Ginger Beef Recipe

This ginger beef recipe is exactly what you are looking for in an Asian specialty: juicy beef flavored with garlic, ginger, and Chinese-style sauce. Serving this goodness with a bowl of steamy white rice and stir-fried vegetables makes for a fulfilling dinner.

Is Ginger Beef Healthy?

The cooking process that involves deep-frying the beef may give the impression of unhealthy food, but that’s not the case with our ginger beef.

Our chefs aim for canola oil which is low in saturated fat and high in ALA omega-3 fatty acid. Though only a small amount of oil gets absorbed into the food, you should avoid having fried food regularly to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Now, shall we take a closer look at the nutrition profile?

Flank steak is an impressive source of high-quality protein and minerals, especially zinc and phosphorus. Meeting your daily protein needs helps prevent muscle loss, whereas boosting mineral intake has been shown to strengthen your immune system. Also, we decided to serve ginger beef with white rice to fuel your body throughout the day.

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Overall, this main dish contains 501 calories, 3 g of saturated fat, and only around 563 mg of sodium, which is very reasonable.

Main Ingredients

This recipe only requires some simple ingredients you can find at any Asian market—beef, aromatics, and some Chinese condiments.

• Beef: Flank steak is our go-to cut for many recipes that call for well-seasoned meat. However, this lean steak is quite tricky to work with as it tends to overcook easily, resulting in dry chunks of beef. To prevent this, you should slice your steak thinly and cook to no more than medium.
• Ginger: This pantry staple gives off a warm and slightly camphor notes with a sharp and peppery taste.
• Garlic: The Chinese adore garlic for its surprising health benefits and the depth it gives to the dish. 
• Brown sugar: We prefer brown sugar to regular white granulated sugar as it adds that extra caramel aftertaste to the marinade.
• Soy sauce: To reduce the amount of salt, our chefs aim for the low-sodium option. If you can only get your hands on dark soy sauce, dilute it with water, and it will work just fine.
• Oyster sauce: This is an essential ingredient for our Chinese-style sauce as it delivers a blast of umami flavor with a distinct sweetness to our beef creation.
• Sesame oil: It imparts a pop of nutty and toasty flavor to dressings, sauces, and marinades. For those who want a more pronounced taste, use dark sesame oil instead.
• Sriracha and red pepper flakes: If you’re a spicy food lover, the intense heat of Sriracha and red pepper flakes will awaken your taste buds.
• Coating: Slices of beef are coated in the mixture of egg, cornstarch, and all-purpose flour, then fried to perfection—crispy on the outside yet tender on the inside.

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What Kind of Beef Is Best for This Recipe

• Flank steak: Flank steak, also known as the London Broil, is one of the most versatile cuts. It has a deeper red color and a firmer texture than other varieties due to its thick muscle fibers.
• Skirt steak: Skirt steak is an ideal substitute for flank steak. Still, this cut has slightly more fat content and a beefier flavor than a flank cut.
• Hanger steak: Belonging to the same flat steak category as flank and skirt, hanger steak can be used interchangeably for this recipe.

Tips for Cooking

Our team has prepared some helpful tips to make your cooking journey more enjoyable.

• Freezing your steak for 15 to 20 minutes beforehand will make it easier to slice.
• Slicing the steak across its grain will help prevent rubbery steak.
• For lean cuts like flank or skirt steak, cook them to no more than medium rare.

What to Serve With

Here are some simple yet delectable side dishes for your ginger beef.

• Cabbage Potato Soup recipe
• Cabbage Soup recipe
• Miso Soup recipe 
• Asian-style Broccoli recipe
• Stir-fried Chinese Broccoli recipe (Gai Lan)

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These Easy-to-Make Beef Over Rice Recipes Are Perfect for Busy Weeknights

This beef and mushroom recipe is a hearty and savory dish that's perfect for a cozy night in. The tender beef is cooked with earthy mushrooms and fragrant herbs, creating a comforting and satisfying meal that's easy to make at home.

