Chinese Beef Recipes

HOW TO TENDERISE BEEF (VELVETING BEEF)

Steps:

• Slice beef thinly against the grain. (Note 3)
• Place in a bowl. Sprinkle over baking soda, toss with fingers to coat evenly.
• Refrigerate for 30 to 40 minutes. (See Note 1 for different cuts)
• Rinse beef well with tap water. Shake off excess water, then use paper towels to blot away excess water (doesn't need to be 100% dry).
• Proceed with recipe of choice. Beef can be marinated or seasoned before cooking, stir fried or deep fried, and it will be soft and tender, "velvet" like. Use for Stir Fries, Stir Fried Noodles, Beef Stroganoff and any other recipe calling for quick-cooked beef strips.

EASY CLASSIC CHINESE BEEF STIR FRY

Steps:

• Combine the cornstarch and 2 tbsp of water in a small bowl, mix until smooth.
• Mix in remaining Sauce ingredients EXCEPT the 1/3 cup water.
• Place the beef and 2 tbsp of Sauce in a bowl and mix gently. Set aside for 15 minutes.
• Add 1/3 cup water into the remaining Sauce. Set aside.
• Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add garlic and cook for 15 seconds.
• Add onion and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the beef and cook until it changes colour from red to light brown but not cooked through.
• Add bell pepper and carrots and stir fry for 30 seconds.
• Add Sauce and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add pak choy and scallions/shallots and cook for a further 1 minute until the Sauce is thickened.
• Remove from heat immediately.
• Serve immediately with rice - or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice! Garnish with sesame seeds and cilantro, if using.

MONGOLIAN BEEF

Steps:

• Combine the sliced beef with 1 teaspoon oil, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Marinate for 1 hour. The beef should still be quite moist after it has marinated. If it looks too dry, add a tablespoon of water to it.
• Next, dredge the marinated beef slices in the remaining 1/4 cup of cornstarch until lightly coated.
• In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and hot water (or low sodium chicken or beef stock) until the sugar is dissolved. Mix in 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce. If you don't have low sodium soy sauce, substitute 2 1/2 tablespoons regular soy sauce and 1 1/2 tablespoons water. The saltiness of various soy sauce brands varies, so give the sauce a taste, and adjust the amounts of sugar/soy sauce/water/stock to your own taste.
• Heat 1/3 cup vegetable oil in the wok over high heat. Just before the oil starts to smoke, spread the flank steak pieces evenly in the wok, and sear for 1 minute (depending upon the heat of your wok). Turn over and let the other side sear for another 30 seconds. Remove to a sheet pan. Tilt it slightly to let the oil drain to one side (lean it on a cookbook or cutting board). The beef should be seared with a crusty coating.
• Drain the oil from the wok, leaving 1 tablespoon behind, and turn the heat to medium-high. Add the ginger and dried chili peppers, if using. After about 15 seconds, add the garlic. Stir for another 10 seconds and add the premixed sauce.
• Let the sauce simmer for about 2 minutes and slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry mixture. Cook until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Add the beef and scallions and toss everything together for another 30 seconds. There should be almost no liquid, as the sauce should be clinging to the beef. If you still have sauce, increase the heat slightly and stir until thickened. Plate and serve with steamed rice!

CHINESE BEEF STEW RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the beef, ginger, and peppercorn in cold water, enough to cover the beef. Bring the water to a boil. Let it boil for about five minutes. Remove the beef, wash and cut into chunks.
• Heat some vegetable oil. Saute the ginger, garlic, and scallion until aromatic. Add the blanched beef. Stir-fry for five minutes or until the beef turn slightly brown.
• Add the ingredients in the seasoning section.
• Add the dried orange peel, bay leaves, and star anise.
• Stew over low heat for two hours. Turn the beef occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• Add the cut radish. Continue cooking for 30-45 minute or until the radish becomes soft.
• Dish out and garnish with chopped scallion.

