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Chinese medical traditions →

Braised sesame beef with fennel

Beef in a crust of toasted sesame, seasoned with fennel seed.

Traditional use

Time
Preparation 20 min (plus 2 hours standing), cooking 40 min
Makes
4 people
Sesame

Fennel seed is regarded as a warming tonic for the digestion and supports spleen, stomach, liver and kidneys. Beef and sesame are also warming and strengthening.

Ingredients

  • 100 g white sesame (bai zhi ma)
  • 500 g beef tenderloin, in 3 cm cubes
  • 15 g fennel seed (xiao hui xiang)
  • 2 tbsp butter or oil
  • 250 ml water
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice wine

Step by step

  1. Toast the sesame in a dry frying pan until golden brown, grind finely and roll the meat in it. Leave for 1–2 hours.
  2. Toast the fennel seed in the same pan until fragrant and grind finely.
  3. Heat butter or oil in a wok and fry the meat for about 30 seconds.
  4. Deglaze with the water, bring to the boil, season with sugar, soy sauce and rice wine and braise covered for 30 minutes.
  5. Stir in the fennel powder.

Tips

  • Can also be made with lamb.
  • Sprinkle with coriander or spring onion.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 356

    Sesame

    Sesamum indicum

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, softens the skin, diuretic, promotes menstruation and milk flow, laxative; leaves for respiratory complaints, diarrhoea and dysentery in children, bladder catarrh; seeds for bleeding haemorrhoids, absent or painful menstruation.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 72

    Fennel

    Foeniculum vulgare

    The seed is traditionally used for wind, bloating and cramps. There are some small studies, but evidence is limited.

    Greco-Roman medicine+9Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.