Ginger Beef is an absolute classic from the hot and humid southwestern part of China. While other regions tend to tone down the spice and seasoning, Sichuan and other nearby provinces like their cuisine tongue-tingling and re-energizing. Nothing embodies this more than the ginger beef stir fry. This is a fantastic take on the explosive flavors of typical Sichuan cuisine for anyone who is not keen on full-blown spiciness. Not to mention, it’s also a party of textures – the beef’s tenderness wonderfully complements the crunchy bell peppers and tender baby bok choy. The sauce that brings it all together is the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, sour, peppery, and umami all in one.
Ginger beef cooking notes
1. Best cuts of beef to make stir fry
Try to get a good flank steak from your local butcher, as it will be of the best quality and thus deliver the tastiest results. Flank tends to be lean and boneless with lots of intense beef flavor. It is best when marinated and sliced thin for stir frying. On the other hand, if you live in a place where flank steak is difficult to find or expensive, you can replace it with skirt steak or fajita cuts. For an even cheaper alternative, you can use chuck roast or brisket. But remember, these cuts can be quite tough when stir fried. In this case, you should use the formula in my Orange Beef recipe, where I use baking soda to further tenderize the meat to create the desired soft texture.
2. How to slice the beef for stir fry
Always slice against the grain, and try to create a consistent thickness and size with your cuts. In this recipe, I used beef strips instead of thin slices, to create a meaty texture. To cut the beef, first, I identified the direction of the grain. Then I sliced along the muscle lines to create 2 small pieces. And I cut perpendicular to the grain of each strip, to create evenly sized slices that are about 1/2” (1 cm) thick and 2” (5cm) long. Then I flipped the slice and cut them into two even strips.
3. The secret formula to create crispy tender beef without deep-frying
Chinese restaurants deep fry the beef to create that heavenly crispy crust. But that uses tons of oil and is very messy to make. Not so practical in a home kitchen. Here is a much easier approach. I use my own formula with the combination of salt, oil, egg and cornstarch to coat the beef. Then you only need about 1/3 cup oil to pan fry the beef to get a crispy and juicy result. To ensure even cooking and speed up the process, I usually add all the pieces into the pan and spread them out using a pair of chopsticks (a spatula would work too!). Leave the meat to sear in the pan without touching it, until the bottom is browned. Then flip the beef to brown the other side. Your beef will end up quite crispy with much less oil.
Prep & workflow
Before you start cooking, you should have these bowls ready near your stove:
Bowl of aromatics: green onions, ginger, garlic Marinated beef coated with cornstarch Mixed sauce Sliced pepper and bok choy in a big bowl.
If you organize your ingredients in groups, the stir fry process will be so much easier.
To make the ginger beef:
Pan fry the beef and transfer the cooked beef onto a plate. Stir fry the aromatics until fragrant. Add the pepper and bok choy for a quick saute Thicken the sauce and add back the beef.
Seems pretty easy doesn’t it? That’s because we’ve grouped the ingredients together to make the workflow simpler.
Pair this stir fry with freshly steamed rice to soak up the deep, arresting flavors of the sauce, and you’ll have a princely takeout favorite with ten times the taste!
More delicious beef recipes
Real-Deal Szechuan Beef Stir Fry Easy Beef Fried Udon (Yaki Udon) Chinese Beef Stew with Potatoes Mongolian Beef (Without Using a Wok) Chinese Beef Chow Mein Beef Satay
If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with.
