Gingered Beef Stir-Fry
Submitted by medicone
Gingered beef stir-fry with sirloin, snow peas, mushrooms, red pepper, and celery in a soy-ginger sauce. Includes both wok and microwave methods. Served over rice.
YIELD
2 servingsPREP
20 minCOOK
20 minREADY
40 minA quick beef stir-fry that puts fresh ginger at the center. Thin-sliced sirloin gets seared fast over high heat, then tossed with snow peas, mushrooms, red bell pepper, celery, and scallions. A simple sauce of minced ginger, soy sauce, and cornstarch goes in at the end and thickens into a glossy coating in seconds.
Slicing the beef ⅛ inch thin against the grain is what makes the difference here. Paper-thin slices cook in under a minute and stay tender. Thick cuts turn chewy no matter how hot your wok is.
The recipe includes both a wok method and a microwave method, so you can make this even without a proper stir-fry setup.
Kitchen Tips
- Freeze the sirloin for 20 minutes before slicing. Partially frozen beef holds its shape and cuts cleanly into those thin strips.
- Get the wok screaming hot before the oil goes in. The beef should sizzle on contact. If it doesn’t, your pan isn’t hot enough.
- Cook the beef first, remove it, then cook the vegetables separately. Adding everything at once drops the heat and steams instead of searing.
- Mix the cornstarch sauce right before you need it. Cornstarch settles quickly and won’t thicken properly if it separates.
Variations
- Add a splash of rice vinegar to the sauce for a tangy edge.
- Use chicken breast or shrimp in place of beef for a lighter version.
- Toss in water chestnuts for extra crunch.
Ingredients
Directions
Cut beef diagonally across grain into ⅛ inch slices.
Heat oil in wok or medium skillet over medium-high heat.
Add beef and seasonings and stir-fry until beef is browned.
Add vegetables and stir-fry until vegetables are tender crisp.
Blend ginger, cornstarch, soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon water in small bowl; add to beef and cook, stirring, until sauce is thickened.
Serve over rice.
Microwave Oven Instructions =========================== Cut beef diagonally across grain into ⅛ inch slices.
Combine beef, salt, pepper and oil in 1-quart baking dish .
Cover with waxed paper and cook on HIGH (maximum power) 1 minute.
Stir and cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes on HIGH.
Remove beef and set aside. Add vegetables and cook on HIGH 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables are tender crisp.
Blend ginger, cornstarch, soy sauce and 1 teaspoon water in small bowl.
Add beef and cornstarch mixture to vegetables.
Cover and cook on HIGH power 1 minute; stir and cook 1 minute longer.
Let stand 2 minutes. Serve over rice.
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