Once Upon a Menu: Yaka Mein

If you're hungover right now, I've got the New Orleans cure for you. It's yaka mein, "the morning after" soup. Chinese and Black New Orleans came together to create this trusted remedy. It's a true melting-pot dish. The brothy depth of the juicy roasted beef is guaranteed to get you going and ready for brunch.

Even better: make it the night before, and you can thank me later.

Here's to the next round! 🎉 🍷 🥃 🤢

For more stories and recipes follow my Once Upon a Menu series on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @theinfinitefeast.

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Morning-After Yaka Mein

Serves 6

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 pounds boneless chuck roast, sliced in 3 or more large pieces

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

4 celery ribs, diced

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Maggi seasoning

1 tablespoon Creole seasoning, plus more to taste

8 cups beef broth

1 pound spaghetti

6 large eggs, hard-cooked, peeled and halved

6 scallions, thinly sliced

Heat oven to 375°F.

To a large Dutch oven or other heavy oven-proof pot that can be covered, over medium-high heat, add oil. When shimmering, Brown chuck on all sides, working in batches if necessary. Transfer to plate.

To pot, add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring and scraping up browned bits, till softened and beginning to color.

Return beef to pot. Add soy sauce, Worcestershire, Maggi, Creole seasoning, broth. Bring to boil, cover, remove from stovetop, braise in oven 2 1/2 to 3 hours, turning meat 3 to 4 times during cooking, till fork-tender.

Transfer beef to cutting board, chop or pull into bite-size pieces, return to broth. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Taste broth and adjust with additional Creole seasoning, soy sauce, or Maggi as needed.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in boiling salted water till just tender. Drain well.

Divide spaghetti among 6 bowls or as desired. Top generously with beef and ladle over plenty of hot vegetable broth. Top each bowl with 2 egg halves and a generous scattering of scallions. Serve hot.

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So you need a bowl of this, this morning, do you? 🎉 🍷 🥃 🤢

Follow me @theinfinitefeast on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, for more "Once Upon a Menu" stories and recipes. And check out my cookbook right here!

🥩 🧅 🫑 🍝 🥩 🧅 🌿 🥚 🫑 🍝 🥩