Beijing Beef (Panda Specific Copycat)

This Beijing beef with bell peppers and onions is tossed in a tangy, savory, spicy stir-fry sauce. I’ll present you learn how to make this Panda Specific copycat with simple substances from your personal pantry!

Serve this simple beef stir-fry with fried rice or peanut noodles for a selfmade meal that’s even higher than takeout.

Overhead view of Beijing beef served over rice with a side of steamed broccoli in a bowl, with a set of chopsticks on the side.

Should you’ve adopted the weblog for some time, you’ll know that I’m semi-obsessed with recreating my favourite takeout meals. Recipes like this copycat Kung Pao beef and Hunan beef are on common dinner rotation, and this Beijing beef recipe is my selfmade model of the Panda Specific stir-fry. With crispy fried beef, bell peppers, and onions in a candy, tangy, savory sauce, I believe it’s fairly darn near the unique.

We ate this Beijing beef with jasmine rice and steamed broccoli the opposite night time, and it was *chef’s kiss*.

About This Panda Specific Beijing Beef Copycat

Approachable. I simplified the substances with what I had within the pantry. Substances like oyster sauce are non-obligatory, however you may at all times use them in additional stir-fry recipes.
Straightforward to make at house. Anybody with a range and a skillet could make this saucy Beijing beef in 45 minutes or much less.
Adaptable. The perfect half about making takeout at house is the flexibleness! Adapt the spice stage and veggies to your liking.

Recipe Substances

Beijing beef ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Bell peppers, green onions, sesame seeds, and garlic in bowls with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Beijing beef sauce ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Flank Steak – My favourite beef for stir-frying is flank steak, however you may use quick-cooking skirt steak or sirloin reduce into skinny ¼-inch strips.
Soy Sauce – Low sodium soy sauce or common. Tamari is a high-quality, gluten-free different.
Egg Whites – Simply the whites, flippantly overwhelmed.
Cornstarch – I add cornstarch to the meat marinade and reserve additional cornstarch to “velvet” the meat earlier than cooking.
Oil – Select a impartial oil with a excessive smoke level for frying, resembling canola, vegetable, peanut, or avocado oil.
Bell Peppers and Onions – These are the unique veggies within the Panda Specific Beijing beef, however you may adapt this selfmade recipe with recent or frozen stir-fry greens. Broccoli florets, julienne carrots, snap peas, and so forth., are all nice decisions. If frozen, thaw them absolutely.
Garlic – Freshly minced. Substitute 1 tablespoon of jarred garlic for every clove.

Beijing Beef Stir-Fry Sauce

Hen Inventory – I exploit low-sodium hen broth. Beef inventory could have a deeper taste.
Soy Sauce – Whichever soy sauce you used within the stir-fry will work within the sauce.
Ketchup – I swear by ketchup as a straightforward shortcut to sweet-tangy taste in stir-fry sauces.
Hoisin Sauce – That is primarily Chinese language barbecue sauce. You’ll discover it within the condiment aisle or worldwide meals aisle in most main grocery shops. Any sort of barbecue sauce works, however I extremely suggest hoisin as a primary alternative.
Candy Chili Sauce – Select your favourite relying in your most popular spice stage.
Oyster Sauce – One other bottle to choose up from the Asian condiment aisle. If oyster sauce isn’t out there, you may substitute additional soy sauce or hoisin. I’d recommend adjusting to style.
Brown Sugar – Or white sugar, although it gained’t have the identical depth of taste.
White Vinegar – You can additionally use rice vinegar or white wine vinegar.

Cornstarch in Stir-Frying

Cornstarch is a key ingredient in stir-frying, and never just for thickening the sauce. Velveting is a Chinese language cooking method that coats the meat in cornstarch earlier than frying. That is the key to that super-tender, juicy meat with crispy edges that you just get in Chinese language eating places. Don’t skip the cornstarch!

Overhead view of Beijing beef in a large skillet.

Ideas for the Finest Beef Stir-Fry

Slice the steak towards the grain. The grain is the traces you may see working by a chunk of meat. These are muscle fibers, and chopping throughout them (somewhat than with them) severs the traces, for beef that’s tender and never chewy.
Thicken the sauce. Should you discover that the sauce is just a little runny, you may add a cornstarch slurry to assist thicken it. Whisk collectively equal elements cornstarch and water. Then, add the slurry to the sauce and simmer till it thickens.
Use low-sodium hen inventory. Soy sauce is salty sufficient, and an excessive amount of salt might be overkill.

