Stir – Fried Beef with Chili Peppers: A Fiery Chinese Delight

Stir – Fried Beef with Chili Peppers, a staple in Hunan cuisine, is renowned for its spicy kick and tender, flavorful beef. The combination of fresh chili peppers, tender beef slices, and fragrant seasonings creates a symphony of flavors. Here’s how you can prepare this mouthwatering dish at home.

Ingredients

For the Beef

• 250g beef tenderloin or sirloin
• 1 tablespoon of cooking wine
• 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of cooking oil

For the Chili Peppers and Seasonings

• 3 – 4 long green chili peppers
• 2 – 3 red chili peppers
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 piece of ginger, minced
• 2 scallions, cut into sections
• 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon of Sichuan pepper powder (optional)

Step – by – Step Cooking Process

Marinating the Beef

1. Cut the beef against the grain into thin slices. This helps to break down the muscle fibers, resulting in more tender beef.
2. Place the beef slices in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Mix well and let the beef marinate for 15 – 20 minutes.

Preparing the Chili Peppers

1. Wash the green and red chili peppers. Remove the stems and seeds, then cut them into sections.

Stir – Frying

1. Heat a wok over high heat. Add a little extra cooking oil if needed. When the oil is hot, add the marinated beef slices. Stir – fry quickly until the beef changes color. This usually takes about 1 – 2 minutes. Remove the beef from the wok and set it aside.
2. In the same wok, add the minced garlic, minced ginger, and stir – fry until fragrant.
3. Add the green and red chili pepper sections to the wok. Stir – fry for 2 – 3 minutes until the chili peppers start to soften.
4. Return the beef to the wok. Add 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of Sichuan pepper powder (if using). Stir – fry for another 1 – 2 minutes to ensure the flavors are well – combined.
5. Finally, add the scallion sections and give it a quick stir.

Serving

Transfer the Stir – Fried Beef with Chili Peppers to a serving plate. Serve it hot with steamed rice. This dish is perfect for those who love spicy food and want to enjoy a taste of authentic Hunan cuisine at home.