Stir Fried Beef With Celery Food

BEEF AND CELERY STIR-FRY WITH FRESH GARLIC

Steps:

• Cut the beef across the grain into thin slices approximately 1 1/2-inches long. To cut beef across the grain, pick up a cut of flank steak or (beef) shoulder steak, and you will notice that it has lines or "grains" running across it. These are the muscle fibers. To cut steak across the grain, cut perpendicular to these fibers. If you cut the meat along the fibers, it will turn out very tough.
• Place the beef in a bowl and add the soy sauce, cooking wine or sherry, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Marinate the beef for 15 minutes.
• Combine the dark soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, water, and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat until it is nearly smoking. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic. Stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the beef. Let sear briefly, then stir-fry the beef until it is no longer pink. Remove and drain in a colander or on paper towels.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or skillet. When the oil is hot, add the celery and the salt. Stir-fry the celery until it begins to turn a brighter green (about 1 minute).
• Add the sauce and bring to a boil. Add the beef back into the pan. Stir-fry for 1 - 2 more minutes to blend the flavors. Serve hot.

CUMIN-SCENTED STIR-FRIED BEEF WITH CELERY

Steps:

• Halve steak lengthwise if large. Slice across the grain about 1/8 inch thick.
• Toss beef with 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch, and a pinch of salt.
• Stir together rice wine, remaining 2 teaspoon soy sauce, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch.
• Heat wok over high heat until smoking, then pour 1 teaspoon oil down side and swirl to coat. Add beef in 1 layer and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, less than 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl.
• Add remaining teaspoon oil to wok, then add ginger, garlic, cumin, and red-pepper flakes and stir-fry 15 seconds. Add celery and stir-fry 1 minute, then add beef and juices and stir-fry 15 seconds. Stir rice-wine mixture, then pour into wok and stir-fry until sauce is bubbling, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and stir in celery leaves.

STIR-FRIED BEEF WITH CELERY

Steps:

• Trim fat from beef; cut beef with grain into 2-inch strips.
• Cut strips across grain into 1/8-inch slices.
• Toss beef, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt, the sugar, 1 teaspoon soy sauce and the white pepper in glass or plastic bowl.
• Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Cut celery diagonally into 1/4-inch slices.
• Cut green onions into 2-inch pieces.
• Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch and the water.
• Heat wok until 1 or 2 drops of water bubble and skitter when sprinkled in wok.
• Add 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; rotate wok to coat side.
• Add beef, gingerroot and garlic; stir-fry until beef is brown, about 3 minutes.
• Remove beef from wok.
• Add 3 tablespoons vegetable oil to wok; rotate.
• Add celery; stir-fry 1 minute.
• Stir in chicken broth and 1/2 teaspoon salt; heat to boiling.
• Cover and cook 2 minutes.
• Stir in cornstarch mixture; cook and stir until thickened, about 10 seconds.
• Stir in beef and 2 tablespoons soy sauce; heat to boiling.
• Garnish with green onions.