spicy beef recipe

How to Make Spicy Beef: A Comprehensive Guide

Spicy beef, a beloved Sichuan dish, tantalizes taste buds with its numbing, spicy, and savory flavors. Here’s a detailed guide to crafting it at home.

Ingredients: 500g beef tenderloin, sliced thin; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine; 1 egg white; 3 tbsp cornstarch; 4 dried chilies; 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tbsp ginger (minced); 2 tbsp cooking oil; 1 tbsp chili bean paste; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp salt; Sesame seeds (for garnish).

Steps:

1. Marinate the Beef: In a bowl, mix beef slices with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, egg white, and cornstarch. Let it rest for 20 minutes to tenderize.

2. Prepare the Aroma: Heat oil in a wok over medium heat. Add dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns, stir-frying until fragrant (30 seconds). Remove half for garnish.

3. Sauté the Beef: Increase heat to high. Add marinated beef and stir-fry until browned (2-3 minutes). Remove and set aside.

4. Create the Sauce: In the same wok, sauté garlic, ginger, and chili bean paste until fragrant. Return beef to the wok, add sugar, salt, and reserved chili-peppercorn mix. Toss quickly to coat.

5. Serve: Dish out, sprinkle with sesame seeds and extra chilies/peppercorns. Enjoy with rice or noodles!

Tips: For extra crunch, blanch beef slices in boiling water for 10 seconds before stir-frying. Adjust spice levels by varying chili amounts. This dish pairs perfectly with cold beer to balance the heat!