Cooking for Lunar New Year often means making more than enough. Food is one of the ways we show care, share abundance, and bring everyone together around the table.
A generous pot of braised beef with daikon makes a comforting celebration meal, and the leftovers can be used again the following day. The remaining beef, daikon, and broth become a bowl of longevity noodles, carrying the celebration forward while honouring the tradition of long life and continued good fortune.
It is a simple way to create two meals from one pot while reducing food waste.
Lunar New Year Braised Beef with Daikon
This comforting braised beef dish is slowly simmered with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, star anise, and cinnamon. The daikon absorbs the savoury broth and becomes tender as it cooks.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb beef chuck or brisket, cut into large cubes
- 1 large daikon, cut into chunks
- 4 slices ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoons oil
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the beef and brown lightly on all sides.
- Stir in the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, star anise, and cinnamon. Mix until the beef is coated.
- Add the water and bring everything to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 1.5 hours, or until the beef is tender.
- Add the daikon during the final 25 minutes of cooking.
- Serve the braised beef and daikon with rice, reserving any remaining beef, daikon, and broth for the next meal.
Longevity Noodles with Beef and Daikon
The following day, the leftovers can be turned into a comforting noodle soup. Longevity noodles are traditionally enjoyed during Lunar New Year and other celebrations as a symbol of long life.
Ingredients
- Leftover braised beef
- Leftover daikon
- Leftover braising broth
- Glass noodles or wheat noodles
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Boiled egg, optional
Instructions
- Cook the noodles separately according to the package directions, stopping just before they are fully done.
- Bring the leftover broth to a simmer in a pot.
- Add the noodles and allow them to finish cooking in the broth. This lets them absorb more of the savoury flavour.
- Add the leftover beef and daikon and cook until heated through.
- Finish with sesame oil and add a boiled egg, if desired.
Two Meals from One Pot
The first meal is a rich and comforting braised beef dish for the Lunar New Year table. The second transforms the leftovers into longevity noodle soup without feeling like the same meal twice. Two meals, one pot, and less food waste, with the spirit of abundance continuing into the next day.
For more ideas on making Lunar New Year celebrations food waste free, visit Love Food Hate Waste Canada at @lovefoodhatewasteca.