CRISPY BEEF WITH CARROTS AND SNOW PEAS

Crispy Beef with Carrots and Snow Peas image

This Chinese-inspired dish uses minimal ingredients with so much flavor. Tossing the beef in cornstarch before cooking makes it extra crispy and gives the stir-fry texture. Feel free to use any vegetable you like!

Provided by Carla Hall

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain rice
12 ounces skirt steak, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 cloves garlic, grated
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced on a bias
3 ounces snow peas, strings removed, halved crosswise
1 scallion green, thinly sliced on a bias

Steps:

For the rice: To a small saucepan, add the rice and 2 cups of water. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rice is tender, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
Meanwhile, combine the skirt steak and 2 tablespoons soy sauce in a medium bowl and toss to combine. Chill for 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup cornstarch with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the skirt steak in the cornstarch mixture and coat well. Transfer the coated meat to a fine sieve and knock off any excess cornstarch.
Heat 1 cup canola oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of the beef in a single layer and cook without stirring for 2 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes longer; transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with remaining skirt steak. Carefully discard the hot oil and wipe the skillet clean.
To a small bowl, add the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, mirin, red wine vinegar, ginger, crushed red pepper, garlic and remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Mix to combine.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the snow peas and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic-ginger sauce and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute until the liquid starts to thicken. Add the crispy skirt steak and toss until fully coated. If the sauce looks too thick, you can add 1/4 cup water to thin it out. Serve over rice and garnish with scallion greens.