Crispy Orange Beef

                                                                

Who doesn’t love deep fried Chinese food smothered in a sweet, succulent sauce? That being said, the fast food/take out versions leave you wondering what it is that gives your dinner that floresent hue, and how much sugar was used in that sweet, sticky sauce that is gobbed onto your dish.

This recipe for Crispy Orange Beef will leave you speechless (mainly becuase you are trying to fit more of it in your mouth). The ingredients are all natural and simple. The dish comes out just how you’d hope – the beef is silky soft, the exterior is crispy and not too oily, the orange sauce is vibrant and sweet, but not in a gross syrupy way.

Sure this dish invloves frying in oil, but the freshness and quality will make you wonder how you can ever order Chinese food in a take-out container again.

                                                         

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Crispy Orange Beef

Adapted from the Shun Lee Cookbook

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 pound stir-fry beef
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 orange
Vegetable oil
1 cup cornstarch
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
3 scallions, white part only, sliced diagonally into 1/2 inch pieces
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau
1/4 teaspooon Frank’s Red Hot Sauce

Sauce:
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon rice wine
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Preparation:

  1. Mix the beef, baking soda, and 3 tablespoons of water in a medium bowl. Cover, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight (the baking soda will tenderize the steak).
  2. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the coloured zest from the orange. Cut the zest into 1 inch long strips, and set aside.
  3. To begin the sauce, mix the sugar, vinegar, rice wine, soy sauce and cornstarch in a small bowl. Set aside.
  4. Heat a large wok over High heat. Add enough vegetable oil to come about 1 1/2 inches up the sides of the wok, and heat to 375 degrees F. Meanwhile, add the cornstarch and egg white to the beef, and mix well to coat.
  5. Add the beef to the oil one piece at a time so that it does not splash or stick. Stir gently until it begins to look crispy, about 1 minute. Using a wire mesh strainer, transfer the beef to a colander to drain. Remove any fried bits from the wok.
  6. Return the beef to the wok, and fry again until crispy all over, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a strainer to drain. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the wok.
  7. Return the wok with the oil to High heat. Add the scallions, beef, sugar-vinegar mixture, orange zest, sesame oil, orange liqueur, and hot sauce. Stir-fry until all of the ingredients are well blended, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

One Response to “Crispy Orange Beef”

  1. […] seasoning the wok I got to work on this delicious Sun Lee recipe. Last time I cooked up their Crispy Orange Chicken, which was a huge success. Today I tried my hand at Hunan Beef, choosing to substitute in some […]