Description
A delicious and crispy chili beef stir-fry featuring tender strips of beef coated in a light, crispy batter and tossed in a flavorful, spicy sauce with garlic, ginger, and bell peppers. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal served over steamed rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Batter
- 1 lb beef sirloin or flank steak, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
Sauce and Vegetables
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce (adjust to taste)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1–2 red chilies, sliced (optional for extra heat)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Slice the beef thinly against the grain into strips to ensure tenderness and even cooking.
- Make the batter: In a bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Add the egg and water, then whisk until the batter is smooth and consistent.
- Fry the beef: Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a frying pan or deep skillet. Dip the beef strips fully into the batter to coat, then fry in batches for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare the sauce base: Heat sesame oil in a wok or large pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic, minced ginger, sliced onion, and bell pepper; sauté for about 2 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
- Add sauce ingredients: Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, chili sauce, and sugar. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Combine beef and sauce: Add the crispy fried beef to the sauce in the wok or pan. Toss to coat the beef evenly with the sauce, and stir-fry together for an additional 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish the dish with sliced red chilies for extra heat if desired, and sprinkle with chopped green onions for freshness. Serve immediately with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the amount of chili sauce or add more fresh red chilies.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the pan when frying the beef to maintain crispiness.
- Adjust the sweetness and acidity of the sauce by varying the sugar and rice vinegar amounts to your preference.
- This recipe works well with sirloin or flank steak for the best texture.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with peanut or canola oil for frying if preferred.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: Crispy Chilli Beef, Asian Beef Stir Fry, Spicy Beef Recipe, Crispy Beef, Stir Fry Beef with Chili Sauce
