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Beef and Onion Stir Fry (Quick and Easy Classic Recipe)

Beef and Onion Stir Fry (Quick and Easy Classic Recipe)

Beef and onion stir fry features tender strips of beef stir-fried with onions in a delicious savory sauce, perfect for quick weeknight meals.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 3 servings
Calories 257 kcal

Equipment

  • Frying pan
  • Wok
  • cutting board
  • knife

Ingredients
  

Beef and Onions

  • 300 g sirloin steak or rib eye, flank steak or blade steak
  • 0.5 pieces white onion or yellow onion
  • 4-5 slices ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic minced or sliced thinly
  • 1 stalk green onion cut into 2 inch pieces

Marinade

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 0.5 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch added after marinating
  • 1 tablespoon oil added after marinating

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce low sodium
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1.5 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 0.5 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 0.5 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine or dry sherry/rice wine
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce for color, can sub with regular soy sauce
  • 0.5 cup water

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Peel and slice ½ white onion (or yellow onion), and separate the segments. Set it aside for later.
  • Peel and thinly slice 3 cloves garlic. Alternatively, you can also mince it as well.
  • Slice 4-5 slices ginger and set it aside for later.
  • Cut off the root part of 1 stalk green onion and discard it. Then cut the green onion into 2-inch pieces. For the chonky white part, slice it in half lengthwise again. Set this aside for later.

Marinate Beef

  • Thinly slice the beef against the grain and put it in a bowl.
  • (Optional) To make it easier to slice, you can put it in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm it up slightly.
  • Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine, 2 tablespoons water, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil into the bowl with the sliced beef and marinate it for 15 minutes.
  • Once you have finished marinating the meat, add in 1 teaspoon cornstarch and mix well. This will create a velvety layer that will seal in the beef's moisture.
  • Once the cornstarch is mixed evenly with the beef, add 1 tablespoon oil to it and mix well again and set it aside.

Make the Stir Fry Sauce

  • In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 tablespoon corn starch until there are not lumps.
  • Then add in 1 teaspoon sugar, 1½ tablespoons oyster sauce, ½ tablespoon hoisin sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, ½ tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine, and 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce (or reg. soy sauce) and mix everything well.
  • Then mix in ½ cup water and set it aside for later.

Stir Fry

  • Use a large frying pan or a wok and set it on the stove on high heat.
  • Once the pan is very hot, add in the oil and sliced beef. Don't be shy with the oil, it will help the beef not stick to the pan and sear it better.
  • Spread the beef out throughout the surface of the hot pan to brown it to create an initial sear. Stir fry the beef until it is about 90% cooked, approx. 2-4 minutes depending on how thinly you sliced it. Remove it from the pan and set it aside for later.
  • Add a bit more oil into the pan, and the ginger slices. Toast the ginger for 1 minute until it is slightly brown.
  • Then add in the onion slices and ginger and stir fry it until it is soft and slightly brown, approx. 2 minutes.
  • Push the onions, ginger and garlic to the side of the pan.
  • Mix the stir-fry sauce again, and pour the sauce into the hot pan. Keep stirring the sauce in the pan until the sauce has turned thick and it has turned from a milky color to a dark brown color.
  • Once the sauce is thick, mix the onions into the sauce, and add the beef back in as well. Add the green onions as well and stir fry everything for about 1 minute.
  • Plate and enjoy with steamed rice!

Notes

Preparation is crucial; have everything on hand for a smoother process. Marinating allows for maximum flavor. Cooking with high heat ensures the beef remains tender and juicy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 24gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 795mgPotassium: 456mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 41IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Beef and Onion Stir Fry, beef recipe, Chinese Dish, Quick and Easy Recipe, Stir Fry
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