Crispy Chilli Beef 🌶️🥩
Golden, crispy beef strips tossed in a glossy, spicy-sweet sauce—Crispy Chilli Beef is a Chinese takeaway favourite you can easily recreate at home. It's bold, addictive, and made to impress. Perfect for a weekend treat or whenever those cravings hit!
🛒 Ingredients
For the Beef:
🥩 Beef steak (sirloin or flank), thinly sliced – 500g
🌽 Cornflour (cornstarch) – 3 tbsp
🥚 Egg, beaten – 1
🛢 Vegetable oil – for deep frying
🌶 Red chilli, thinly sliced – 1
🌱 Spring onions, chopped – 2 (for garnish)
🧄 Garlic, minced – 1 tbsp
🧄 Ginger, minced – 1 tbsp
For the Sauce:
🧴 Soy sauce – 2 tbsp
🍶 Rice vinegar – 1 tbsp
🥄 Hoisin sauce – 2 tbsp
🍯 Honey (or brown sugar) – 1 tbsp
🥄 Sesame oil – 1 tsp
💧 Water – 60ml (¼ cup)
🌶 Chilli flakes – 1 tsp (adjust to taste)
🌽 Cornflour – 1 tsp (mixed with a splash of cold water)
👩🍳 Method
1. Prepare the Beef:
In a mixing bowl, toss the beef strips with cornflour and beaten egg until each piece is well coated and ready to crisp.
2. Fry to Crispy Perfection:
Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the beef in small batches for 3–4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
3. Sauté the Aromatics:
Remove most of the oil from the pan, leaving about 1 tbsp. Add the garlic and ginger, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Mix the Sauce:
In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin, honey, sesame oil, water, and chilli flakes. Stir in the cornflour slurry to help thicken the sauce.
5. Simmer and Toss:
Pour the sauce into the pan with the aromatics. Simmer until it begins to thicken slightly, then return the crispy beef to the pan. Toss well to coat every piece in that rich, sticky sauce.
6. Garnish and Serve:
Finish with sliced red chilli and chopped spring onions for a fresh bite and a touch of heat. Serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.
⏱ Serving Info:
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
🍴 Servings: 4
💡 Tip:
For extra crunch, let the beef rest for a couple of minutes after frying before tossing it in the sauce. Want it even hotter? Add more chilli flakes or a splash of sriracha.
A perfect balance of crispy, spicy, and sweet, this Crispy Chilli Beef is a total flavour bomb that’s guaranteed to steal the spotlight at the dinner table. 🌶️🥩🍚