Mongolian Style 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!

MONGOLIAN BEEF

Steps:

• Spread the flank steak out flat, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the freezer until partially frozen, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove beef from the freezer and slice across the grain into very thin slices.
• Whisk the chicken stock and cornstarch in a freezer-safe bowl until smooth; whisk in the hot chili oil, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sherry, sugar, soy sauce, and crushed red pepper flakes. Place the beef into the sauce, stir to coat well. Cover and freeze until frozen, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the freezer and allow to defrost, about 30 minutes.
• Heat a wok over high heat until very hot, and pour in the peanut oil. Immediately add garlic, cook and stir in the hot oil until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Mix in the Swiss chard and green onions; cook and stir the vegetables until they turn bright green, about 3 minutes, and then remove from the wok.
• Pour the defrosted beef mixture into the hot wok; cook and stir until the meat browns and the sauce forms a glaze, 3 to 5 minutes. Return the cooked vegetables to the wok, sprinkle with salt and pepper, mix to combine well; serve hot.

MONGOLIAN BEEF I

Steps:

• In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds for 1 to2 minutes, or until the seeds begin to turn golden brown; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and minced garlic. Stir in beef strips. Let stand for at least 10 minutes.
• In a separate small bowl, mix together water, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, sugar, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes; set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Cook and stir beef in hot oil for 1 minute; remove, and set aside. Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in the same pan. Saute carrots and white part of green onions for 2 minutes. Stir in green parts of the green onion, and saute for 1 minute. Stir in sesame seed mixture and beef. Cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens.

MONGOLIAN BEEF

Steps:

• For the beef: Slice the flank steak across the grain into 3/4-inch (19 millimeters)-thick slices on an angle to make planks then cut the planks into 3/4-inch (19 millimeters) cubes. Combine the cornstarch, baking soda and salt with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and set aside. Place the steak in a shallow bowl and add the water, vegetable, and cornstarch mixture. Massage all the ingredients into the meat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 12 hours.
• For the sauce: Combine the oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch, vinegar, garlic and half the ginger in a small bowl and set aside.
• For the stir-fry: Heat the oil to medium-high in a wok or medium saute pan. Stir in the beef and cook to medium-rare, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Drain off excess oil. Add the garlic and remaining ginger and saute 20 to 30 seconds. Stir in the bell peppers and onions and let them cook until the edges of the onion and bell peppers begin to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the scallion whites, dried chilies and sauce, stir constantly and let it cook for about 2 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
• Transfer to a platter and garnish with the scallion greens.

MONGOLIAN BEEF

Steps:

• Combine meat, soy sauce, cornstarch, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• In 375 degree wok, cook garlic and ginger in oil for 3-5 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients, including meat mixture.
• Stir fry for 5-10 minutes, or until meat is cooked through.

CROCK POT MONGOLIAN STYLE BEEF

Steps:

• Slice the flank steak thinly across the grain - the strips should be 2 to 3 inches long each; set aside.
• Combine the onion, soy sauce, sherry, broth, garlic, hoisin, brown sugar, ginger, and pepper flakes, then put the mixture into the crock pot.
• Put the cornstarch in a large Ziploc bag; add the sliced beef and toss well to coat.
• Add the coated beef into the crock pot, gently pushing it into the liquid to cover; pour the white wine over - do NOT stir.
• Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours; an hour before you're going to serve, turn the crock pot to high, add the cut scallions, stir, and cook for an additional hour.
• Stir, and serve over rice or noodles.
• Note: if I wasn't doing a challenge (ie I can't go to the store to buy things I'm out of) there are things I'd do differently; although I searched high and low in the freezer for some ginger root, it seems to have disappeared - so I used ground -- next time it'll be fresh. Also, if you don't like your Mongolian Beef slightly sweet as the restaurants around here serve it, you can cut back on the brown sugar.