Stir-Fried Greens with Beef
The secret to making stir-fried greens with beef delicious, with crisp, sweet greens and tender, juicy beef, is to stir-fry on high heat and for the right amount of time.
Ingredients
- 250g beef
- 1 bunch of greens (~500g)
- 7-8 garlic cloves
- 1 piece of ginger
- Salt
- Seasonings: oyster sauce, MSG, broth powder, sugar, ground pepper
Instructions
Marinate the Beef
For more flavorful beef, marinate it with a bit of seasoning before stir-frying. After slicing the beef thinly, marinate it with:
- 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon broth powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
The sugar and oil help tenderize the beef, keeping it moist and preventing excess water release during stir-frying. Mix well and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
For stir-fried beef dishes, it’s ideal to use tenderloin flap, which is slightly fatty and tender, making it juicy and not dry when stir-fried.
Prepare the Other Ingredients
Trim the roots and discard any yellow or wilted leaves from the greens. Rinse them and soak in salted water for 3-5 minutes, then rinse again and drain well.
You can use various types of greens such as bok choy, Chinese broccoli, or water spinach for this dish. For beef rolls with greens, mustard greens or bitter greens are often used for their slight bitterness.
Stir-Fry the Greens with Beef
To ensure the beef stays tender, stir-fry it separately and add it back when the dish is almost done.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan, sauté the ginger and half of the minced garlic until fragrant, then add the beef and stir-fry over high heat. Quickly stir-fry until the beef is lightly pink, then remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Sauté the remaining garlic with 2 tablespoons of oil, then add the greens. Like the beef, stir-fry the greens over high heat to prevent excess water release and retain their crispness and vibrant color.
Once the greens are coated in oil, season with broth powder, a pinch of MSG, and oyster sauce. Adjust seasoning to taste.
After stir-frying for about 1 minute, add the beef back into the pan. Quickly stir in a dash of fish sauce for flavor and fragrance, sprinkle with ground pepper, then turn off the heat.
If you prefer softer greens, cook them a bit longer. For a crunchier texture, stir-fry them briefly.
Stir-fried greens with beef is fragrant and visually appealing, with vibrant green vegetables and tender, flavorful beef. A delicious and easy-to-make stir-fry.
This dish can be served with rice, or you can modify it slightly by serving it with stir-fried noodles for a delicious variation.