What to Serve With Beijing Beef

Chopsticks lifting a bite of Beijing beef served over rice with a side of steamed broccoli in a bowl.

Continuously Requested Questions

What’s the distinction between Beijing beef and Mongolian beef?

Beijing beef is crispy, tangy, and spicier than Mongolian beef, which is sweeter and savory. Give my Mongolian beef recipe a attempt in case you’d desire a milder dish.

Is Panda Specific Beijing beef spicy?

The unique recipe is spicy because of chili flakes. Nonetheless, this model tames the warmth barely with candy chili sauce as a substitute. You may adapt the warmth to style by including additional chili or a warmer chili sauce.

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Marinate the meat. Utilizing a whisk, beat the soy sauce, egg whites, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a big bowl. Season to style with salt and pepper. Add the sliced steak, cowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for half-hour to marinate.
Make the sauce. Mix all of the sauce substances in a bowl. Put aside.
Velvet the meat. Take away the meat from the marinade. Discard the marinade. Coat the meat slices with the ¼ cup of cornstarch. You are able to do this in two batches.
Cook dinner the meat. Warmth the cooking oil in a big skillet or wok to 350˚F. As soon as heated, add the meat and prepare dinner for 3-4 minutes or till performed. Take away the meat slices with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a paper-lined plate to empty. Strive to not crowd the pan and prepare dinner the meat in two batches.
Cook dinner the veggies. Take away a lot of the oil out of your skillet or wok, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Add the bell pepper and prepare dinner, stirring till crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Stir within the garlic and prepare dinner for 15 seconds, or till aromatic. Take away the veggies from the skillet and switch them to the plate with the meat.
Thicken the sauce. Add the sauce to the identical skillet or wok. Cook dinner for 3 to five minutes or till it thickens.
Put all of it collectively. Stir the meat and veggies again into the pan with the sauce and toss to mix.
Serve. Serve heat, garnished with sesame seeds and spring onions.

Slice the steak towards the grain for tender meat.
If wanted, you may thicken the sauce with some cornstarch slurry.
Should you do not need oyster sauce, you should utilize extra hoisin or soy sauce.
Use low-sodium hen inventory as a result of soy sauce is salty sufficient.

Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might range in response to the substances and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.

Methods to Make Beijing Beef

Beef strips marinating in a bowl with a spatula. — Marinate the meat.

Beijing beef sauce in a glass measuring cup with a whisk. — Marinate the meat.

Marinate the meat. Begin by beating collectively soy sauce, egg whites, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and salt and pepper to style. Add the steak slices to the marinade and refrigerate for half-hour.
Make the sauce. In the meantime, combine all of the sauce substances in a brand new bowl.

Pan-fried beef strips in a skillet. — Cook dinner the meat.

Pan-fried beef strips draining on top of paper towels. — Cook dinner the meat.

Velvet the meat. Discard the marinade, and dredge the meat slices flippantly in cornstarch to coat. Chances are you’ll want to do that in batches.
Cook dinner the meat. Subsequent, warmth the oil in a sizzling skillet or wok. Purpose for 350ºF (use a sweet thermometer if in case you have one). Then, fry the meat for 3-4 minutes, till it’s golden. Utilizing a slotted spoon or steel tongs, transfer the cooked beef to a paper towel-lined plate to empty.

A wooden spatula stirring browned beef strips and sautéed red bell peppers in a skillet. — Cook dinner the greens.

Cook dinner the veggies. Drain a lot of the oil out of your skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons behind to prepare dinner your veggies. Add the bell peppers and prepare dinner till they’re tender-crisp. Stir within the garlic, then switch the greens to the plate with the meat.
Warmth the sauce. Pour the ready sauce into the identical skillet. Simmer for 3 to five minutes, simply till it thickens.
Put all of it collectively. Lastly, return the meat and veggies to the skillet with the sauce, and toss to coat. Serve this Beijing beef heat, topped with sesame seeds and a sprinkle of spring onions in case you’d like. Get pleasure from!

Beijing beef served over rice with a side of steamed broccoli in a bowl.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Refrigerate. Retailer leftover Beijing beef in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days within the fridge.
Reheat. Heat the meat and sauce on the stovetop or within the microwave. If wanted, add a splash of water or broth to assist loosen up the sauce if it’s change into dry from storage.