Description
Savory Mongolian beef promises a quick, delicious dinner that brings classic Asian flavors to your table. Home cooks can easily prepare this restaurant-style dish with simple ingredients and minimal cooking time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) sirloin steak (1-inch thick)
- 4 tbsps garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup canola oil
- ⅓ cup reduced sodium tamari sauce (gluten-free) or soy sauce
- ½ cup water
- 8 stalks scallions, green parts only, cut into 2-inch pieces
- ¼ tsp salt
- Red pepper flakes or chili oil, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Slice sirloin steak into ultra-thin strips and gently tenderize each piece with a meat mallet to enhance texture and ensure even cooking.
- Coating: Transfer meat into a sealed container, dust with cornstarch, and massage thoroughly to create a light, even coating that will develop a crispy exterior during cooking.
- Searing: Heat canola oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, creating a sizzling surface. Place meat slices in a single layer, allowing each piece to caramelize quickly for about 30 seconds per side. Work in strategic batches to prevent overcrowding and maintain optimal cooking temperature.
- Seasoning: Remove seared meat and lightly season with salt, preserving its golden-brown finish. In the same skillet, quickly sauté minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, and red pepper flakes for 10-15 seconds to release their aromatic essence.
- Sauce Development: Pour tamari, water, and brown sugar into the pan, bringing the liquid to a vigorous boil to create a rich, glossy sauce. Reintroduce seared meat strips, gently folding to ensure complete coverage and allowing cornstarch to naturally thicken the mixture.
- Finishing: Sprinkle chopped scallions over the dish for a fresh, vibrant garnish. Serve immediately atop steamed white rice, delicate rice noodles, or crisp lettuce wraps for a dynamic culinary experience.
Notes
- Meat Preparation Tip: Slicing against the grain and using a meat mallet helps break down tough muscle fibers, ensuring tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat strips.
- Cornstarch Coating Technique: The light cornstarch dusting creates a protective layer that locks in moisture and develops a golden, crispy exterior during searing.
- Searing Strategy: Cook meat in small batches to maintain high skillet temperature, preventing steaming and achieving perfect caramelization.
- Sauce Enhancement: Quickly sautéing aromatics like garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes before adding liquid ingredients intensifies the overall flavor profile of the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg