Mandarin Inns Famous Mongolian Beef Food

MONGOLIAN BEEF

Steps:

• Combine the sliced beef with 1 teaspoon oil, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Marinate for 1 hour. The beef should still be quite moist after it has marinated. If it looks too dry, add a tablespoon of water to it.
• Next, dredge the marinated beef slices in the remaining 1/4 cup of cornstarch until lightly coated.
• In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and hot water (or low sodium chicken or beef stock) until the sugar is dissolved. Mix in 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce. If you don't have low sodium soy sauce, substitute 2 1/2 tablespoons regular soy sauce and 1 1/2 tablespoons water. The saltiness of various soy sauce brands varies, so give the sauce a taste, and adjust the amounts of sugar/soy sauce/water/stock to your own taste.
• Heat 1/3 cup vegetable oil in the wok over high heat. Just before the oil starts to smoke, spread the flank steak pieces evenly in the wok, and sear for 1 minute (depending upon the heat of your wok). Turn over and let the other side sear for another 30 seconds. Remove to a sheet pan. Tilt it slightly to let the oil drain to one side (lean it on a cookbook or cutting board). The beef should be seared with a crusty coating.
• Drain the oil from the wok, leaving 1 tablespoon behind, and turn the heat to medium-high. Add the ginger and dried chili peppers, if using. After about 15 seconds, add the garlic. Stir for another 10 seconds and add the premixed sauce.
• Let the sauce simmer for about 2 minutes and slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry mixture. Cook until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Add the beef and scallions and toss everything together for another 30 seconds. There should be almost no liquid, as the sauce should be clinging to the beef. If you still have sauce, increase the heat slightly and stir until thickened. Plate and serve with steamed rice!

MANDARIN INN'S FAMOUS MONGOLIAN BEEF

Steps:

• Freezing flank steak for 30 minutes will make it easier to slice. Trim the fat from the steak, slice at an angle into 1/8-inch slices.
• Mix all marinade ingredients together. Mix with sliced meat and refrigerate for 1/2 hour or as along as all day.
• Dissolve the cornstarch in the stock and then add the other sauce ingredients. Set aside.
• Heat 2 cups oil in wok or other deep skillet to 350°F Drain beef and fry in oil until almost done (until it loses its pink color). Drain beef in colander. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of oil from wok. (To be honest, I don't deep-fry the beef - I just saute it in a bit of oil).
• Over high heat, add the garlic, ginger and scallions. Stir for about 15 seconds.
• Add the mixed sauce ingredients and stir for about 15 seconds until hot.
• Add meat and stir for a few seconds until reheated.

MANDARIN BEEF

Steps:

• Cut beef across the grain into 1 inch x 1/2 inches x 1/8 inches strips. Add cornstarch and 1 tablespoon oil. Mix well and set aside.
• Seasoning sauce: Mix all seasoning ingredients together and stir again before using.
• Pour approximately 2 cups of oil into a wok and heat to 350. Add beef and stir fry for 30 seconds. Remove beef from oil and set aside. Drain hot oil from wok. Reheat wok and add 1 tablespoon of fresh oil. Add garlic, ginger, and bell peppers and stir fry for 30 seconds. Add seasoning sauce and cook for another 30 seconds before adding beef and scallions. Toss for a few seconds to heat through before serving.