This Szechuan Beef is a classic Chinese stir fry dish made with tender and juicy pieces of beef added with the vibrant colors and crunchy vegetables all tossed with sweet and savory homemade Szechuan sauce, this is so good I personally enjoy this recipe and it is even better than what you’d get at a restaurant!
This homemade restaurant style Szechuan Beef is quick and easy to make, ideal for weeknight meals. This recipe is perfect for a spicy food lover, can be ready on the table in 30 minutes or less. you’ll never want to order Chinese takeout again!
If you’re looking for an easy recipe and too lazy to stay in the kitchen for too long then this recipe is perfect for you and a treat for your family!
You can’t go wrong with the sweet and spicy flavors of this classic recipe. Next time you’re craving Chinese food, skip the take out and make it at home!
What is Szechuan Beef?
Szechuan Beef is stir-fried thin slices of marinated beef it is tender, juicy and tingly spicy of Szechuan peppercorns that adds a unique and complex flavor of the dish and tossed with sweet and tangy sauce. This recipe is loaded with flavor from the herb and spices and can be perfectly served with hot steamed rice!
What is in Szechuan Beef?
- Beef – Beef Tenderloin is often called for in Beef Szechuan style but i recommend flank steak, sliced thin are the best cuts of meat for this recipe because they are tender and lean and stand up to fast cooking times. You can use sirloin or ribeye steak for this Szechuan Beef recipe as well whatever you have available in your freezer.
- Vegetables – While bell peppers are commonly found in this dish, I’ve also seen it served with other vegetables including mushrooms, water chestnuts, broccoli and carrots.
- Garlic & Onion – These aromatics awaken and elevate the entire Szechuan Beef recipe. If you’re looking to save time and skip some chopping, you can substitute the fresh onions, garlic and ginger with powders.
- Spices – To really bring the heat, adding any of these to the dish gives extra kick Szechuan peppercorn, both ground and whole. Dried red chilies contribute a lot of the heat and a mild nutty flavor which you can adjust according to your liking or you can use a tablespoon of fresh chili paste, like sambal oelek.
Homemade Szechuan Sauce
The BEST Szechuan Beef needs the best Szechuan sauce! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Oyster sauce – is the primary ingredient in many stir fries. It is a thick, brown sauce with a balance between sweet and salty with an earthy undertone due to the oyster extracts.
- Soy sauce – Both soy sauces have an umami flavor, but regular soy sauce will be heavier and influenced by a more intense saltiness ( you can use less sodium soy sauce to control the salt level)
- Dark soy sauce – it is thicker than regular soy sauce and it is sweeter due to fermentation process.
- Brown sugar – It adds sweetness to balance the oyster sauce and soy sauce.
- Cornstarch – thickens the sauce so it’s rich instead of watery.
- Beef broth – it gives richer and deeper flavor to the dish.
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Easy Szechuan Beef
Description
A classic Chinese stir-fry dish made with tender and juicy beef and tossed with sweet and savory Szechuan homemade sauce.
Ingredients
To marinate the beef
To Stir-fry
For the homemade sauce
Instructions
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Marinate
Place the beef slices in a deep bowl, add soy sauce, oyster sauce, white pepper and cornstarch. Mix and set aside
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For the sauce
Combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch and beef broth. Mix until well combined
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Heat about 2 tbsp. of oil in a pan, add beef pieces by batches. Cook until golden brown 2-3 minutes each side.
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Remove beef from the pan and cook the remaining batches.
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Stir fry
Using the same pan, add little oil and saute garlic and onion until fragrant. add szechuan peppercorn and dried chilies saute for a minute.
Add in bell peppers and stir fry for another minute.
Pour the sauce, let it simmer until the sauce start to thicken.
Return the beef back to the pan, tossed with the sauce. let it simmer for 2-3 minutes before serving.
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Serve and Enjoy!