This Korean dish is a delicious and flavorful way to enjoy beef. Thinly sliced beef is marinated in a sweet and savory sauce, then grilled or pan-fried to perfection. Serve with rice and vegetables for a complete meal.

For those who appreciate the simplicity and deliciousness of beef and rice meals, our roundup won't disappoint.

How to Make Ginger Beef

5 from 1 vote

Today's ginger beef recipe only requires 25 minutes to turn some simple ingredients into a Chinese beef delicacy, perfect for any occasion.

- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2022-09-28

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• cook TIME 10 mins
• prep TIME 15 mins
• total TIME 25 mins

• COURSE Main Course
• CUISINE Chinese
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 501 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 12 oz flank steak (separable lean, 0" fat, thinly sliced)
• 2 tbsp ginger (cut into thin strips)
• 2 tbsp garlic (minced)
• 2 1/2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 small egg
• 3 tbsp cornstarch (divided to 2 1/2 tbsp, 1/2 tbsp)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup canola oil (*)
• 1/2 tsp pepper flakes
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp Sriracha
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup scallion (thinly sliced)
• 1/2 tbsp unsalted roasted sesame seeds
• 3 1/2 cups cooked medium-grain rice (from 1 3/4 cups uncooked)

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

Prep:

1

Trim off the silver skin and any excess fat on the flank steak using a sharpened knife. If your steak is too thick (more than 2 inches), cut it in half lengthwise. Cut the steak across its grain into 1-inch slices.

2

Slice off the root part of each garlic clove. Use the side of a knife to press down and crush the cloves, then peel away the skin. Mince the peeled garlic.

3

Separate the knobs and slice away the skin of the ginger with a knife. Cut the knobs into thin slices. Stack the slices up, and slice them into thin strips.

4

Slice away the root end and the tough top part of the scallions. Line the scallions on a cutting board and slice them diagonally into thin slices.

5

Cook the rice using a rice cooker or an Instant Pot.

Cook::

1

Make the batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 small egg, 2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch, and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour. Whisk well.

2

Batter the beef: To the batter mixture, add 12 oz thinly sliced flank steak and mix to coat them evenly.

3

Make the sauce: In a small mixing bowl, add 1/2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 1/2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp sriracha, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1/2 tsp pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Mix well until the sugar is fully dissolved.

4

Fry the battered beef: Heat 1 cup of canola oil in a skillet over high heat. Dip a pair of chopsticks in and when the tips sizzle, lower to medium heat and start frying your beef. Fry both sides of the beef until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer them onto a paper towel to drain away the excess oil.

5

Sauté the aromatics: Leave about 1 tbsp canola oil in the skillet and pour the rest of the oil into a small bowl to save for later. Turn to medium heat, then sauté 2 tbsp ginger and 2 tbsp garlic for 30 seconds.

6

Combine all of the ingredients: In a small skillet, add the fried beef and sauce. Stir frequently to cook for 30 seconds. Remove from heat.

7

Garnish and serve: Transfer your desired portion onto a platter. Sprinkle on the thinly sliced scallions and unsalted roasted sesame seeds. Enjoy with white rice.

(*) Only a part of the oil will be absorbed in the final product, and we have calculated nutritional values based on that amount. The whole amount is needed for frying, but it's just 2 tbsp of canola oil that ends up being consumed for four servings.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Ginger Beef

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 501Calories from Fat 134

% Daily Value*

Fat 14.9g

23%

Saturated Fat 3g

19%

Cholesterol 92mg

31%

Sodium 563mg

24%

Potassium 422mg

12%

Carbohydrate 64g

21%

Fiber 1g

4%

Sugar 2g

2%

Protein 26g

52%

Vitamin A 217IU

4%

Vitamin C 3mg

4%

Calcium 47mg

5%

Iron 5mg

28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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