Black Been Beef Stew

Black Bean Beef Stew
Growing up, we used to have Chinese-food quite often. It was always one of my favorite treats. I’m a child of the 80’s, and back then Chinese-food was in (I think it has always been in). My family and I would go at least once a week to a close by restaurant and get the "chicken in its nest", and the times we did not eat out, we cooked it at home. I still remember all the tools, the wok, the bamboo spatula; it was all so amusing to me. I was especially surprised at how fast we were always done and how incredibly complexed the flavors were. One dish that won my heart as an grown-up has to be the black bean beef stew. I know once you read the ingredients list, you may be quite overwhelmed. However, most of the things can keep for long and you can make this recipe many, many times; and believe me, once you learn how to do it, you'll be cooking it often. That I can promise!
This recipe yields 4 portions.
Ingredients: