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Bowl of Hunan Beef on a wooden board.

Hunan Beef. Sweet, sour & Spicy!

Hunan Beef is a delicious Chinese recipe. Tender, velveted beef with a sweet, sour and spicy sauce. This is a delicious recipe for a great night in!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Beef Ingedients
  • 250 g Ribeye Steak
  • 2 tsp Light Soy Sauce
  • 3 tsp Cornstarch
  • 2 tsp Neutral oil Vegetable or sunflower
Fresh Vegetable Ingredients
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper
  • 2 Red Chillis
  • 3 Dried Red Chillis
  • 2 tbsp Douchi (Fermented Salted Black Beans) See recipe notes
  • 3 Spring Onions
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1 piece Fresh Ginger Thumb sized
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp Chilli Crisp
  • 1 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing Wine
  • 0.5 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
  • 0.5 tsp Cornstarch

Method
 

For the Beef
  1. Slice the steak up into thin strips and add to a bowl.
  2. Add in the soy sauce and mix thoroughly so it soaks into the beef.
  3. Add in the cornstarch and mix to coat. Add in the oil immediately after and mix again to evenly coat.
  4. Leave to marinate for 15 minutes. Move onto the fresh ingredients in the meantime!
Preparing the Vegetables and Sauce
  1. Thinly slice the red chilli and cut the red pepper into 1.5cm chunks. Cut the spring onions into 2cm long pieces, thinly slicing some of the greens as a garnish.
  2. Grate the garlic and ginger and set aside.
  3. Rinse the douchi with water for 10 seconds and drain. Chop them up roughly.
  4. Cut the dried chillis in half and empty them of the seeds.
  5. Mix all the sauce ingredients into a bowl and set aside.
Cooking the Meal
  1. Heat a wok over high heat and coat the whole surface in a neutral, high smoke point oil.
  2. Add the beef and let sit for 2 minutes. Toss and cook for another 2 minutes until cooked through and crisping up. Remove and set aside.
  3. Add in the dried chillis and spring onions and cook for 30 seconds, tossing regularly.
  4. Add in the red pepper and fresh chilli and cook for a further 30 seconds until softening.
  5. Add the garlic and ginger and toss until fragrant. Add in the douchi and cook, tossing regularly, for another 30 seconds.
  6. Add the beef back in and cook to combine. Add in the sauce and mix well. Cook for 30 seconds to a minute until everything is evenly coated and the sauce is thickened. Add in the spring onion garnish and serve!