Description
Crispy Sweet Chilli Beef is a deliciously savory and tangy stir-fried dish featuring tender beef strips coated in cornflour and fried to golden perfection. Tossed in a flavorful sweet chilli sauce with garlic, ginger, and spring onions, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Coating
- 500g beef strips (thinly sliced)
- 3 tablespoons cornflour
Cooking Oils and Aromatics
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus extra for frying)
- 1 small red chili, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 4 spring onions, sliced (separate white and green parts)
Sauce Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Garnish
- Fresh coriander (cilantro)
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Coat the Beef: Toss the thinly sliced beef strips thoroughly with cornflour until all pieces are evenly coated. Set aside to allow the coating to adhere well, which will create a crispy texture when fried.
- Fry the Beef: Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the beef strips in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan, until they are golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Once cooked, drain the beef on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare the Aromatics: Remove the excess oil from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Return the pan to heat and add the white parts of the spring onions, minced garlic, ginger, and finely chopped red chili. Stir-fry these aromatics for about 1 minute until fragrant to build a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Make the Sauce: Add the soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to the pan with the aromatics. Stir well and cook the sauce for approximately 2 minutes until it thickens slightly, allowing the flavors to meld perfectly.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Return the crispy beef strips to the pan and toss everything thoroughly to coat each piece evenly with the sweet chili sauce. This ensures every bite is packed with flavor and a pleasant glaze.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pan from heat. Sprinkle the dish with the green parts of the spring onions, fresh coriander leaves, and sesame seeds to add freshness and texture. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more chopped chili or a dash of chili flakes to the sauce.
- Use thinly sliced beef like sirloin or flank steak for the best texture and quick cooking.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the pan during frying to maintain crispiness.
- This dish pairs well with steamed jasmine rice or noodles.
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup for a vegan alternative, but the recipe is not fully vegan due to the beef.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: sweet chilli beef, crispy beef, stir-fry beef, Asian beef recipe, easy beef dinner, fried beef strips
