Description
Sticky Rainbow Beef is a vibrant and flavorful stir-fry featuring tender beef strips tossed with colorful bell peppers, crisp broccoli, and sweet carrots in a glossy, sticky soy and honey sauce, enhanced with ginger, garlic, and a touch of chili. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a quick and delicious meal perfect for weeknight dinners, served over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 400 g beef strips (flank or sirloin)
- 1 cup bell peppers (red, yellow, orange), sliced
- 1 medium carrot, julienned
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece ginger, peeled & julienned
- 2 spring onions, sliced
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari)
- 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon chili paste or flakes
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water or broth
Finishing
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Optional: sesame seeds or fresh herbs, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat to prepare for quick stir-frying.
- Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chili paste or flakes, cornstarch, and water or broth until smooth. This will be the sticky glaze for the beef.
- Sear Beef: Add a small amount of oil to the hot wok/skillet, then sear the beef strips for 2–3 minutes until browned on all sides. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
- Stir-Fry Aromatics and Vegetables: In the same pan, add garlic, ginger, and the sliced bell peppers, carrot, and broccoli. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes until the vegetables are just tender but still crisp.
- Glaze the Beef: Return the seared beef to the pan with the vegetables. Pour the prepared sauce over everything and stir continuously for 1–2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the ingredients in a shiny, sticky glaze.
- Finish: Drizzle sesame oil over the stir-fry and toss to combine. Add sliced spring onions and remove the pan from heat.
- Serve and Garnish: Plate the sticky rainbow beef over steamed rice or noodles, and garnish with sesame seeds or fresh herbs if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute beef with firm tofu or tempeh.
- Adjust chili paste or flakes according to your heat preference.
- Use tamari sauce to make the recipe gluten-free.
- The dish pairs well with jasmine or basmati rice and rice noodles.
- Can be prepped ahead by slicing vegetables and beef and mixing the sauce in advance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
