Crispy chilli beef from the Chinese: Savour Crispy Chilli Beef, a popular Chinese stir-fry meal that will ignite your taste buds with its robust flavours and crispy texture! Tender beef strips marinated in a sweet and spicy combination are combined with a satisfyingly crispy coating achieved by a superb balance frying technique in this delicious dish. Each mouthful bursts with an enticing balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavours, paired with ginger, garlic, hot chillies, and a touch of sauce. Crispy Chilli Beef, a mainstay of Chinese cooking, is a delicious treat that will leave you wanting more.
Ingredients:
For the beef:
- 1 pound (450g) flank steak or sirloin steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the sauce:
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, season the sliced beef with salt and pepper, then toss it with cornstarch until evenly coated.
- Once the air fryer is preheated, lightly coat the air fryer basket with vegetable oil or use a non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the coated beef slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry the beef slices at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. The beef should be crispy and golden brown.
- While the beef is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and chili flakes.
- In a separate small bowl, dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in 1 tablespoon of water to create a slurry.
- Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced bell pepper and onion, and sauté until they are slightly softened.
- Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet with the bell pepper and onion. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Once the beef is crispy and cooked, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- In a large bowl, toss the crispy beef with the sauce until evenly coated.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
Enjoy your homemade crispy chili beef made in the air fryer! Serve it with steamed rice or noodles for a delicious Chinese-inspired meal.