Wonton Noodle Soup with Five Spice Beef Shank (Mom)

Ingredients

• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 2 large slices ginger
• 4 heads baby bok choy, washed and cut into 1/4 inch slices
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 tablespoon naturally brewed soy sauce
• Salt
• 1 pound fresh wonton noodles, blanched in salted water right before serving
• Five Spice Beef Shank, recipe follows
• 1/2 cup sliced scallions
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil

Directions

Heat the stock in a stock pot with the ginger and reduce by 20 percent. Add the bok choy, white pepper, and soy sauce. Cook for 3 minutes until bok choy is soft. Check for seasoning. Place the hot noodles in 4 large bowls and top with stock and bok choy. Place sliced beef on top. Garnish with scallions, cilantro, and drizzle with sesame oil.

Five Spice Beef Shank:

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed peppers
• 8 thin slices fresh ginger
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 1/2 pounds beef shank
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 4 cups red wine
• 1 tablespoon five spice powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 pieces star anise
• Dash cinnamon powder
• 1 large piece rock candy (1-inch cube)

Prepare a large non-stick stock-pot coated with oil over high heat. Add the crushed pepper, ginger, and garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Place the beef in the stock-pot and cook, covered about 4 minutes on each side. Add the soy sauce, red wine, five spice powder, salt, star anise, cinnamon, and rock candy and bring the mixture to a boil for about 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat and let simmer for 2 1/2 hours turning the shank every 20 minutes. Remove the shank from the pot and let cool before slicing and adding to the Wonton Noodle Soup.