Szechuan Beef（麻辣牛肉）
Szechuan Beef is a traditional Sichuan dish, belonging to the Sichuan cuisine category. The main ingredients typically include beef. This dish is primarily cooked through stir-frying. It features a brownish-red color, with a spicy and aromatic flavor profile, and a tender yet textured consistency. It's highly recommended for those who enjoy spicy and numbing flavors.
INGREDIENTS
- 300g beef
DIRECTIONS
Cut the beef into uniform cubes of approximately one centimeter.
Tip:
Pay attention to your knife skills when cutting the beef into thin and even slices. This will help the beef absorb flavors more easily and improve its texture.
Slice a small portion of the green onions into segments, slice the ginger, chop the garlic into chunks, and place them together with the cinnamon, bay leaves, star anise, Chinese cardamom, Sichuan peppercorns, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, salt, and cooking wine in a dish. Add the beef, then sprinkle with a little cornstarch, mix well, and set aside to marinate for one hour.
While marinating the beef, prepare the chili peppers by washing them thoroughly and then soaking them in water to soften.
Then, cut the softened chili peppers into small pieces using scissors.
In a pan, add twice the amount of oil typically used for stir-frying. Start with cold oil and add the chopped green onions to begin frying them until they turn golden brown.
Leave a small amount of oil in the pan and pour the beef along with all the seasonings into the pan. Allow the beef to settle without stirring to let it sear and take shape.
After about one minute, stir-fry the beef, then add the chili peppers and continue to stir-fry until evenly mixed.
Tip:
When stir-frying the beef, use high heat for quick cooking to maintain a tender and smooth texture. Also, ensure to stir evenly during the cooking process to prevent the beef from sticking to the pan.
Push the meat and chili peppers to the front, creating a clear space in the pan for hot oil. Then, add the Sichuan peppercorns into the hot oil and fry them briefly before mixing them with the meat and continuing to stir-fry.
Finally, add the sesame seeds and stir-fry evenly before removing from the heat.
Tip:
After stir-frying the beef, it's best to let it sit for a moment to allow the beef to absorb the flavors of the sauce, enhancing the texture and taste.