ingredients
• 5 cups water
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup Chinese rice wine or medium-dry Sherry
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 (1-inch) cube peeled fresh ginger, smashed
• 1 bunch scallions, white parts smashed with flat side of a large knife and green parts chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 10 fresh cilantro stems plus 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro sprigs
• 2 (2-inch-long) pieces Asian dried tangerine peel*
• 4 whole star anise
• 1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
• 2 1/2 pounds meaty beef short ribs
• 1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (14 ounces)
• 10 ounces dried Chinese wheat noodles* or linguine
• 1 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
• 4 tablespoons Chinese pickled mustard greens**
• 1 (4-inch-long) fresh red chile (optional), thinly sliced
• Special equipment: cheesecloth