I am always looking for new ways to cook beef.  I have made stir-frys’ in the past but none of them were Szechwan.  What is Szechwan Cuisine?  Well Szechwan means originating from the Sichuan Province of southwestern China.  I is known for  bold flavors, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers¹. This stir-fry fits that bill exactly.  Lots of garlic with a hint of spice.  Delicious!
Szechwan Beef Stir-Fry – (Adapted from BH&G New Cookbook)
- 1 pound sirloin beef
- 3 tbs dry sherry
- 3 tbs soy sauce
- 2 tbs water
- 2 tbs hoisin sauce
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, crushedminced
- 1 tbs vegetable oil
- 16 oz frozen stir-fry veggies, thawed
- 2 cups cooked rice
Thinly slice the beef across the grain into bite sized pieces. Â The easiest way to do this is to partially freeze the beef for 10 minutes in the freezer. Â It will make it a lot easier to cut. Â Plus then you end up with perfect evenly sized pieces.
In a medium bowl, combine the sherry, soy sauce, water, hoisin, cornstarch, ginger, brown sugar, red pepper, black pepper and garlic. Â Stir to combine and set aside.
Preheat a wok or large skillet over high heat. Â Add the vegetable oil and then the veggies. Â Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes till the veggies are crisp and tender. Â Remove them from the wok and set aside.
Add the beef to the wok and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes or until browned and starting to caramelize.
Push the beef to the edges of the pan forming a well in the center. Â Then pour the sauce into the center of the pan.
Stir the sauce until it starts to bubble and thicken. Â Then stir it into the meat and add the veggies. Â Stir until combined. Make sure the veggies are heated all the way through and serve.
Serve this over rice for a great meal.
It was my favorite stir-fry ever! Â It was delicious!
¹ – Wikipedia (Szechwan) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szechuan_cuisine