Crispy Chilli Beef
Crispy Chilli Beef is a deliciously addictive dish that features tender beef strips coated in a crunchy exterior and enveloped in a spicy, sweet sauce.
Ingredients
For the Beef
- 360 g thin-cut sirloin steaks, cut into thin strips Approximately 3 thin steaks
- 1 small egg Helps achieve crispness
- 4 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅛ tsp white pepper
- 4½ tbsp sunflower oil, divided For frying
For the Sauce
- 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced into thin strips
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato puree Tomato paste in the US
- 6 tbsp caster sugar Superfine sugar
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce Thai-style recommended
Instructions
Preparation
- Place the thinly sliced steak strips in a bowl and add the egg. Mix together thoroughly to coat all the beef in egg.
- Add the cornflour, salt, black pepper, and white pepper to the beef. Toss everything together until the meat is fully coated.
Cooking
- In a large frying pan or wok, heat 3 tablespoons of oil over high heat until very hot.
- Add half the beef strips to the pan one at a time, spreading them out. Fry until dark brown and crispy, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the crispy beef from the pan and place it in a bowl lined with kitchen paper. Repeat with the second batch of beef.
- With the remaining ½ tablespoon of oil, reduce the heat to medium. Add the sliced onion and cook for 2 minutes until slightly softened.
- Incorporate the finely chopped chilli, minced ginger, and minced garlic into the pan, cooking for an additional 30 seconds while stirring.
- Add the rice vinegar, dark soy sauce, tomato puree, sugar, tomato ketchup, and sweet chilli sauce. Increase the heat and allow to bubble for a couple of minutes until the sauce starts to reduce and thicken.
- Return the crispy beef to the pan, stirring to coat in the sauce, and heat through for 1-2 minutes until everything is hot. Serve immediately with rice or noodles.
Notes
For extra crunch, double fry the beef. Adjust the amount of red chilli to cater to your spice tolerance. Consider marinating the beef in soy sauce and ginger for an hour for deeper flavor.