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How to Cook Korean Beef Stew

Korean beef stew is a hearty, slow-simmered dish featuring tender beef in a rich, savory broth infused with soy sauce, star anise, and aromatic spices.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Beef Recipe
Cuisine: Korean
Keyword: beef recipe, beef stew, korean beef stew
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 480kcal
Author: Manny

Ingredients

  • 1 kilo beef short ribs or beef briskets cut into serving pieces
  • 1 whole garlic minced
  • 1 piece medium size red onion minced
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 4 cups water or beef stock
  • 3 Tbsp sesame seeds
  • 3 tsp sesame oil
  • 3 pieces green chilies or siling haba sliced into strips (optional)
  • 1 tsp black pepper ground
  • 1 whole piece of star anise
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 piece beef bouillon just in case you use water instead of beef stock
  • 5 stalks of spring onion chopped
  • patis or fish sauce
  • cooking oil

Instructions

How to cook Korean Beef Stew:

  • Heat oil in a deep skillet and saute garlic until brown and toasted. Remove garlic from pan and set aside.
  • If you want to shorten the cooking time, precook the beef in the pressure cooker until almost tender.
  • Then use the beef broth as beef stock in cooking the beef stew instead of using water and beef bouillon cubes.
  • In the same pan, saute onion until wilted then add the beef and stir fry until brown.
  • Pour the soy sauce and beef stock just enough to cover the beef. If you will use water instead of beef stock, add beef bouillon cube.
  • Add in the star anise and sugar and bring to a boil for an hour or until beef is very tender.
  • In the meantime, heat an empty skillet and toast the sesame seeds until slightly brown.
  • Mix with a spatula while toasting so it will be even, just prevent it from burning and turning it like black peppercorns.
  • Add the toasted sesame seeds, spring onions, toasted garlic, sesame oil, green chilies and simmer for additional 5 minutes.
  • Season with patis and black pepper and adjust the taste according to your taste buds. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Cooking Tips:

Precook the Beef for Tender Results

To achieve that melt-in-your-mouth texture, precook the beef in a pressure cooker before starting the stew. This step not only reduces the overall cooking time but also ensures consistent tenderness. Using the leftover broth from the pressure cooker as your beef stock deepens the flavor, making every bite more satisfying.

Toast Your Sesame Seeds and Garlic for Extra Flavor

Toasting sesame seeds and garlic separately enhances their flavors and adds depth to the stew. Sesame seeds become nuttier and more aromatic when toasted, while garlic turns crispy and caramelized, providing a bold contrast to the rich broth. These simple steps make the dish more fragrant and layered in texture, elevating it from good to unforgettable.

Simmer Slowly for a Richer, More Cohesive Flavor

Allowing the stew to simmer slowly ensures that the flavors meld together beautifully. The soy sauce, star anise, and beef need time to blend, creating a balanced, savory taste. Rushing this process can leave the stew tasting incomplete, so patience is key to achieving that perfect, comforting bowl.