Spicy Ginger Beef stir fry - tender beef sirloin with crispy ginger, green veg and a simple-but-tasty Chinese-inspired sauce.
Ginger Beef Stir Fry - fried up with ginger and garlic, and served with lots of green veg in a sweet and savoury Chinese sauce. The whole thing is finished with crispy ginger shoestring fries and a sprinkling of chilli flakes. So so good.
Have you ever tried crispy ginger root - fried up like little matchstick fries?
Now they will really get your taste buds tingling! Crunchy and moreish, with all of that lovely ginger heat. I thought they'd make the perfect topping for my ginger beef stir fry.
Before we get on with the recipe - lets just talk beef.
I’ve made plenty of beef stir fries in my time where the beef ended up chewy because I’d be using a cheaper cut or trying to slice it into big chunks. Trust me, thinly sliced sirloin makes the best stir fry ever!
It's even easier to slice thinly if you place the steak in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm it up first. Use a really sharp knife, and make sure the oil you're frying it in is really hot.
Start by thinly slicing sirloin steak. Then peel some fresh ginger. Chef's Tip: The skin comes of easily if peeling with a teaspoon. Slice the ginger into thin strips, then fry in oil in the wok until crispy.
Next make the sauce - mix together brown sugar, soy sauce, Oyster sauce and rice wine.
Fry the seasoned strips of steak in the wok, then remove from the wok.
Fry onions in the wok, then add minced ginger and garlic.
Add green veg next - I'm using mangetout (snow peas), broccoli and spring onions (scallions).
Add the sauce and bring to the boil. Let it bubble for a few minutes to reduce and thicken.
Then add the steak back in.
Add a couple of handfuls of fresh baby spinach.
And stir everything together to heat through.
Sweet, spicy, crunchy and totally delicious!!
If you like this kind of dish why not take a look at some of my other Asian inspired recipes;
Crispy Sesame Chicken with a Sticky Asian Sauce
Sticky Chinese Pork Belly
Crispy Chilli Plum Chicken
The Spicy Ginger Beef Stir Fry Recipe:
Spicy Ginger Beef Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 350 g (¾ lb) sirloin steak
- 5 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large chunk ginger - peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 medium onion - peeled and chopped
- 1 thumb-sized piece ginger - peeled and minced
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 large head of broccoli - cut into small florets
- 1 medium bunch spring onions/scallions - chopped
- 150 g (1 packed cup) mangetout (snow peas)
- Two large handfuls fresh baby spinach
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
Sauce:
- 5 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp chinese rice wine
- 3 tbsp soft brown sugar
- 2 tbs cornflour/cornstarch - mixed with 2 tbsp cold water
To Serve:
INSTRUCTIONS
- Freeze the beef sirloin for 30 minutes so that it’s firm but not completely rock-solid-frozen.350 g (¾ lb) sirloin steak
- Slice into thin slices across the grain.
- Heat the oil until shimmering hot in a wok or large high-sided frying pan. Add the ginger that’s been cut into matchsticks and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy. Scoop out of the pan with a slotted spoon and leave to drain on some kitchen paper.5 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 large chunk ginger
- Carefully spoon out all but 1 tbsp of the oil (reserving the oil). Bring the temperature back to very hot again. Sprinkle the salt and pepper on the beef and and add half the beef to the wok. Fry, moving around a few times until browned (about 3-5 minutes). Spoon out with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl to rest. Add in another 1 tbsp of the oil if needed and cook the remaining beef in the same way, then place in the bowl too.½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Add a little more oil if needed so you have around 2 tbsp of oil in the wok. Heat to a medium heat and add in the chopped onion. Fry for 2-3 minutes until just starting to soften. Add in the minced ginger and garlic and fry for a further 30 seconds, then add in the broccoli, spring onions, and mangetout. Stir fry for one minute, then mix together the sauce ingredients and add to the wok.1 medium onion, 1 thumb-sized piece ginger, 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced, 1 large head of broccoli, 1 medium bunch spring onions/scallions, 150 g (1 packed cup) mangetout (snow peas), 5 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tbsp chinese rice wine, 3 tbsp soft brown sugar, 2 tbs cornflour/cornstarch
- Allow to bubble and thicken for one minute, then add the beef back in. Allow to heat through for a minute or two, then stir in the spinach and turn off the heat.Two large handfuls fresh baby spinach
- Top with the crispy ginger matchsticks and a sprinkling of chilli flakes.1 tsp chilli flakes
- Serve with boiled rice or noodles.boiled rice
Video
✎ Notes
Cut of steak:
Sirloin is the best cut to use for this stir fry as it's tender and tasty and holds up well to being quickly fried. Flat iron, tenderloin and rib eye are good swaps if you want to use a different cut. .Slicing the steak:
Place the steak in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing. This will make it firmer, enabling you to slice the steak in thinner slices. .Tip on peeling fresh ginger:
Use a teaspoon to scrap the skin off the ginger. It's easier and you get less waste this way. .Can I make ginger beef stir fry gluten free?
Yes, replace the soy sauce with tamari. I would use 4 tbsp of tamari instead of 5 as I find it can be a little overpowering. Use gluten-free oyster sauce (Lee Kum Kee do one) Rice wine sometimes contains gluten - so check your brand. You can replace with a splash of sherry. .Can I make it ahead?
This stir fry tastes best when made right before serving. .Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes, replace the steak with a meat-free alternative such as tofu, quorn or some thickly chopped mushrooms, or you can leave out entirely. . Nutritional Information is per serving, without serving suggestion of boiled rice or noodles.Nutrition
This post was first published in August 2016. Updated in February 2019 with video, step-by-step photos and extra tips.
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Gabby says
I added lots of extra veggies and doubled the sauce quantity (just how we like it) - absolutely excellent, will use this recipe again.
Karen in Montana says
Made it last night & loved it. Next time will use half of the red chili flakes as it is very hot.
Can you use bok choy instead of spinach and also add water chestnuts. I made my slurry with 1 tablespoon of clear jel which thickened the sauce just great. Yes will make this again.
Natalie Sharpe says
Delicious and so easy! Thank you for sharing.