Mongolian Beef

Mongolian beef is a pretty common dish at Chinese restaurants nowadays. It is so popular that if you walk into a random Chinese restaurant, chances are they probably have it on their menu. This dish is salty and sweet and it goes really well with steamed white rice. This recipe came from www.bakespace.com.

Serves 2

Prep time: 17 minutes
Cook time: 13 minutes

Ingredients:
Marinate:
1 pound boneless beef flank or chuck, sliced against the grain into 1/4 inch thin (as thin as possible) bite-able slices
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1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon Chinese cooking wine or medium dried sherry
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4-8 tablespoon water
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1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Sauce:
2 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoon dark brown sugar

Other:
1 cup vegetable oil
2 large green onions, sliced into 3-inch sections or one 3-inch diameter onion, sliced into 1/2 inch wide wedges
2 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoon water

Tips:

1. I believe the traditional Chinese version of this dish is made with green onions, I actually prefer substitute it with onions, as onions have a better texture than green onions.
2. The beef marinating process does take a while, especially doing it the first time, after doing it for a couple of times, you will be very comfortable with it.
   

Instruction:

1. In a mixing bowl, mix the beef slices with the salt, cooking wine and corn starch. Water should be the last ingredient to add to the marinate, the amount of water gets added depends on how much the beef slices absorbs. Add in 2 tablespoon of water at a time, mix it well with the beef with your hand in clockwise circular motion, then keep adding more water until the beef can't absorb anymore water and the meat feels springy when pressed. Let it marinate for 10 minutes. After the beef is marinated, if there are some water came out of the beef, use the clockwise hand motion to mix it back in with the beef, then mix it well with 1 tablespoon oil. This beef marinate process is to let the moister get in the beef while add the oil coating prevents the moister escape during the cooking process, our goal is to make the beef more tender.
   
2. Making the sauce by heating 2 teaspoon of oil in a medium sized pot over medium-high heat, add in the ginger and garlic cook until they are fragrant (about 30 seconds), then add the soy sauce and water, bring to a boil. Once boiling, dissolve in the brown sugar, and lower the heat to medium and boil for 6-8 minutes until the sauce thickens.
3. When marinate is done, heat 1 cup of oil in the wok or skillet over high heat till pretty hot but not smoking, put in the beef slices and stir fry till beef is barely cooked (about 30 seconds to 1 minute), white/brown with a little bit of pink. Quickly use a mesh to scope out the beef.
4. Leave 1 tablespoon of the oil in the wok or skillet over medium-high heat, put in the green onion or onion and stir fry until the flavor comes out, about 1-2 minute. Add the beef and sauce, cook for about 2 minutes. Add the 2 teaspoon cornstarch with water mixture and thicken the sauce. Transfer to a serving plate.