Caramelized Beef and Pineapple

The wonderful flavors of the orange peel and cinnamon add a delicious dimension to this dish. You'll be digging into your bowl with gusto!

Serves 4  Prep Time 5 minutes  Cooking Time 25 minutes

1/2 cup light soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
peel from 1 orange
1/2 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 cinnamon bark
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (patis)
juice from half a lemon
1/2 kilo beef sirloin or tenderloin,
      sliced into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 (234-gram) can pineapple chunks, drained
1 bunch bokchoy
steamed rice, to serve

1  In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, garlic, orange peel, peppercorns, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid and return it to the pan.

2  Add sugar, fish sauce, and lemon juice. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar has fully dissolved and sauce has become slightly thick.

3  Add beef. Once cooked and sauce coats the back of a spoon, add pineapple chunks. Stir gently. Set aside.

4  Separate the leaves of the bokchoy; wash and dry. Steam until tender.

5  To serve, fill four bowls with rice. Arrange bokchoy leaves then top with caramelized beef and pineapple.

Photography by Miguel Nacianceno | Food Styling by Angelo Comsti | Prop Styling by Rachelle Santos | Props from the Yummy Prop Library and stylist's own