CHINESE BLACK PEPPER BEEF

Steps:

• Cut the beef steak into 1cm wide strips. Marinate with all the marinating seasonings including soy sauce, oyster sauce, pepper, sugar, Chinese cooking wine and cornstarch for 15 minutes. Mix in sesame oil just before start frying.
• Add cooking oil in a large pan until the oil can evenly cover the bottom of the pan. spread the beef strips in. Let them stay for around 5 to 6 seconds and gently stir them several times until the beef strips change color. Transfer the beef out and leave around 1 tablespoon of the oil in.
• Fry garlic until aromatic. Fry green peppers and red onion until slightly soft (do not kill them). Add a small pinch of salt. Return beef strips back. Mix well. Spread freshly ground black pepper.
• Serve hot with noodles or steamed rice.

CHINESE BEEF AND BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Toss the beef strips with the soy sauce and sherry. Set aside until ready to use.
• Combine the sauce ingredients until the cornstarch is dissolved. Set aside until ready to use.
• Heat the oil over high heat in a wok or large heavy skillet. Once very hot, add the beef and fry until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the onions, garlic and ginger and fry for another minute. Add a little more oil if necessary. Add the broccoli and fry for another minute or until crisp-tender. Stir in the bean sprouts. Stir in the sauce and simmer for another minute.
• Serve immediately with steamed rice.

CHINESE-STYLE BRAISED BEEF ONE-POT

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large, shallow casserole. Fry the garlic, ginger, onions and chilli for 3 mins until soft and fragrant. Tip onto a plate. Toss the beef in the flour, add 1 tbsp more oil to the pan, then brown the meat in batches, adding the final tbsp oil if you need to. It should take about 5 mins to brown each batch properly.
• Add the five-spice and star anise (if using) to the pan, tip in the gingery mix, then fry for 1 min until the spices are fragrant. Add the sugar, then the beef and stir until combined. Keep the heat high, then splash in the wine or sherry, scraping up any meaty bits. Heat oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2.
• Pour in the soy and stock (it won't cover the meat completely), bring to a simmer, then tightly cover, transfer to the oven and cook for 1½-2 hrs, stirring the meat halfway through. The meat should be very soft, and any sinewy bits should have melted away. Season with more soy. This can now be chilled and frozen for up to 1 month.
• Nestle the cooked bok choi into the pan, then bring to the table with the basmati rice straight away and tuck in.

BEEF WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon peanut oil in a large bowl. Add the steak and toss to coat; refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon each cornstarch and soy sauce, the oyster sauce and chicken broth in a small bowl; set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon peanut oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the ginger, broccoli and the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar and stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes; transfer to a plate. Heat 1 more tablespoon peanut oil in the skillet, add the onion and stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, turning gently, 2 minutes. Transfer the onion and tomatoes to the plate with the broccoli.
• Reduce the heat to medium high; add the remaining 2 tablespoons peanut oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and steak and stir-fry 1 minute. Whisk the sauce mixture, then add to the skillet and simmer 1 minute. Return the vegetables to the skillet; cook until the meat is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with rice, if desired.

MONGOLIAN BEEF

Steps:

• For the beef: Slice the flank steak across the grain into 3/4-inch (19 millimeters)-thick slices on an angle to make planks then cut the planks into 3/4-inch (19 millimeters) cubes. Combine the cornstarch, baking soda and salt with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and set aside. Place the steak in a shallow bowl and add the water, vegetable, and cornstarch mixture. Massage all the ingredients into the meat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 12 hours.
• For the sauce: Combine the oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch, vinegar, garlic and half the ginger in a small bowl and set aside.
• For the stir-fry: Heat the oil to medium-high in a wok or medium saute pan. Stir in the beef and cook to medium-rare, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Drain off excess oil. Add the garlic and remaining ginger and saute 20 to 30 seconds. Stir in the bell peppers and onions and let them cook until the edges of the onion and bell peppers begin to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the scallion whites, dried chilies and sauce, stir constantly and let it cook for about 2 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
• Transfer to a platter and garnish with the scallion greens.