Beef Stir-Fry
Beef Stir-Fry
Ingredients
For the Beef Marinade
- 1 1/2 pounds beef steak, flank, sirloin, or similar, sliced into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
For the Stir-Fry Sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
For the Vegetables and Cooking
- 1 onion, medium, sliced into crescent-shaped pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, medium, sliced into thin strips
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil, high smoke point oil like vegetable or canola
- 4 cups cooked white rice, for serving
- 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the beef: Place the beef steak between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet, pound the beef until it is thinner and more tender, about 1/4-inch thick. Remove the plastic wrap, trim any excess fat or silver skin, then slice the beef into thin strips against the grain. Transfer the sliced beef to a medium bowl.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Marinate the beef: To the bowl with the beef, add the dark soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, corn starch, oyster sauce, and baking soda. Mix thoroughly with your hands until the beef strips are evenly coated. Set aside while preparing other ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Prepare the stir-fry sauce: In a small bowl, combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, water, cornstarch, and sesame oil. Whisk with a spoon until the cornstarch is fully dissolved and the sauce is well combined. Set aside.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Prepare the vegetables: Slice the onion into crescent-shaped pieces. Slice the red bell pepper into thin strips. Chop the green beans into bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Cook the beef: Heat a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Once hot, carefully place the marinated beef strips into the pan in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Sear the beef for 3 minutes per side, turning with tongs, until browned and cooked through. Remove the cooked beef from the pan and set it aside in a clean bowl.
⏱️ 6 min
- 6
Sauté the vegetables: In the same pan (do not clean it), add the remaining 1 tablespoon of cooking oil if needed. Add the chopped green beans, sliced onion, and sliced red bell pepper. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Add the minced garlic. Sauté the vegetables for 3 minutes, stirring constantly with tongs, until they are slightly tender-crisp.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Combine and finish: Return the seared beef strips to the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Give the prepared stir-fry sauce a quick stir, then pour it over the beef and vegetables. Cook on high heat for 3 minutes, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency and coats all ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Serve: Serve the beef stir-fry immediately in bowls, accompanied by a mound of white rice. Garnish with white sesame seeds, if desired.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Beef Stir-Fry
For the Beef Marinade
- 1 1/2 pounds beef steak, flank, sirloin, or similar, sliced into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
For the Stir-Fry Sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
For the Vegetables and Cooking
- 1 onion, medium, sliced into crescent-shaped pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, medium, sliced into thin strips
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil, high smoke point oil like vegetable or canola
- 4 cups cooked white rice, for serving
- 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the beef: Place the beef steak between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet, pound the beef until it is thinner and more tender, about 1/4-inch thick. Remove the plastic wrap, trim any excess fat or silver skin, then slice the beef into thin strips against the grain. Transfer the sliced beef to a medium bowl.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Marinate the beef: To the bowl with the beef, add the dark soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, corn starch, oyster sauce, and baking soda. Mix thoroughly with your hands until the beef strips are evenly coated. Set aside while preparing other ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Prepare the stir-fry sauce: In a small bowl, combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, water, cornstarch, and sesame oil. Whisk with a spoon until the cornstarch is fully dissolved and the sauce is well combined. Set aside.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Prepare the vegetables: Slice the onion into crescent-shaped pieces. Slice the red bell pepper into thin strips. Chop the green beans into bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Cook the beef: Heat a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Once hot, carefully place the marinated beef strips into the pan in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Sear the beef for 3 minutes per side, turning with tongs, until browned and cooked through. Remove the cooked beef from the pan and set it aside in a clean bowl.
⏱️ 6 min - 6
Sauté the vegetables: In the same pan (do not clean it), add the remaining 1 tablespoon of cooking oil if needed. Add the chopped green beans, sliced onion, and sliced red bell pepper. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Add the minced garlic. Sauté the vegetables for 3 minutes, stirring constantly with tongs, until they are slightly tender-crisp.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Combine and finish: Return the seared beef strips to the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Give the prepared stir-fry sauce a quick stir, then pour it over the beef and vegetables. Cook on high heat for 3 minutes, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency and coats all ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Serve: Serve the beef stir-fry immediately in bowls, accompanied by a mound of white rice. Garnish with white sesame seeds, if desired.