Beef and Chestnut Stew

Got busy this days, was thinking to post here another recipe and this time its Chinese, i am fond of this being a part Chinese. My ancestors on the father side is Chinese although we don't speak the language. We were not taught how to speak the language nor we did not go into a Chinese school. My father was born and raise in the Philippines, he could understand and speak the language a little, but the tradition of preparing some food and other chinese tradition like celebrating New Year was carried on from their generation to ours. The recipe that i will share here is simple and easy to prepare and you can find the ingredients in the grocery store.




Ingredients:

4 tablespoon peanut oil
3 pounds stewing beef, cut into 3/4 cubes
Sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
4 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
4 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon finely minced or crushed garlic
1 whole star anise
1 teaspoon roasted and crushed Szechwan peppercorns
4 cups water
1/2 pound dried chestnuts, soaked overnight and drained


Directions:

Heat a wok or large frying pan and add oil. Brown the meat
and place in a stove-top casserole. Mix all ingredients for
the sauce and add to the pot, along with the browned meat. Add
the drained chestnuts and cover. Simmer for about 1 1/2 hours,
or until all is very tender.