Description
A flavorful and quick Hunan Beef stir-fry featuring tender flank steak and crisp vegetables in a spicy, savory sauce, perfect for a weeknight dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Marinade
- 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Vegetables
- 1 ½ cup broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup celery, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 can baby corn, drained and halved
Sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (regular or low sodium, no sweet or dark soy sauce)
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (or substitute with rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
- 2 tbsp honey (or sugar)
- 2 tsp sambal oelek (or chili garlic sauce or sriracha)
Other
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (divided)
- 3 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine vinegar, honey, sambal oelek, beef broth, and cornstarch. Stir well until cornstarch is fully dissolved. Set aside.
- Cook the Beef: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet, frying pan, or wok over high heat. Add the sliced flank steak, along with salt and pepper. Stir-fry the beef until it starts to brown and develops crispy bits on the outside, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches if necessary. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Stir in the minced garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for about 5 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn them.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add broccoli florets, celery, red bell pepper, and halved baby corn to the pan. Stir-fry the vegetables until they are halfway cooked but still crisp, about 2-3 minutes. They will continue cooking in the sauce later.
- Add the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the pan with the vegetables, stirring continuously. The sauce will bubble and thicken rapidly. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your liking.
- Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat and stir the cooked beef back into the pan. Mix everything thoroughly to coat the beef and vegetables in the sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy your flavorful Hunan Beef.
Notes
- Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking the beef to achieve proper browning and a good texture.
- The vegetables should remain slightly crisp to contrast the tender beef and rich sauce.
- Adjust the level of spiciness by varying the amount of sambal oelek or chili garlic sauce according to your preference.
- Use low sodium soy sauce if watching your salt intake.
- Flank steak is preferred for its tenderness and flavor; other cuts can be used if thinly sliced.
