Anise molasses brisket braised in a wok

1 sm Eggplant
      2 lb Beef brisket, trimmed of
           -excess fat
      2 tb Peanut oil
      1    Onion, finely chopped
      1 tb Minced fresh ginger
      1 tb Minced garlic
    1/2 ts Crushed red pepper
      6    Star anise
      3 tb soy sauce
    1/4 c  Dry sherry
      2 c  Beef broth
      3 tb Dark molasses
           Salt and pepper, to taste
      8    Dried black fungus (tree
           -ears)
      1    Tomato, finely chopped
      4    Scallions, sliced
      1 ts Asian sesame oil
 
  Here, beef brisket takes on an Asian flare.  Slices of meat are
  braised in an aromatic stock seasoned with star anise, soy sauce,
  ginger, garlic, red pepper and dark molasses.  As a final step,
  pureed eggplant is stirred in, for flavor and thickening.
  
  Pierce the eggplant several times with the tines of a fork.  Place in
  a preheated 400F oven and roast for 3 minutes, or until shriveled and
  soft. Set aside.  Slice the brisket against the grain into 1/4-inch
  thick slices.
  
  Heat the oil in a large wok or large deep skillet.  When it begins to
  smoke, add half of the beef and cook, stirring, until browned.
  Remove and set aside.
  
  Add remaining beef, and cook, stirring until browned.  Remove and set
  aside.  Add the onion, ginger, garlic, crushed pepper, star anise and
  soy sauce to wok and stir-fry for 10 seconds.
  
  Return beef to wok, along with the sherry, broth and molasses.  Stir
  to blend and season with salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer over low
  beat for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the beef is tender.
  
  While beef is cooking, soak fungus in hot water to cover.  When
  swelled and softened, drain and rinse well; set aside.
  
  Cut the stem end from the cooked eggplant.  Split in half lengthwise
  and scoop the flesh into a food processor or blender.  Puree.
  
  Add eggplant, drained fungus and tomatoes to beef and cook for 5
  minutes longer.  Stir in scallions and drizzle with sesame oil. Serve
  with rice, if desired.
  
  Serves 4.
  
  PER SERVING:  445 calories, 38 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate, 19 g fat
  (5 g saturated), 93 mg cholesterol, 916 mg sodium, 6 g fiber.
  
  From an article Andrew Schloss in the San Francisco Chronicle,
  11/18/92.
  
  Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; February 23 1993.