This fragrant recipe for Chinese Beef Noodle Soup is a delicious, and healthy soup that makes the perfect warming meal.
Asian Soup That’s Full of Rich Deep Flavors
I love Asain noodle soups! Usually, they are quick and easy to whip up for a quick meal like my Quick and Easy Chinese Noodle Soup, but the wonderful thing about this soup is it’s a slow-cooked soup that creates beautifully tender beef and a full-bodied broth that’s packed full of flavor!
This soup is based on a soup by Gok Wan. Gok is well known in the UK and when I lived there, he had a TV show on Chinese cooking that changed the way I cook Chinese food. I just love the authentic flavors and amazing simplicity of his food. I have both his cookbooks (you can find them here on Amazon.com and here in the UK)(As an Amazon Associate, a small commission is made from qualifying purchases).. I have yet to make a bad Gok meal.
Why This Recipe Works:
- The aromatic ingredients like garlic ginger, cinnamon, and star anise create a deeply flavored broth.
- Slow cooking the beef creates tender meat that can’t be beat.
What Beef Is Best for Slow Cooking
When it comes to buying stewing meat, you probably think beef is beef, right? But the ideal stew isn’t made with lean, pricier cuts of meat. It’s best to go for the less expensive, tougher cuts, that tenderize as it cooks.
I love braised & stewed beef and I adore Asian food so when I saw Gok’s soup, I just had to try it. It is so full of flavor and so healthy, I could eat it every day. It’s really easy to make, and the recipe calls for fragrant and simple ingredients.
How to Make Chinese Beef Noodle Soup
Start with having the ingredients ready. It just makes things simpler as you cook.
Begin with browning the meat with garlic, fresh ginger, and green onions.
Add a splash of dry sherry.
Next, you cover with beef stock and add:
Star anise if you’re in the US, you can it here on Amazon.(As an Amazon Associate, a small commission is made from qualifying purchases).
Chinese five-spice (also available from Amazon here)(As an Amazon Associate, a small commission is made from qualifying purchases).
and a cinnamon stick
Let simmer for 1 – 2 hours season with soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce and a bit of water if needed. Add some Chinese vegetables and serve with Chinese noodles.
It’s that simple! Serve and enjoy every last bite.
JUST A HEADS UP – THE AMAZON LINKS ABOVE ARE AFFILIATE LINKS, WHICH MEANS I MAKE A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU MAKE A PURCHASE.
Cook’s Tips:
- Don’t skip browning the beef. That’s where the soup starts to build its deep, rich, flavor.
- Don’t take short cuts on cooking time. Rushing the cooking time will result in beef that’s tough and chewy.
- Want a Low Carb Option? Add extra beef and enjoy the beautiful flavors without the noodles.
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Let's Make Chinese Beef Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed
- 1 inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and sliced, plus more for serving
- 4 green onions sliced into rounds
- ½ lb stewing beef cut into cubes
- 1 star anise
- ½ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cups beef stock
- 1 splash dry sherry
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons low sodium dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 8 oz chinese noodles of your choice
- 6 leaves Chinese cabbage shredded
- 6 leaves Bok choy/Pak choi
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a saucepan over high heat. Add the ginger, garlic, green onions and the beef and brown on all sides.
- Add the sherry and season with a little salt and pepper and allow the sherry to cook a minute.
- Cover with the beef stock.
- Add the star anise, five-spice powder, and cinnamon, and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer for one to two hours, until the meat is tender. If the liquid level dissipates during cooking, add a little water to bring it back up to the original level.
- Once the beef is tender, discard the whole spices and the chunks of ginger and garlic and put the meat to one side.
- Heat the liquid through, adding the dark & light soy sauce, fish sauce, and oyster sauce. Taste if the flavor is too intense, add more water.
- Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions (being careful not to let them get too soft).
- while the noodles cook, Add the Chinese cabbage & Bok choy to the soup & cook until tender, but not soft (1-3 minutes depending on how you like it).
- Strain the noodles & divide them between the serving bowls.
- Divide the beef between the bowls and pour over the hot soup.
- Sprinkle over the sliced green onions and serve.
Tips + Notes
- Don't skip browning the beef. That's where the soup starts to build its deep, rich, flavor.
- Don't take short cuts on cooking time. Rushing the cooking time will result in beef that's tough and chewy.
Inga Gaines says
I just love all the flavors that’s in Chinese and Asian dishes
Wendy says
This recipe was BOMBBB! My family and I loved it so much!
Erren Hart says
I’m so glad you liked it, Wendy!
Leyana says
So easy to make and delicious ❤️
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Leyana 🙂
Lori Naomi Philipchalk says
This is very delicious 😋 we used chicken instead and it took less time. I would recommend this recipe my 11 year old child made this and said it was fun and easy !!!
Erren's Kitchen says
That’s good to hear, thank you 🙂
Jammer says
Great recipe! Very nice flavours, and super easy. I cook it in an Instant Pot, and can make a delicious soup with super tender beef in about an hour start to finish.
Erren's Kitchen says
Wow that’s great, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Rachel Chamness says
This recipe is fantastic! I make a lot of soups and this broth is SO good. The fish sauce did not make it fishy (as some recipes do). My non-soup-eating kids actually finished their bowls – wow. My husband loved it and the next day was asking if there was any more left. The proof is in the people. It is now in my recipe book! Hats off to you for such a lovely broth.
Erren's Kitchen says
This is why I do this, I love to hear that a whole family has enjoyed one of my recipes. Thank you