Description
Enjoy this crispy chilli beef, featuring tender beef strips in a flavorful batter, tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce with vibrant vegetables. It’s a quick and delicious option for weeknight dinners or gatherings!
Ingredients
Scale
- 500g beef strips (flank steak or sirloin)
- 1 cup cornflour (cornstarch)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 cup water (adjust as needed)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2–3 red chillies (sliced, adjust to taste)
- 1 bell pepper (sliced, any color)
- 2–3 spring onions (sliced, for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Slice the beef into thin strips, about 1/4 inch thick, against the grain for tenderness. If needed, freeze for 30 minutes to make slicing easier.
- In a large bowl, mix cornflour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to create a crispy coating.
- Gradually add water to the dry ingredients, mixing until a smooth batter forms. It should be thick enough to coat the beef strips. Adjust water as necessary.
- Coat the beef strips in the batter and let marinate for 15-30 minutes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or wok over medium-high heat, ensuring there’s enough oil to partially submerge the beef.
- Test the oil by dropping in a small amount of batter; it should sizzle. Add the beef strips in batches, avoiding overcrowding.
- Fry for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Repeat with remaining beef strips, maintaining oil temperature.
- In a separate bowl, mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar.
- In the same pan used for frying, add more oil if needed and heat over medium. Sauté sliced red chillies and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Pour the sauce mixture into the pan with the vegetables. Stir and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Once the sauce thickens, add the crispy beef back into the pan. Toss gently to coat the beef and mix with vegetables.
- Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to heat through, being careful not to overcook the beef.
- Transfer the crispy chilli beef to a serving platter. Garnish with sliced spring onions and sesame seeds.
- Serve immediately with steamed rice or noodles.
- Enjoy your homemade crispy chilli beef, a guaranteed hit at any gathering!
Notes
- For an extra kick, consider adding crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Adjust the number of chillies based on your spice preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes