Sichuan Boiled Beef

Sichuan Boiled Beef, or "Shui Zhu Niu Rou," is a classic dish from Sichuan cuisine, beloved by food enthusiasts across China. This dish features a rich texture and flavor, with tender, succulent beef, crisp vegetables, and a bright, spicy broth. It's a dish that will surely whet your appetite.

5 Reviews
5 Comments
POSTED:24/06/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:2-3 servings
Total:40 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:30 min

Sichuan Boiled Beef is a mouth-watering dish. By following these tips and techniques, you can successfully cook this classic Sichuan dish at home and enjoy its unique spicy and numbing flavors.


1.Choosing Ingredients:

Beef: Opt for tender cuts like beef tenderloin or brisket for better texture. You can buy pre-sliced beef from the supermarket or slice it thinly yourself.

Seasonings: Specific Chinese seasonings like Doubanjiang (fermented bean paste) and Sichuan peppercorns may need to be purchased from an Asian market. Alternatively, you can order them online.


2.Substitutes for Seasonings:

If you can't find Doubanjiang, you can use other chili pastes, but note that the flavor will be slightly different.

If you can't find Sichuan peppercorns, you can use black pepper instead, but it won't have the numbing effect.


3.Heat Control:

When stir-frying chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns in oil, use low heat to prevent burning. Cook until fragrant.

When adding the beef slices to the pot, quickly separate them and avoid overcooking to keep the meat tender.


4.Using Doubanjiang:

Doubanjiang is essential for this dish. Make sure to stir-fry it until it releases red oil, which enhances the flavor of the broth.

You can chop the Doubanjiang finely before frying to release its aroma more effectively.


5.Sichuan Peppercorns and Chili Peppers:

If you prefer a stronger spicy and numbing flavor, add more Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers.

Stir-fry the chili peppers until they darken to your preference, but be careful not to burn them.


6.Plating the Dish:

Place the stir-fried bean sprouts at the bottom of the serving dish, then pour the cooked beef and broth over them. This allows the bean sprouts to absorb the flavors of the broth, making them even more delicious.


When enjoying Sichuan Boiled Beef, pair it with rice or noodles to better savor the flavorful broth. Due to its strong spicy taste, it is recommended to have a mild drink like green tea or plain water to balance the heat.

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 7 oz beef, sliced

ACCESSORIES

  • 7 oz bean sprouts, roots removed and washed

SEASONINGS

  • 2 tbsp cooking wine
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • A pinch of sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 0.5 oz dried chili peppers, cut into sections
  • 1 small piece of ginger, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp Doubanjiang (spicy bean paste)
  • 2 tsp ground pepper
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • A pinch of Sichuan peppercorn powder
  • Chopped green onions for garnish

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Prepare the Beef:

Slice 7 ounces of beef, add 2 tbsp cooking wine, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, and 1 tsp sesame oil. Sprinkle in a pinch of sugar and salt, mix well. Then add 1 tsp cornstarch, mix well again, and marinate for 20 minutes.

Tips:

Beef Preparation: Slightly freeze the beef before slicing; this makes it easier to cut into thin slices.

Slicing Technique: Cut against the grain for a more tender texture.

Marinating: Add cornstarch to the marinade to make the beef more tender and smooth. Adding cooking wine helps to eliminate any gamey smell and enhances the flavor.

Prepare tender beef slices with marinade tips using cornstarch, wine, and soy sauce.

STEP 2

Prepare the Ingredients:

Cut 0.5 oz of dried chili peppers into sections, mince the ginger, and mince the garlic. Trim the roots off 7 oz of mung bean sprouts.

Prepare ingredients: Cut dried chili, mince ginger and garlic, trim mung bean sprouts.

STEP 3

Cook the Bean Sprouts:

Heat a pan with oil, add the mung bean sprouts, season with a pinch of salt, stir-fry until cooked, then remove and set aside.

Cook mung bean sprouts by stir-frying with oil and salt until cooked.

STEP 4

Cook the Spicy Base:

Heat a pan with oil, add 1 tbsp of Doubanjiang and stir-fry. Add the minced garlic and ginger, and stir-fry briefly.

Tip:

When stir-frying bean sprouts, use high heat and stir quickly to maintain their crisp texture.

Cook a spicy base with Doubanjiang, garlic, and ginger. Tips for bean sprouts included.

STEP 5

Add the Broth:

Pour in enough hot water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tbsp dark soy sauce and 2 tsp ground pepper.

Add dark soy sauce, ground pepper to hot water for broth.

STEP 6

Cook the Beef:

Add the beef and stir with chopsticks until the beef is cooked and flavorful.

Cook beef in stir-fry style till flavorful, using chopsticks for stirring.

STEP 7

Prepare the Chili Oil:

In a separate pan, heat oil until it's about 80% hot. Add the dried chili peppers and stir-fry until fragrant.

Prepare chili oil by heating oil and stir-frying dried chili peppers until fragrant.

STEP 8

Assemble the Dish:

Place the cooked beef over the prepared mung bean sprouts on a plate, sprinkle with a bit of Sichuan pepper powder, and drizzle with the fragrant chili oil.

Assemble beef over sprouts, sprinkle pepper powder, drizzle chili oil.

STEP 9

Garnish and Serve:

Sprinkle with chopped green onions, and your Sichuan Boiled Beef is ready to serve!

Serve Sichuan Boiled Beef with chopped green onions for a delicious finish.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Sichuan Boiled Beef
  • Main Ingredients:2
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:397 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 397 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):308 kcal
    14%
  • Protein:42.96 g
    79%
  • Fat:12.25 g Why gray?
    25%
  • Carbohydrates:8.58 g
    3%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 55%
    168 kcal
  • Fat: 36%
    110 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 10%
    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
21:1
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.

5 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
CarlSeptember 28, 2024

Can I use other vegetables instead of bean sprouts and cabbage?
reply:
September 30, 2024
Yes, you can use lettuce, enoki mushrooms and other vegetables, choose according to your personal taste.
MarilynSeptember 18, 2024

How should the beef be sliced to ensure tenderness?
reply:
September 20, 2024
Beef should be sliced thinly against the grain, about 2 - 3 mm thick, so that it is easy to cook and tender when cooked.
ElizabethJuly 23, 2024

This recipe makes it easy for me to make authentic Sichuan-style boiled beef at home, which is spicy and flavorful.
jieJune 27, 2024

This recipe makes a spicy, thick, and very appetizing poached beef slices.
jiesiiJune 27, 2024

This poached sliced beef recipe is flavorful, the beef slices are tender and flavorful, and with that rich, spicy broth, it's a taste sensation. Highly recommended!
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