Homemade Crispy Chilli Beef (Print version)

Thin strips of beef fried until crisp, then tossed in a sticky sweet chilli sauce with peppers, carrot, garlic, ginger, and sesame.

# Ingredients:

For the beef

01 - 1 lb (450 g) beef sirloin, rump, flank, or flat iron steak
02 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 cup (65 g) cornflour or cornstarch
05 - 1/3 cup (80 ml) neutral oil, for shallow frying, plus more if needed

For the sauce

06 - 1/3 cup (80 ml) sweet chilli sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey
10 - 1 tablespoon ketchup
11 - 2 tablespoons water

For the stir-fry and garnish

12 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
13 - 1 small carrot, cut into matchsticks
14 - 3 spring onions, sliced, whites and greens separated
15 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
17 - 1 fresh red chilli, thinly sliced
18 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

# Instructions:

01 - Chill the steak for 15-20 minutes if needed, then slice it very thinly across the grain into strips.
02 - Toss the beef with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and black pepper. Add the cornflour and toss until every strip is well coated and feels mostly dry.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, ketchup, and water. Keep it near the stove.
04 - Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per batch, turning once or twice, until crisp and browned. Transfer to a rack or paper towel-lined plate.
05 - Pour off all but 1 tablespoon oil. Add bell pepper, carrot, spring onion whites, garlic, ginger, and chilli. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and still crisp.
06 - Add the sauce and bubble for 1-2 minutes until glossy and slightly thickened. Return the beef and toss for about 60 seconds. Finish with spring onion greens and sesame seeds.

# Good to know:

01 - Serve immediately for the crispest texture.
02 - Slice beef across the grain so the strips stay tender.
03 - Cook in batches to avoid steaming the coating.

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