Carrots and potato beef stew 胡萝卜土豆烧牛肉

Unlike the traditional Chinese beef stew this version is really light with much less fat and oil. I always add extra water into the stew just to make sure there will be enough stew soup for yummy beef noodles later. And of course you can only use tomatoes instead of carrots and potato to have tomato beef stew which has an really fresh and rich flavor.
这个版本的胡萝卜土豆烧牛肉跟传统做法相比清淡许多，少油少脂肪，美味却不减。我总喜欢慢炖时多加点水，这样隔天就能吃好吃的牛肉面啦！当然用西红柿完全代替胡萝卜和土豆，味道那是非常鲜美啊！

Ingredients 食材:
4 pieces bay leaf, 4 dried chili pepper halved, 2 star anise, 2.5 inch long cinnamon,  6 big slices ginger, 1 nutmeg, 1 tsp Szechuan peppercorn, 1 tsp whole black peppercorn,  1tbsp Szechuan bean paste chili (can use Siracha sauce instead), 6 cups water, 3 tbsp cooking wine, 5 tbsp soy sauce,  3tsp salt, 2 tsp sesame oil,  1.5 lb beef cut into 1 inch chunks (steak cut is the best), 2 carrots cut into 2 inch pieces,  12 white new potato (1.5 inch diameter) halved crosswise, half yellow onion chopped, 2 tbsp chopped spring onion.
4片月桂树叶，4个干辣椒拌开并保留辣椒籽，食指长短桂皮，6片姜片，1个草果，1茶匙四川花椒，1茶匙整颗型黑胡椒，1汤匙四川豆瓣酱，6杯水，3汤匙料酒，5汤匙酱油，3茶匙盐，2茶匙芝麻油，1350克瘦牛肉切块，2棵胡萝卜滚刀切，12个新小土豆对半切，半个黄洋葱切小块，2汤匙碎香葱。

Instructions 步骤:

1: In a large skillet heat up sesame oil on medium-high. Add Szechuan peppercorn, halved dry chili pepper, spring onion, stirring for 10 seconds.
1：芝麻油加热后，爆香花椒和干辣椒。再加入香葱翻炒10秒钟。
2:Add beef chunks, Szechuan bean paste chili or Siracha sauce, and onion stirring frequently until beef is turning a bit brown.
2：加入牛肉块，豆瓣酱和洋葱快速翻炒至牛肉变色。
3: If you use "slow cook" or " pressure cook" or "electric pressure cook", then transfer everything in the skillet and all the rest of the ingredients to your cook pot (don't forget the 6 cups of water). Set time 35 minutes for pressure cook, and 40 minutes for slow cook. Otherwise just transfer everything in the skillet and the rest of the ingredients in a big pot. Cook on high heat and then reduce the heat to low when its starts to boil, keep low heat for 50 minutes stirring occasionally.
3：如果使用“电慢炖锅”或者“高压锅”或“电压锅”，则将步骤2中的牛肉倒入锅中，加入桂皮，月桂叶，草果，胡椒，水，料酒，酱油，盐，胡萝卜和土豆。电压锅35分钟，慢炖锅40分钟。如果使用传统锅，则将所有食材加入大锅中后，大火煮开，小火炖50分钟。

Tips 技巧:
1: Just replace carrots and potatoes with 5 tomatoes keeping every other steps the same, you will have yummy tomato beef stew.
1：用4－5个西红柿代替胡萝卜和土豆，其它步骤不变，就是好吃的西红柿炖牛肉。

2: The stew juice can be very useful as noodles broth, plain rice mixing...
2：汤汁可以当作面条底料，用来拌饭也好吃。