Vietnamese Beef Congee

Ingredients

• 1 cup (200g) jasmine rice 1 cup (200g) jasmine rice
• 8 cups (1.9L) beef broth 8 cups (1.9L) beef broth
• 1 lb (450g) beef chuck, thinly sliced 1 lb (450g) beef chuck, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 thumb-sized ginger, sliced 1 thumb-sized ginger, sliced
• 2 star anise 2 star anise
• 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish) Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 8g, 2g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 38g, 2g
• Protein: 24g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
2. 2.
   In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and sliced ginger. Sauté until fragrant.
3. 3.
   Add the beef slices to the pot and cook until browned.
4. 4.
   Pour in the beef broth and add the rinsed jasmine rice, star anise, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
5. 5.
   Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the rice has broken down and the congee has thickened.
6. 6.
   Remove the star anise from the pot and discard.
7. 7.
   Serve the Beef Congee hot, garnished with sliced green onions and fresh cilantro.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Beef chuck — For a more tender result, you can marinate the beef slices in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for 30 minutes before cooking.
• Star anise — If you prefer a stronger anise flavor, you can add an extra star anise to the pot while simmering.

Tips & Tricks

• To add more depth of flavor, you can top the congee with fried shallots or drizzle it with sesame oil before serving.
• If you prefer a thicker consistency, cook the congee for a longer time until it reaches your desired thickness.
• Leftover congee can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth to loosen it up.

Serving advice

Serve the Vietnamese Beef Congee hot in individual bowls. It can be enjoyed as a standalone meal or accompanied by various toppings such as sliced chili peppers, fried garlic, or a squeeze of lime juice for added freshness.

Presentation advice

For an appealing presentation, garnish the Beef Congee with a sprinkle of sliced green onions and fresh cilantro. You can also serve it with a side of crispy fried dough sticks (youtiao) for dipping.