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Beef and Lettuce Congee

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Beef and Lettuce Congee

SERVES: 4 TO 6
ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine, dry white wine or dry sherry
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 6 ounces beef round, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup medium-grain Chinese, Japanese or Korean white rice
  • 8 cups cold water
  • 4 scallions, sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 1/2 pound romaine lettuce leaves, cut crosswise into 1-inch ribbons (6 cups)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Hot Chile Paste
  • Freshly ground pepper
directions
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the wine, soy sauce and cornstarch. Add the beef and turn to coat. Let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  2. Wash the rice thoroughly until the water runs clear. Put the rice in a large saucepan and wash again until the water runs clear; drain. Cover the rice with the 8 cups of cold water and bring to a vigorous boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the rice is very tender, about 20 minutes. 
  3. About 5 minutes before serving, bring the congee to a vigorous boil. Stir in the meat and its marinade and the scallions and remove from the heat. Stir in the lettuce and salt. Serve immediately in large bowls, passing Hot Chile Paste and fresh pepper at the table so guests can season their congee as they wish.

MAKE AHEAD The recipe can be prepared through Step 2 up to 2 hours ahead. The congee will thicken as it stands, so you may have to add up to 1 cup of water to ensure a soupy texture.

WINE One way to match the underlying heat of chile paste is to serve an equally assertive, spicy wine, such as the 1995 Robert Mondavi Zinfandel; alternatively, offer a cool, refreshing beer, such as Japan's Asahi.

Recipe by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford
From A Peak Experience in China
This recipe originally appeared in May, 1998.