Spicy, Anise-y Red-cooked Beef over Noodles

Ingredients

• peanut or veg oil
  ½ cup
• each minced ginger and garlic
  4 tbsp
• roughly chopped yellow onions
  2 cups
• thinly sliced green onions
  8 unit
• Sichuan peppercorns

  crushed in mortar or ground in a spice/coffee grinder
  1 tsp
• star anise
  4 unit
• – 6 tsp Chinese hot chili paste
  5 unit
• of bottom round or other lean stewing beef

  cut into ½ to 1-inch cubes
  1½ pounds
• sugar
  1½ tsp
• soy sauce
  3 tbsp
• beef broth (canned is fine) or a beef bouillon cube mixed with 1 cup water
  1 cup
• cornstarch mixed with 6 tablespoons water (optional

  if you prefer a thinner sauce)
  4½ tablespoons
• of fresh Chinese egg noodles or 1 pound thin dried egg noodles (in a pinch

  fettucine will do)
  1½ pounds