Sweet and Sour Beef
Sweet and Sour Beef
Ingredients
For the Batter
- 2 parts self-raising flour
- 1 part cornflour
- as needed water, to achieve a thick batter
For the Beef Preparation
- 1 pound velveted beef, thinly sliced or in strips
- as needed cornstarch or flour, for coating
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce, (ketchup)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- tiniest bit red powder, for color
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
For the Stir-fry
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 onion, cut into chunks
- as needed cooking oil, for deep frying
For Thickening the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon potato starch or flour
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- 1
In a clear glass mixing bowl, combine 2 parts self-raising flour and 1 part cornflour. Gradually add water, mixing by hand, until a thick, smooth batter is formed.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Add the velveted beef to the batter in the bowl. Mix the beef by hand until every piece is thoroughly coated in the batter. Ensure the beef is properly velveted for best results.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Transfer the batter-coated beef to a tray covered with cornstarch or flour. Mix the beef by hand, separating each piece to ensure it's individually coated in the dry starch/flour and doesn't stick together.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Carefully add the coated beef pieces into the hot oil, separating them as they enter the wok. Stir the beef continuously with a long-handled spoon to prevent sticking. Fry until the beef pieces are cooked through and slightly firm.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
In a Pyrex measuring cup, combine tomato sauce (ketchup), soy sauce, water, sugar, and vinegar. Add a tiny bit of red powder for color. Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Once the beef from the first fry is cooked, increase the heat on the wok to high. Continue frying the beef until it becomes crispy and golden brown. Add the chopped bell peppers (green, yellow, red) and onion directly into the hot oil with the beef. Stir them quickly with the beef for about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min
- 7
Using a large slotted ladle, remove the crispy fried beef and vegetables from the hot oil and transfer them to a metal colander to drain any excess oil.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Empty the oil from the wok. Add a small spoonful of minced garlic to the hot wok. Immediately pour the prepared sweet and sour sauce from the measuring cup into the wok. Bring the sauce to a boil.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
While the sauce is boiling, create a slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of potato starch or flour with 2 tablespoons of water. Add the slurry to the boiling sauce, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Return the drained, crispy fried beef and vegetables to the wok with the thickened sauce. Using a wok spatula and ladle, toss everything together vigorously, ensuring all the beef and vegetables are evenly coated in the sweet and sour sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Transfer the finished Sweet and Sour Beef onto a serving plate and serve immediately.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Sweet and Sour Beef
For the Batter
- 2 parts self-raising flour
- 1 part cornflour
- as needed water, to achieve a thick batter
For the Beef Preparation
- 1 pound velveted beef, thinly sliced or in strips
- as needed cornstarch or flour, for coating
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce, (ketchup)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- tiniest bit red powder, for color
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
For the Stir-fry
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 onion, cut into chunks
- as needed cooking oil, for deep frying
For Thickening the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon potato starch or flour
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- 1
In a clear glass mixing bowl, combine 2 parts self-raising flour and 1 part cornflour. Gradually add water, mixing by hand, until a thick, smooth batter is formed.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Add the velveted beef to the batter in the bowl. Mix the beef by hand until every piece is thoroughly coated in the batter. Ensure the beef is properly velveted for best results.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Transfer the batter-coated beef to a tray covered with cornstarch or flour. Mix the beef by hand, separating each piece to ensure it's individually coated in the dry starch/flour and doesn't stick together.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Carefully add the coated beef pieces into the hot oil, separating them as they enter the wok. Stir the beef continuously with a long-handled spoon to prevent sticking. Fry until the beef pieces are cooked through and slightly firm.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
In a Pyrex measuring cup, combine tomato sauce (ketchup), soy sauce, water, sugar, and vinegar. Add a tiny bit of red powder for color. Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Once the beef from the first fry is cooked, increase the heat on the wok to high. Continue frying the beef until it becomes crispy and golden brown. Add the chopped bell peppers (green, yellow, red) and onion directly into the hot oil with the beef. Stir them quickly with the beef for about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min - 7
Using a large slotted ladle, remove the crispy fried beef and vegetables from the hot oil and transfer them to a metal colander to drain any excess oil.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Empty the oil from the wok. Add a small spoonful of minced garlic to the hot wok. Immediately pour the prepared sweet and sour sauce from the measuring cup into the wok. Bring the sauce to a boil.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
While the sauce is boiling, create a slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of potato starch or flour with 2 tablespoons of water. Add the slurry to the boiling sauce, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Return the drained, crispy fried beef and vegetables to the wok with the thickened sauce. Using a wok spatula and ladle, toss everything together vigorously, ensuring all the beef and vegetables are evenly coated in the sweet and sour sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Transfer the finished Sweet and Sour Beef onto a serving plate and serve immediately.
⏱️ 1 min