Star Anise Flank Steak With Watercress, Mint, Orange And Fennel Salad

Ingredients for orange star anise sauce:
1 T vegetable oil
1 shallot, cut in half and sliced
2 star anise, whole
1 Thai red chile, slit lengthwise, seeded and kept in one piece
2 cups store-bought orange juice
zest and juice of 2 oranges
1 T fresh smashed ginger
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 T fish sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 whole star anise, ground in mortar and pestle
1 T unsalted butter, cold
kosher salt

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Ingredients for flank steak:
1 flank steak, cut into 1/4-inch slices across the grain
3/4 cup cornstarch
2 T garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 star anise, crumbled up in a mortar and pestle
vegetable oil, for frying
orange-star anise sauce
kosher salt
watercress with crispy garlic

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Ingredients for orange-fennel salad:
3 oranges, peeled and segmented
1/2 bulb fennel, thinly sliced
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1/2 bunch fresh mint, leaves picked
1/3 cup, sliced almonds
kosher salt

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Ingredients for watercress salad:
2 T vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 bunches watercress, rinsed and dried
kosher salt

Preparing the orange star anise sauce:
Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute the shallots, tossing until they are golden brown, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Add the star anise and chile. Deglaze with all of the orange juice. Add the ginger, sugar, the rest of the orange juice and stir. Reduce the sauce over medium-high heat until a syrup consistency, approximately 5 minutes. Strain into a smaller saucepan, and return to the stove. Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, ground star anise and orange zest. Cook over medium-low heat until the orange zest is tender, approximately 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the butter, stir to incorporate. Season the mixture with salt.

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Preparing the flank steak:
In a large, wide-based pot, heat the oil to 365 degrees F. Prepare a sheet tray lined with paper towel.

Place the cornstarch, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and half of 1 ground star anise in a bowl. Lightly dredge the flank steak slices in the cornstarch mixture in batches.

Fry the flank steak slices in batches. Remove the steak from the oil and place on a lined tray. Fry the remaining flank steak, repeating the process. Place the flank steak in a large bowl, toss with the orange star anise sauce and season with the other half of the ground star anise and salt.

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Preparing the orange fennel salad:
In a bowl, add the oranges, fennel, red onion, and vinegar. Season with salt and mix well. Add the fresh mint leaves and sliced almonds just before serving.

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Preparing the watercress with crispy garlic:
In a saute pan, heat the oil over high heat. Fry the garlic, tossing constantly, until golden brown, ensuring the garlic does not burn. Add the watercress and toss. Cook until just beginning to wilt, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt.

Serves 4