Beijing Beef Recipe

"Beijing Beef is a wonderful dish of marinated beef strips sautéed with bell peppers and onion and then tossed in a spicy sweet and tangy sauce. In China, this dish is more often prepared with Chinese broccoli (gai lan, which is a leafy green that's in the kale family) instead of the garden-variety of broccoli that's more commonly used in the U.S. I've never made it with the kale-like Chinese broccoli, but I do know this dish is awesome with regular broccoli. I usually serve it with a generous serving of white rice on the side for a delicious, well-rounded meal."

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Using a sharp knife, cut the beef against the grain into 1/4-inch thick slices.

Step 2

For the Marinade - In a medium size mixing bowl stir together the eggs, cornstarch, salt and white pepper. Add beef stips and toss until well coated. Let marinate in fridge for 30 to 60 minutes.

Step 3

For the Beijing Sauce - in a small bowl whisk together the water, sugar, ketchup, hoisin, soy sauce, oyster sauce, chili sauce, red pepper flakes and vinegar; set sauce aside.

Step 4

Add the 3 Tbsp cornstarch to a large bowl. Remove beef from marinade (discarding the marinade), and place marinated beef into the bowl and toss until beef is lightly dusted with cornstarch.

Step 5

Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Shake beef strips to remove extra cornstarch. Add beef to the hot oil and sauté 2 to 3 minutes or until beef is done and well browned. Transfer beef to a plate, and set it aside.

Step 6

Add onion and bell pepper to the wok (and add a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil if needed to prevent sticking), and sauté vegetables for 2 to 3 minutes or until soft and edges begin to caramelize. Add garlic to the wok, and continue to cook until fragrant, about 30 to 60 seconds. Transfer vegetables to the plate with the cooked beef).