Delicious Hunan Beef Stir-Fry

Hunan Beef Stir-Fry, as a classic Chinese dish, has a long and rich history closely connected to Chinese culinary culture. This dish is cherished for its tender texture, unique seasoning, and abundant nutritional value. Not only is it delicious, but it is also simple to prepare, making it ideal for home cooking.

4 Reviews
4 Comments
POSTED:12/07/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:2-3 servings
Total:35 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:5 min

Over time, Hunan Beef Stir-Fry has gradually become a signature dish of the Hunan region. Its unique cooking method and flavors have attracted an increasing number of diners to sample it. Today, this dish has transcended its origins in Hunan and has become a popular delicacy nationwide. Let me briefly introduce this delicious dish to you today.


1.What is Hunan Beef Stir-Fry?

Hunan Beef Stir-Fry is a classic Hunan-style dish known for its spicy and aromatic flavors. The main ingredient is beef, typically using tenderloin or hind leg meat, which has a tender texture suitable for quick stir-frying. Originating from Hunan province, it belongs to the Xiang cuisine. During preparation, the beef is thinly sliced and marinated to ensure a tender and flavorful taste.


2.The difference between yellow cattle beef and regular beef?

①Distinguishing based on meat texture:Yellow cattle beef has finer muscle fibers, resulting in a dense and smooth texture. Regular beef, on the other hand, has coarser muscle fibers, leading to a relatively loose texture and a rougher mouthfeel.

②Distinguishing based on fat color:The fat in yellow cattle beef is uniform and appears golden yellow. In contrast, the fat in regular beef is uneven and appears pale yellow. Fat color is one of the most distinct characteristics that differentiate them.

③Distinguishing based on mouthfeel:Yellow cattle beef has a fine texture and smooth, tender mouthfeel. It tends to absorb flavors well during cooking, resulting in a more delicious taste. In contrast, regular beef often has a coarser texture and can feel greasier in the mouth.


3.How to stir-fry yellow cattle beef to make it tender?

①Choosing the Cut:Selecting the right cut of beef is the first step to stir-frying tender yellow cattle beef. Beef tenderloin is the most ideal choice because it has fine muscle fibers and low fat content, making it suitable for quick stir-frying.

②Cutting technique:When slicing yellow cattle beef, cut against the grain of the meat fibers. This method severs the fibers, resulting in a finer and more tender texture. Avoid cutting with the grain, as this can make the yellow cattle beef coarse and difficult to chew.

③Marinating:Marinating is a crucial step to tenderize yellow cattle beef. During marination, you can use seasonings such as chicken powder, ground pepper, cooking wine, and light soy sauce. However, it's best to avoid using salt and dark soy sauce as they can cause the meat to contract. Additionally, using egg white and starch is also a good method to enhance the tenderness of yellow cattle beef. Ensure thorough mixing during marination to allow the beef to absorb the flavors and moisture from the seasonings.

④Cooking technique:When stir-frying, ensure the oil temperature is sufficiently high. This allows the proteins on the surface of the yellow cattle beef to quickly denature, sealing in internal moisture and maintaining a tender texture. Avoid cooking for too long to prevent the yellow cattle beef from becoming tough.


4.How to store fresh yellow cattle beef?

After purchasing yellow cattle beef, it's best not to wash it immediately. Washing it can make it absorb water easily and may encourage bacterial growth. Instead, cut the purchased yellow cattle beef into moderately sized chunks directly.

Next, we need to prepare an appropriate amount of high-quality white wine. After cutting the yellow cattle beef into pieces, evenly spread a layer of white wine over the surface of the beef.

After spreading the white wine evenly over the pieces of cut yellow cattle beef, wrap each piece separately with plastic wrap. Then, place all the wrapped beef pieces into a large bag, remove the air from the bag, and store it in the freezer in the refrigerator.

When you want to eat, simply place the yellow cattle beef in the refrigerator to thaw naturally. Once thawed, you'll be able to enjoy fresh, tender yellow cattle beef just like when you first bought it.


