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A plate of crispy chilli beef with a glossy sauce.

Classic Crispy Chilli Beef

This recipe guides you through making crispy chilli beef, featuring thinly sliced beef strips fried to perfection and coated in a savory, sweet, and spicy sauce.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Beef
  • 300 g lean beef (sirloin or flank steak)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 egg white
  • 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)
  • Vegetable oil for deep frying
For the Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 inch ginger grated
  • 2-3 dried red chillies deseeded and finely chopped (or 1-2 fresh red chillies)
  • 1/4 cup light soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornflour mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water slurry
For Garnish
  • Spring onions thinly sliced
  • Sesame seeds

Equipment

  • wok
  • deep pot
  • slotted spoon
  • wire rack
  • large pan

Method
 

Prepare the Beef
  1. Slice the beef thinly and marinate it with baking soda, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and egg white for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Drain the beef and toss with cornflour until each strip is coated, which is crucial for crispiness.
Fry the Beef
  1. Heat vegetable oil to 170°C (340°F) in a wok or deep pot.
  2. Fry the beef in batches for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy, then remove to a wire rack to drain.
Make the Sauce
  1. Heat sesame oil in a clean wok, then sauté minced garlic, ginger, and chopped chillies for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sweet chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, and brown sugar, bringing the mixture to a simmer.
  3. Stir in the cornflour slurry and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, then adjust seasoning as needed.
Combine and Serve
  1. Add the crispy beef to the sauce and toss quickly for about 30 seconds to coat evenly, being careful not to overmix.
  2. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with sliced spring onions and sesame seeds, and serve hot.

Notes

For extra tenderness, marinate the beef for the full 30 minutes. Ensure the oil temperature is maintained for consistent crispiness. Do not overcrowd the pan while frying to prevent the temperature from dropping and making the beef soggy instead of crispy.