- Shows a practical way to cook meat with clear preparation and cooking cues.
- Gives the dish a clear tangy and savory flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.
Ingredients
- 500 g Beef Brisket
- 2 medium (about 200 g) Tomatoes
- 1 medium Carrot
- 1 medium Onion
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 4 slices Ginger
- 1 small piece Cinnamon Stick
- 2 pods Star Anise
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 Cardamom Pod
- 2 Cloves
- 1 tsp Sichuan Peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp White Pepper
- 1 tsp Sugar
- To taste Salt
- 1 tsp White Vinegar
- 1 tsp Chicken Bouillon
- 2 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
Ingredient Notes
These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust.
Beef Brisket
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
medium (about 200 g) Tomatoes
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
medium Carrot
Vegetables bring texture and freshness; cut them evenly so they cook or ferment at a similar pace.
medium Onion
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Ingredients & Techniques Used in This Recipe
These guides explain the key sauces, ingredients, and cooking techniques used in this recipe, so you can understand the dish instead of only following steps.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Cut the beef brisket into bite-sized pieces and soak in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess blood.
Step 2
Prepare the garlic, ginger, cinnamon stick, cardamom pod, cloves, star anise, bay leaves, and Sichuan peppercorns.
Step 3
Cut the carrot and onion into large chunks.
Step 4
Peel one tomato and cut it into chunks.
Step 5
Blend the second tomato into a smooth puree and set aside.
Step 6
Blanch the beef brisket in boiling water for 2–3 minutes, then rinse and drain.
Step 7
Heat oil in a pot. Add garlic, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and cloves. Stir-fry until fragrant.
Step 8
Add the carrot and onion pieces and cook for 2–3 minutes.
Step 9
Add the blanched beef brisket and stir-fry until lightly browned.
Step 10
Add the chopped tomato and continue stir-frying.
Step 11
Cook until the tomato breaks down completely into a thick pulp.
Step 12
Pour in enough water to cover the beef. Add white pepper, sugar, salt, and white vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 1 hour until the beef is tender.
Step 13
Transfer to a wok or continue cooking uncovered. Add chicken bouillon and simmer over high heat for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce.
Step 14
Turn off the heat and stir in the tomato puree or ketchup until evenly combined.
Step 15
Serve hot with plenty of rich tomato sauce spooned over the tender beef brisket.
Cooking Tips
- Cook the tomatoes until they fully break down to develop a deep color and rich flavor. White vinegar helps tenderize the beef during braising. Add ketchup or tomato puree after turning off the heat to preserve its fresh tomato aroma. Simmer uncovered at the end if a thicker sauce is desired.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
- Add a light soup or cold vegetable side if the stir-fry is salty, spicy, or saucy.
- Keep rice or noodles ready before cooking because stir-fries are best served immediately.
Recipe Card
A comforting Chinese-style beef brisket stew simmered with fresh tomatoes, carrots, and onions. The tomatoes are cooked down into a rich sauce that balances the hearty beef with a pleasant tangy sweetness.
Ingredients
- 500 g Beef Brisket
- 2 medium (about 200 g) Tomatoes
- 1 medium Carrot
- 1 medium Onion
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 4 slices Ginger
- 1 small piece Cinnamon Stick
- 2 pods Star Anise
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 Cardamom Pod
- 2 Cloves
- 1 tsp Sichuan Peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp White Pepper
- 1 tsp Sugar
- To taste Salt
- 1 tsp White Vinegar
- 1 tsp Chicken Bouillon
- 2 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
Method
- Cut the beef brisket into bite-sized pieces and soak in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess blood.
- Prepare the garlic, ginger, cinnamon stick, cardamom pod, cloves, star anise, bay leaves, and Sichuan peppercorns.
- Cut the carrot and onion into large chunks.
- Peel one tomato and cut it into chunks.
- Blend the second tomato into a smooth puree and set aside.
- Blanch the beef brisket in boiling water for 2–3 minutes, then rinse and drain.
- Heat oil in a pot. Add garlic, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and cloves. Stir-fry until fragrant.
- Add the carrot and onion pieces and cook for 2–3 minutes.
- Add the blanched beef brisket and stir-fry until lightly browned.
- Add the chopped tomato and continue stir-frying.
- Cook until the tomato breaks down completely into a thick pulp.
- Pour in enough water to cover the beef. Add white pepper, sugar, salt, and white vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 1 hour until the beef is tender.
- Transfer to a wok or continue cooking uncovered. Add chicken bouillon and simmer over high heat for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the tomato puree or ketchup until evenly combined.
- Serve hot with plenty of rich tomato sauce spooned over the tender beef brisket.
More Chinese Recipe Guides
Related Recipes
Keep exploring Chinese home cooking with similar recipes and beginner-friendly dishes from the collection.
