Begin by combining all the sauce components in a small cup. This includes the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, tomato sauce, rock sugar, and a splash of beef stock. Mix everything well until the sugar dissolves, creating a flavorful base.

Using a mortar and pestle (or even a food processor if you have one), pound the minced garlic, chopped coriander roots, and red pepper flakes until you form a paste. This will become the flavor booster for your beef, so give it a good smash!

Heat up your preferred cooking pot—a pressure cooker, slow cooker, or a cast iron pot works beautifully. Drizzle in the oil and allow it to get hot. Once hot, add the beef casserole pieces. Sear the beef on each side until nicely browned. Once browned, remove the beef from the pot and set it aside for later.

In the same pot, add the garlic-coriander paste you prepared in Step 2. Stir it around for a few minutes, allowing those incredible flavors to bloom. Next, toss in the chopped onion. Stir until the onion is soft and fragrant.

Return the browned beef to the pot, mixing it in with the sautéed onion and garlic paste. Pour in the sauce you prepared earlier, followed by the rock sugar, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and star anise pods. Give it all a good stir to coat the beef in the flavorful sauce.

Pour in the beef stock and enough water to cover the meat. Stir everything together and bring it to a gentle simmer. If you are using a pressure cooker, cover it properly.

If you’re using a pressure cooker, lock the lid and cook for 35-40 minutes. If you’re opting for a slow cooker or cast iron pot, you might want to let it simmer on low heat for about 2-3 hours until the beef is fork-tender.

Once the cooking time is over, mix the corn flour with water to create a slurry. Stir this into the pot to thicken your sauce. Let it cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, allowing the sauce to reach the desired consistency.

Dish out the tender beef with a generous scoop of steaming rice. Add some steamed vegetables on the side, sprinkle with fresh coriander, and slice up some chili for a bit of heat if you desire. Your Asian beef masterpiece is now complete—enjoy every bite!