Real-Deal Szechuan Beef Stir Fry
4 standard portions
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Dietary & allergen details
Based on listed recipe ingredients. No certification is implied.
- Celery: not fully checked
- Gluten-containing cereals: not fully checked
- Wheat: not fully checked
- Crustaceans: not fully checked
- Eggs: not fully checked
- Fish: not fully checked
- Lupin: not fully checked
- Milk: not fully checked
- Molluscs: not fully checked
- Mustard: not fully checked
- Tree nuts: not fully checked
- Peanuts: not fully checked
- Sesame: not fully checked
- Soya: not fully checked
- Sulphites: not fully checked
Check the actual product labels and preparation. Substitutions can change this information.
Ingredients
- 1 lb flank steak (, cut against the grain to 1/8” (4-mm) slices (*Footnote 1))
- 1 egg (, beaten)
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil ((or vegetable oil))
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar ((*Footnote 2))
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce ((or soy sauce))
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce ((or soy sauce) (*Footnote 3))
- 1 tablespoon homemade chili oil ((Optional))
- 1 tablespoon Doubanjiang ((fermented chili bean paste) (*Footnote 4))
- 1/2 cup beef stock ((or water))
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup peanut oil ((or vegetable oil))
- 1/4 white onion (, sliced)
- 1 bell pepper (, thinly sliced (I used half red and half green))
- 4 Chinese dried chili peppers
- 1 tablespoon ginger (, minced)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (, minced)
- Roasted sesame seeds (for garnish (Optional))
Method
- Beat the egg in a medium sized bowl. Add the sliced beef, vegetable oil, and salt. Mix well and let marinate for 15 to 20 minutes while preparing the other ingredients.
- Combine everything for the sauce in a big bowl and mix well.
- When you’re ready to cook, drain the extra liquid from the bowl of beef. Add the cornstarch. Stir to coat the beef, until it forms an uneven coating with a little dry cornstarch left unattached.
- Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet (or a cast iron pan) over medium high heat until hot. Add the beef and spread into a single layer in the skillet. Separate the beef pieces with a pair of tongs or chopsticks.
- Cook without touching the beef for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bottom turns golden. Flip to brown the other side, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the beef to a big plate and remove the pan from the stove. Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Place the pan back onto the stove and turn to medium heat. You should still have 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil in the pan. If not, add more.
- Add the onion, pepper, and dried chili pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the ginger and garlic. Stir a few times to release the fragrance.
- Stir the sauce again to dissolve the cornstarch completely. Pour into the pan. Stir and cook until it thickens a bit.
- Add back the beef pieces. Stir to coat beef with sauce.
- Transfer everything to a plate immediately and garnish with roasted sesame seeds, if using.
- Serve hot over steamed rice as a main dish.