Hunan Beef

Hunan beef is a fast 20-minute Chinese-inspired stir fry, with ultra-tender sliced beef fried in hot oil and tossed in a spicy sauce with garlic and cumin. It’s named after the Hunan Province and the cuisine found there, well-known for their spicy foods and bold flavors.

hunan beef and scallions on white plate

Hunan Beef

Prep
10 mins
Cook
10 mins
Total
20 mins
Makes
2 servings

Ingredients

Marinade:

Sauce:

Instructions

  1. Marinate Beef: Stir together all marinade ingredients in large bowl until corn starch is dissolved. Slice beef against grain into thin slices, about 1/4 inch thick, and add to bowl with marinade. Stir together until marinade is fully absorbed by beef. Set aside for about 5 minutes to marinate.

  2. Prepare Sauce: Stir together all sauce ingredients in small bowl until combined. Set aside.

  3. Brown Beef: Heat oil in wok or pan over medium-high heat for a few minutes until hot. Add beef and cook in hot oil for a few minutes until browned, constantly stirring and flipping beef slices. Use slotted spoon or tongs to transfer only beef to plate, leaving oil in wok.

  4. Add Sauce: Reduce to medium heat. Add prepared sauce to wok and cook for less than a minute until fragrant, stirring frequently. Return beef to wok and stir with sauce for a few minutes until well-mixed.

  5. Serve: Remove wok from heat. Stir in sliced scallions and serve (Note 5).

Nutrition

Makes 2 Servings
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 520 (56% from fat) 
Total Fat 32g50%
   Saturated Fat 6g31%
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 950mg39%
Net Carb 8g 
Total Carb 8.5g3%
   Dietary Fiber 0.5g2%
   Sugars 2.5g 
Protein 38g 
Vitamin A 1% · Vitamin C 3% · Calcium 5% · Iron 18%

Photos

NOTES & TIPS

(1) Flank Steak. I use flank steak because it’s affordably priced and easy to find, but most steak cuts will work. I don’t recommend using pre-cut stir fry strips because they’re usually cut too thick.

(2) Rice Cooking Wine. Rice cooking wine is a type of traditional Chinese wine fermented from rice. It’s also known as shaoxing wine. You can buy it at Amazon, Whole Foods, or Asian markets. This can be substituted with dry sherry.

(3) Red Chili Sauce. Any Asian-style red chili sauce will work. I use sriracha. Depending on what you use, you may need to add more or less to adjust the spiciness to taste. This can be substituted with dried chili flakes and fresh Asian red chili peppers.

(4) Cumin. Cumin is essential for the flavor of Hunan sauce. If you prefer a stronger cumin flavor, use up to 1.5 teaspoons.

(5) Serving. Serve this beef dish with sides like Asian cucumber salad, mashed turnips, or sheet pan roasted vegetables.

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