SPICY SICHUAN BEEF STIR-FRY

Spicy Sichuan Beef Stir-Fry image

This beef and vegetable stir-fry takes its cues from dry fried Sichuan beef, which calls for browning strips of beef over high heat to ensure juicy, flavorful meat. Hot cherry peppers and spicy black bean sauce give this dish its fire, but you can use sweet black bean sauce for a mellower version. To get closer to the original dish, seek out Sichuan peppercorns.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 pound flank steak, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced against the grain
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 English cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
2 stalks celery, chopped, plus celery leaves for topping
3 tablespoons Asian black bean sauce
4 pickled hot cherry peppers, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons brine
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon mixed peppercorns
4 cups cooked jasmine rice

Steps:

Toss the steak with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 teaspoon cornstarch in a large bowl. Combine the cucumber and celery in a separate bowl; set aside.
Stir the black bean sauce with the remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 teaspoon cornstarch, the cherry pepper brine and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl; set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the cucumber-celery mixture and cook, undisturbed, 1 minute. Toss and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same skillet. Add the steak in a single layer. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 1 minute. Toss and continue cooking, stirring, until just a few pink spots remain, 1 more minute. Add the garlic, ginger and peppercorns and cook, stirring, until the meat is cooked through, 1 to 2 more minutes. Add the black bean sauce mixture and cherry peppers and bring to a boil. Cook until glossy, about 1 minute. Toss in the cucumbers and celery.
Serve the stir-fry over rice. Top with celery leaves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 480, Fat 16 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Cholesterol 74 milligrams, Sodium 1,810 milligrams, Carbohydrate 49 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 30 grams, Sugar 4 grams