Description
This Chinese Beef and Onion Stir Fry is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender strips of sirloin steak cooked with aromatic ginger, garlic, and onions in a savory soy-based sauce. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner, it comes together in just 20 minutes and pairs beautifully with steamed rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Aromatics
- 300 g sirloin steak (or rib-eye, flank steak, or blade steak)
- ½ white onion (or yellow onion), thinly sliced
- 4–5 slices ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or sliced thinly
- 1 stalk green onion, cut into 2-inch pieces
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Others
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for stir-frying)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Slice the beef into thin strips against the grain and set aside to ensure tenderness during cooking.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar. Set this savory sauce mixture aside for later use.
- Cook Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the sliced ginger and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Cook the Beef: Add the beef strips into the skillet and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes until the beef is browned and cooked through, stirring frequently for even cooking.
- Sauté Onions: Push the cooked beef to one side of the skillet and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, until they start to soften and become translucent.
- Combine and Cook: Add the cut green onions and stir-fry for another minute. Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and onions, stirring thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Optional Thickening: If a thicker sauce is preferred, dissolve the cornstarch in 1 tablespoon of water and stir this slurry into the skillet. Allow the mixture to simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency.
- Serve: Serve the beef and onion stir fry hot, ideally accompanied by steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- Cutting the beef against the grain ensures maximum tenderness.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and ginger according to your taste preference for more or less pungency.
- The cornstarch is optional but helps achieve a glossy, thicker sauce.
- This dish can be customized with vegetables like bell peppers or snap peas for added texture and color.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
