Usually I eat caraili by itself because of its bitter taste but when you have it in a dish like beef with caraili it takes on a different persona. Yes, beef with caraili is a little bitter but once you get over the bitterness, it is really great. Too besides, I’ll show you a method to get rid of most of the bitterness from the caraili so you can really enjoy the dish. I understand the importance of balancing flavors in a dish. While it may be tempting to avoid bitter ingredients like caraili altogether, incorporating them can add depth and complexity to a meal.
However, it is crucial to prepare the ingredient properly to ensure that it is not overpowering. To reduce the bitterness of caraili, I recommend soaking it in salted water for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This process helps to draw out some of the bitterness and results in a milder flavor. Additionally, pairing caraili with ingredients that have natural sweetness or acidity can help to balance out the bitterness.
When preparing beef with caraili, I like to use a combination of spices and aromatics to add depth and complexity to the dish. I start by searing the beef to lock in the juices and create a caramelized crust, then I add in sliced onions, garlic, and ginger to build a fragrant base. When it comes to the caraili, I make sure to properly clean and cut it into small pieces to reduce its bitterness. I then add it to the pot and let it cook until it is tender and has absorbed all the flavors of the spices and beef.
Prep Time: 5minutes mins
Cook Time: 20minutes mins
Total Time: 25minutes mins
Course: Meats
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 lg or 2 medium caraili cleaned & sliced
- ½ lb beef thinly sliced
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp ginger grated
- 3 cups water to boil caraili
- 1 tbsp oil for stir fry
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp soy sauce divided
- 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup rice cooking wine or rum
- ½ tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Boil caraili in 3 cups water with ½ tsp salt added for 3 minutes. Note: This will get some of the bitterness out.
- Season beef with 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp soy sauce, pepper, corn starch, cooking wine and a little water. Mix thoroughly and marinate for 10 minutes.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in the wok . Add onion and ginger. Stir for 1 minute. Add beef and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir evenly until beef changes colour and is completely cooked. Note: This step is critical. You have to make sure the beef is cut into thin strips and is fully cooked. You should not see any blood in the meat when cooked.
- Add boiled caraili and keep stirring for 2 mins. Add soy sauce and sesame oil and mix thoroughly. Serve hot.
Click the link to download the PDF version of this recipe.
Click here for step by step recipe with pictures.
Recipe © Simply Trini Cooking. All rights reserved
Beef With Caraili
Ingredients
- 1 lg or 2 medium caraili cleaned & sliced
- ½ lb beef thinly sliced
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp ginger grated
- 3 cups water to boil caraili
- 1 tbsp oil for stir fry
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp soy sauce divided
- 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup rice cooking wine or rum
- ½ tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Boil caraili in 3 cups water with ½ tsp salt added for 3 minutes. Note: This will get some of the bitterness out.
- Season beef with 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp soy sauce, pepper, corn starch, cooking wine and a little water. Mix thoroughly and marinate for 10 minutes.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in the wok . Add onion and ginger. Stir for 1 minute. Add beef and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir evenly until beef changes colour and is completely cooked. Note: This step is critical. You have to make sure the beef is cut into thin strips and is fully cooked. You should not see any blood in the meat when cooked.
- Add boiled caraili and keep stirring for 2 mins. Add soy sauce and sesame oil and mix thoroughly. Serve hot.
