Beef Noodle Soup

Name: Beef Noodle Soup
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 150 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2 lbs beef shank (or chuck, cut into 2-inch chunks); 12 oz fresh or dried thick wheat noodles; 2 tbsp neutral oil; 8 garlic cloves, smashed; 2 oz fresh ginger, sliced; 2 tbsp doubanjiang (spicy bean paste); 1/4 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup Shaoxing rice wine (or dry sherry); 8 cups low-sodium beef broth; 4 whole star anise; 1 cinnamon stick; 2 tsp granulated sugar; 4 green onions, sliced; 4 baby bok choy, halved

A deeply savory Chinese braised beef noodle soup with tender chunks of beef shank in a rich soy- and spice-scented broth, served over wheat noodles. This bowl is warming, bold, and satisfying.

150 minMediumServes 4480 cal/serving

ChineseSoupStovetopHigh ProteinHigh FiberNut-FreeDairy-FreeNightshade-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

2 lbs beef shank (or chuck, cut into 2-inch chunks)
12 oz fresh or dried thick wheat noodles
2 tbsp neutral oil
8 garlic cloves, smashed
2 oz fresh ginger, sliced
2 tbsp doubanjiang (spicy bean paste)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Shaoxing rice wine (or dry sherry)
8 cups low-sodium beef broth
4 whole star anise
1 cinnamon stick
2 tsp granulated sugar
4 green onions, sliced
4 baby bok choy, halved

Instructions

1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 lbs beef shank (or chuck, cut into 2-inch chunks) and blanch for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse the beef under cold water to remove impurities. Set aside.
2

Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 8 smashed garlic cloves and 2 oz sliced fresh ginger and stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 2 tbsp doubanjiang (spicy bean paste) and stir-fry another minute until the oil turns red.
3

Add the blanched beef and stir to coat with the aromatics. Pour in 1/4 cup Shaoxing rice wine (or dry sherry) and let it sizzle for 30 seconds.
4

Add 1/4 cup soy sauce, 8 cups low-sodium beef broth, 4 whole star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2 tsp granulated sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until the beef is fork-tender and falling apart. Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches at least 160°F (71°C).
5

About 10 minutes before the soup is ready, cook 12 oz fresh or dried thick wheat noodles according to package directions. In the last 3 minutes, add 4 halved baby bok choy to the broth to wilt.
6

Divide noodles into bowls. Ladle the broth and beef over the noodles. Top with 4 sliced green onions and serve hot.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The Chinese Kitchen 30 recipes from this kitchen in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

What internal temperature should Beef Noodle Soup reach?

For Beef Noodle Soup, the target internal temperature is 160 F (about 70 C), given in step 4. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Why blanch first in Beef Noodle Soup?

Step 1 reads: "Add 2 lbs beef shank (or chuck, cut into 2-inch chunks) and blanch for 3 minutes." The quick boil in step 1 sets the color and takes off the raw edge. If the step follows it with cold water, that is to stop the cooking at once so the vegetables stay bright and crisp.

Do I need any special equipment for Beef Noodle Soup?

Beyond a knife and a board, the method uses a Dutch oven (step 2) and a probe thermometer (step 4). If you do not have one, any heavy pot with a tight lid does the work of the Dutch oven.

What can I use instead of doubanjiang in Beef Noodle Soup?

The entry for Beef Noodle Soup calls for 2 tbsp doubanjiang (spicy bean paste). In its place: Use gochujang or a chili-garlic sauce with a spoonful of miso stirred in for the fermented bean depth.

Is Beef Noodle Soup spicy?

Yes, it is properly hot. The heat in Beef Noodle Soup comes from 2 tbsp doubanjiang (spicy bean paste). For a milder plate, start with half the bean paste and add more to taste at the end; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Does Beef Noodle Soup contain soy?

Yes: 2 tbsp doubanjiang (spicy bean paste) and 1/4 cup soy sauce. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten and soy. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.