How to Make Vietnamese Stir-fried Beef with Onions
Stir-fried beef with onions is often paired with carrots and a bit of Chinese celery and leeks, resulting in a fragrant, visually appealing, and flavorful dish.
Ingredients
- 300g beef
- 1 onion
- 1 stalk of leek
- 3 stalks of Chinese celery
- 1/2 carrot
- 4 garlic cloves
- A small knob of ginger
- 1 chili
- Fish sauce, salt, MSG, seasoning powder, oyster sauce, pepper, sugar
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
Peel and finely chop the garlic and ginger.
Rub the beef with rice wine and chopped ginger to remove any odors, then rinse it clean and pat dry. Slice the beef thinly and marinate it with a bit of seasoning powder, salt, MSG, sugar, oyster sauce, and cooking oil. Add the chopped garlic and ginger, mix well, and let the beef sit for about 15-20 minutes to absorb the flavors.
For the best stir-fried beef with onions, choose flank steak for its tenderness and natural sweetness. After marinating, wrap the beef and store it in the fridge.
Peel and slice the onion into wedges.
To reduce the sharpness and keep the onions white, soak the sliced onions in a bowl of diluted salt water. If available, add a few ice cubes to make the onions crisp. Avoid slicing the onions too thin, as they may become mushy during stir-frying. On the other hand, cutting them too thick may leave them raw and tough. The ideal width is about the length of a finger joint.
Peel the carrot, trim the ends, and slice it into thin strips or decorative flower shapes if you prefer.
To save time and ensure the carrots cook quickly when stir-frying, blanch them in boiling water for about 2 minutes, then rinse with cold water to retain their crunch and vibrant color.
Trim the roots off the Chinese celery and leeks, soak them in diluted salt water, then rinse clean. Cut into 3-4cm sections.
For chili, you can use bird's eye chili for more heat or large red chili for a milder spice and visual appeal.
How to stir-fry beef with onions
Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot, add the beef to stir-fry.
Increase the heat and stir continuously. When the beef turns lightly pink, it's done. Remove from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
To prevent the beef from becoming tough, stir-fry it on high heat just until it turns pink. The beef will be added back later with the onions and other ingredients, so don't overcook it now, as it will cook further in the final step.
In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of oil. Once hot, sauté the remaining chopped garlic and ginger. Add the carrots first, stir-fry for 1-2 minutes on low heat until they soften slightly. Then add the Chinese celery, leeks, and onions. Increase the heat again, stir-frying quickly to keep the vegetables crisp.
Season with a bit of oyster sauce, MSG, pepper, and a touch of fish sauce. Stir-fry for another 30 seconds, then add the beef and chili. Stir for an additional 30 seconds, then remove from heat.
With just a few simple steps, you can prepare a delicious, nutritious stir-fried beef with onions dish that's as good as what you'd find at a restaurant.
Good luck, and we hope you find success with the tips Cookbeo has shared!
