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Tomato Beef Stew

番茄炖牛腩 · Fān qié dùn niú nǎn

Beef chuck slowly simmered with tomato, onion, and potato. Wait for the beef to soften before adding the potatoes.

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Prep15 min
Cook120 min
Serves4
DifficultyMedium
Tomato Beef Stew — ingredient illustration, not a photo
Original ingredient illustration · not a photograph · China Table · CC0 1.0
Recipe guide · not yet kitchen-testedAI-assisted editorial draft. Timing depends on your stove, pan, and ingredient size. Use the doneness checks below.

Let’s get cooking

  1. 01

    Brown the beef

    Pat beef dry. Heat oil over medium-high heat and lightly brown in batches; transfer to a clean plate.

  2. 02

    Soften the base

    In the same pot cook onion, ginger, and tomatoes for 5 minutes, scraping any browned bits with a splash of water.

  3. 03

    Slowly simmer

    Return beef, add soy sauce and enough hot water to nearly cover. Simmer covered 80–100 minutes until nearly tender.

  4. 04

    Add potatoes

    Add potatoes and simmer 20–25 minutes until both beef and potatoes are tender. Add hot water as needed.

  5. 05

    Taste and serve

    Season with salt. If the broth is thin, simmer briefly uncovered; stop before potatoes break apart.

A little kitchen wisdom

Stewing cuts need time; lean quick-fry steak will not give the same result.

Can’t find an ingredient?

Fresh tomatoes: Plain canned chopped tomatoes work; taste for acidity before seasoning.

Cook safely

Whole cuts of beef must reach 63°C / 145°F and rest at least 3 minutes.

FoodSafety.gov guidance ↗