Crispy Chilli Beef

Ingredients

• 500 g beef strips (Thinly sliced steak or beef strips)
• 1 tsp garlic puree (For marinating the beef)
• 1 tsp light soy sauce (For marinating the beef)
• cornflour (Enough to coat the beef thoroughly)
• cooking oil (For frying the coated beef)
• 4 tbsp ketchup (For the sauce)
• 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce (For the sauce)
• 1.5 tbsp honey (For the sauce)
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (For the sauce)
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (For the sauce)
• 1 tsp garlic puree (For the sauce)
• 1 tsp ginger puree (For the sauce)
• garlic (Additional garlic for frying with the vegetables; amount not specified)
• mixed vegetables (Vegetables of choice, fried until fragrant and soft; amount and type not specified)
• sesame seeds (For garnish; amount not specified)
• green onion (Sliced, for garnish; amount not specified)
• fresh chillies (Optional; the author normally adds chillies for extra heat but did not have any)

Steps

1. 1

   Slice the beef into thin strips if it is not already prepared. Toss it with 1 teaspoon of garlic puree and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, then leave it briefly while preparing the coating and sauce.

2. 2

   Add enough cornflour to the beef to coat every strip thoroughly. Shake off only the excess coating so the pieces are dry and separate.

3. 3

   Heat oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the coated beef in batches, turning as needed, until deeply golden and crisp. Avoid overcrowding the pan, which can make the coating soft.

4. 4

   Transfer the crispy beef to a plate lined with paper towel to drain while you finish the sauce.

5. 5

   While the beef is cooking, combine the ketchup, sweet chilli sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar, dark soy sauce, garlic puree, and ginger puree in a bowl. Stir until smooth.

6. 6

   Carefully remove excess frying oil, leaving a small amount in the pan. Add the additional garlic and vegetables, and fry until fragrant and softened. Add optional sliced chillies at this stage for extra heat.

7. 7

   Pour the mixed sauce into the pan with the vegetables. Stir and let it reduce slightly until hot, glossy, and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

8. 8

   Return the crispy beef to the pan. Toss thoroughly until every piece is coated in the sauce, taking care not to cook it for so long that the coating loses its crispness.

9. 9

   Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onion. Serve immediately, optionally with rice.

Notes

The source does not specify the amount of beef, cornflour, frying oil, garlic, vegetables, sesame, or green onion, so these quantities should be adjusted to taste and serving size. Fry the beef in batches for the crispiest result. Serve immediately because the sauce will gradually soften the coating.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• crispy
• stir-fried
• takeaway-style
• quick meal
• spicy
• high-protein