Mongolian Beef
Mongolian beef is a popular dish in Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine that has become a staple in many Chinese restaurants around the world. It is a stir-fry dish made with sliced beef, spring onions, garlic, and a sweet and savory sauce. The dish is often served with steamed rice and vegetables.
Despite its name, Mongolian beef is not actually a Mongolian dish. The dish is believed to have originated in Taiwan, which was then brought to the United States and became popular in Chinese-American restaurants. The name “Mongolian” is thought to have been given to the dish in an attempt to make it sound exotic and appeal to American customers.
The main ingredient in Mongolian beef is sliced beef, usually from the flank or sirloin cuts. The meat is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, cornflour, and other seasonings to tenderize it and add flavour. The beef is then stir-fried with garlic and onions until it is tasty and browned. The dish is finished with a sweet and savory sauce made from ingredients like hoisin sauce, soy sauce and Chinese rice wine.
There are many variations of Mongolian beef, depending on the region and chef. Some recipes include vegetables like bell peppers or carrots, while others use different cuts of beef like ribeye or tenderloin. Some recipes also include ginger or sesame oil for added flavour. Mongolian beef is a delicious and popular Chinese dish that has become a staple in many Chinese restaurants. While it is not actually Mongolian in origin, its sweet and savory flavour and tender texture have made it a favourite among many diners. With its simple preparation and versatile ingredients, it is also a great dish to make at home.
Mongolian Beef
Sharon GreenEquipment
- 1 large frypan or wok
Ingredients
Beef marinade
- 500 grams beef rump thinly sliced into strips (Note 1)
- 1 tsp bi-carbonate soda (baking soda USA)
- 2 tsp cornflour
- 1½ tbsp light soy sauce (light or regular just not dark soy sauce)
- 1½ tbsp Chinese cooking wine
Sauce
- 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1½ tsp light soy sauce (light or regular just not dark soy sauce)
- 4 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 3 tbsp Chinese wine
- ½ tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
- 250 mL water
- 2 tsp sesame oil
Stiry Fry
- 2 tbsp oil (peanut, canola, vegetable, sunflower, rice bran)
- 1 onion cut into large pieces
- 4 cloves of garlic fine diced
- 6 spring onions/green onions/shallots cut into 2 inch lengths, green part of the spring onion only.
- 1 bunch Gai Lan (Chinese broccoli) cut into 2cm lengths. (Note 2)
Instructions
- Slice beef thinly and add it and the other marinade ingredients to a large bowl. Mix well. Leave to marinade for at least 30 mins, up to 24 hours. The beef should absorb all the liquid.
- Add all marinade ingredients to a large jug, and mix well to remove any cornflour lumps.
- Put your pan on your cooktop and heat on high heat. Add oil. Allow 2 minutes for the oil to heat up. Add onion and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, keeping the onion moving. Add garlic, cook for an additional 1 minute. Add beef into the pan and spread the beef out into one thin layer, and avoid touching it for about 2-3 minutes, then stir, one side should be nice and caramelised.
- Stir the sauce well and then add sauce and gai lan to pan. Cook for 3 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly. Add spring onion lengths and stir again.
- Serve over white steamed rice. Enjoy.