Hunan Beef Stir-Fry is a highly popular delicacy. It features tender yellow cattle beef as the main ingredient, complemented with chili peppers and various seasonings, creating a dish that is vibrant in color and deliciously spicy. Now, let's explore together the process of preparing this delightful dish!

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 500g of yellow cattle beef

ACCESSORIES

  • one egg white
  • 250g of celery

SEASONINGS

  • 15g oyster sauce
  • 10g dark soy sauce
  • 5g garlic cloves
  • 5g dried chili peppers
  • 50g oil
  • 5g monosodium glutamate (MSG)
  • 10g scallion and ginger water
  • 15g ground white pepper
  • 15g light soy sauce
  • 10g cornstarch
  • 5g ginger
  • 20g Erjingtiao chili peppers
  • 10g green onions
  • 15g salt

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Cut the 500g yellow cattle beef into pieces. Add 10g of scallion and ginger water, one egg white, 15g of ground white pepper, 15g of oyster sauce, 15g of light soy sauce, 10g of dark soy sauce, and 10g of cornstarch. Mix thoroughly and marinate for 10 minutes.

Tip:

When cutting the yellow cattle beef, cut along the grain for a more tender texture. Adding egg white and light soy sauce during marination helps to remove any gamey taste and enhances the tenderness of the yellow cattle beef.

Marinate yellow cattle beef with spices for flavorful and tender meat. #CookingTip

STEP 2

250g celery cut into pieces, 5g garlic cloves cut into small pieces, 5g ginger cut into julienne strips, 20g erjing and chili peppers 5g dried chili peppers cut into chunks, 10g small green onions cut into pieces and set aside!

Recipe ingredients: 250g celery, 5g garlic, 5g ginger, 20g erjing and chili peppers, 5g dried chili peppers, 10g green onions.

STEP 3

Heat the wok until hot, then add 30g of oil. Add the marinated yellow cattle beef and quickly stir-fry until 70% cooked. Remove from the wok and set aside.

Tip:

When stir-frying yellow cattle beef, it's important to maintain moderate heat. Stir-frying over high heat quickly helps preserve the fresh and tender texture of the beef. However, be cautious not to overcook it, as this can cause the beef to become tough and affect its taste.

Tips for stir-frying yellow cattle beef to maintain freshness and tenderness.

STEP 4

Heat the wok until hot, then add 20g of oil. Add the garlic cloves, shredded ginger, and dried chili peppers to stir-fry until fragrant.

Heat wok, add oil, garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and stir-fry until fragrant.

STEP 5

Add the Erjingtiao chili peppers, celery segments, and green onion sections. Stir-fry evenly.

Stir-fry Erjingtiao chili peppers, celery, and green onion.

STEP 6

Add the previously stir-fried yellow cattle beef and stir-fry evenly with the other ingredients.

Add stir-fried yellow cattle beef to other ingredients and mix well.

STEP 7

Season with 15g of salt and mix well.

Season with 15g salt and mix.

STEP 8

Before removing from the heat, add 5g of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and stir-fry evenly. Then it's ready to serve.

Add MSG to stir-fry for extra flavor.

STEP 9

Delicious Hunan Beef Stir-Fry is ready!

Announcement: Hunan Beef Stir-Fry is prepared!

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Delicious Hunan Beef Stir-Fry
  • Main Ingredients:3
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:783 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 783 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):722 kcal
    33%
  • Protein:107.92 g
    198%
  • Fat:29.03 g Why gray?
    60%
  • Carbohydrates:7.67 g
    3%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 60%
    433 kcal
  • Fat: 36%
    261 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 4%
    31 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
23:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

4 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
TasteTreasuresFestSeptember 26, 2024

Can I use dried shiitake mushrooms instead of fresh ones?
reply:
September 28, 2024
Yes, but dried shiitake mushrooms should be rehydrated before use. Soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes.
PatriciaJuly 25, 2024

May I ask which part of the cow is the better meat?
adamJuly 16, 2024

A recipe that looks hard and is easy to make, kudos to the blogger!
adamJuly 16, 2024

I didn't think beef could be eaten this way, it's really flavorful and spicy, and I want to eat it again.
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