Crispy Sweet Chilli Beef Recipe
Introduction
Crispy Sweet Chilli Beef is a flavorful dish combining tender, crispy beef strips with a sticky, sweet, and spicy sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it pairs beautifully with steamed rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- 500g beef strips (thinly sliced)
- 3 tablespoons cornflour
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus extra for frying)
- 1 small red chili, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 4 spring onions, sliced (separate white and green parts)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Fresh coriander and sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1: Toss the beef strips with cornflour until fully coated. Set aside to allow the coating to adhere.
- Step 2: Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the beef strips in batches until golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Step 3: Remove excess oil from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Return the pan to heat and add the white parts of the spring onions, garlic, ginger, and chopped chili. Stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to the pan. Stir and cook the sauce for 2 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Step 5: Return the crispy beef to the pan and toss well to coat all the pieces evenly with the sauce.
- Step 6: Remove from heat, then sprinkle with the green parts of the spring onions, fresh coriander, and sesame seeds before serving.
Tips & Variations
- For extra heat, add more chopped chili or a dash of chili flakes to the sauce.
- Use sirloin or flank steak for tender and flavorful beef.
- Try substituting honey with brown sugar or maple syrup for a different sweetness.
- Serve with steamed jasmine rice or stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.
Storage
Store leftover sweet chilli beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan over medium heat to keep the beef crispy and the sauce intact. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can make the beef soggy.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use a different cut of beef for this recipe?
Yes, sirloin or flank steak works well as they are tender and slice thinly, making them ideal for quick frying.
How can I make this dish less spicy?
Simply reduce or omit the chili, or remove the seeds from the chili before chopping to lower the heat while retaining flavor.
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Crispy Sweet Chilli Beef Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Crispy Sweet Chilli Beef is a flavorful Asian-inspired dish featuring tender beef strips coated in a crispy cornflour crust, stir-fried to perfection, and tossed in a sticky, sweet chili sauce with aromatic garlic, ginger, and spring onions. Garnished with fresh coriander and sesame seeds, it’s a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors, ideal for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Beef and Coating
- 500g beef strips (thinly sliced)
- 3 tablespoons cornflour
Sauce and Stir-fry
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus extra for frying)
- 1 small red chili, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
- 4 spring onions, sliced (separate white and green parts)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Garnish
- Fresh coriander
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Coat the Beef: Toss the thinly sliced beef strips thoroughly with the cornflour until each piece is evenly coated; this will help achieve a crispy texture when fried. Set aside to rest briefly.
- Fry the Beef: Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the beef strips in batches to prevent overcrowding, cooking each batch for about 3-4 minutes until the pieces turn golden brown and crispy. Once done, remove the beef and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare Aromatics: Remove most of the oil from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Return the pan to medium heat and add the white parts of the spring onions, minced garlic, ginger, and finely chopped red chili. Stir-fry these aromatics for about 1 minute until they release their fragrance.
- Make the Sauce: Add soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil into the pan with the aromatics. Stir well and let the sauce cook for about 2 minutes until it thickens slightly, creating a sticky and flavorful coating.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Return the crispy beef strips to the pan, tossing them thoroughly to coat every piece evenly with the sweet chili sauce mixture. Cook together for another minute to meld the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pan from the heat. Sprinkle the dish with the green parts of the spring onions, fresh coriander leaves, and sesame seeds for a fresh, vibrant finish. Serve immediately and enjoy the crispy, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, make sure the beef strips are not overcrowded in the pan when frying.
- Adjust the amount of chili according to your heat preference.
- Use fresh ingredients like garlic and ginger for the best flavor impact.
- Serve with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
- Leftover beef can be reheated gently on the stovetop; however, some crispiness may be lost.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: crispy beef, sweet chili beef, stir-fry beef, Asian beef recipe, quick beef dinner
