How to Make Stir-fry With Beef
Stir-frying is a cooking method that can make good use of excess produce and meats. Stir-frying is a quick way to have lunch or dinner on the table in less than half an hour. It is an affordable way to create a healthful meal for your family. You can make a stir-fry by following a recipe or by simply looking through your refrigerator and freezer to see what's available that would go well together. Beef is a versatile meat that works well in most stir-fries. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Lean beef
- Corn starch
- Peanut oil (or another high-smoke-point oil)
- Sesame oil
- Mixed vegetables
- Beef broth
- Soy sauce
- Sugar
- Cooked white rice
- Wok
Instructions
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1
Preheat your wok over high heat. If you do not have a wok, use a large frying pan with a thick bottom.
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2
Chop vegetables into bite-size pieces. Vegetables that go well with beef include onions, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, cabbage and snow peas.
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3
Salt and pepper the meat on both sides. If you prefer your beef medium or rare, leave it whole for now. Otherwise cut it into bite-size strips.
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4
Add 1 tbsp. peanut oil to the wok. The oil should smoke or almost smoke. Then add the beef. Cook the beef until it is seared on all sides. Remove and set aside.
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5
Reheat the wok for a few minutes. Add another tablespoon or two of peanut oil.
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6
Place your vegetables in the wok. Cook them for a few seconds before stirring to give them a chance to sear in the high heat.
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7
Slice your beef if you left it whole, and return it to the wok.
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8
Whisk together 2/3 cup beef broth, 1 tsp. sugar and 1 tbsp. soy sauce. Add 2 tbsp. corn starch. Whisk until the starch dissolves to create a slurry that thickens into a sauce.
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9
Mix the slurry into your stir-fry and allow it to cook until it thickens. This should take less than a minute.
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10
Remove the stir-fry from the heat, and add 1 tsp. sesame oil. If the stir-fry tastes bland, add more soy sauce. Serve over cooked white rice.
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Tips & Warnings
Many flavors can be added to a stir-fry. Lemon or lime juice adds an acidic flavor. Rice wine vinegar makes it sweeter. Ginger and garlic powder add spice.
The best cuts of beef for stir-frying are flank steak or sirloin. Avoid cuts with lots of connective tissue.
A preheated wok is very hot, and hot oil can splatter when ingredients are added. Do not burn yourself.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
