Beef Chow Fun (Beef Ho Fun, 干炒牛河)
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
5 mins
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Total Time
25 mins
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Servings
2 servings
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese
Beef Chow Fun (Beef Ho Fun, 干炒牛河)
Description
This Beef Chow Fun recipe uses thinly sliced flank or skirt steak marinated with soy sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, cornstarch, and a touch of sugar to tenderize and flavor the meat. Fresh wide rice noodles, known as sa-ho fun, are gently separated before stir-frying to maintain their texture.
The stir-fry method involves quickly cooking beef until just pale, then briefly stir-frying rice noodles with beansprouts and onions to preserve their crispness. Beef and Chinese chives are added last along with soy sauces to bring umami richness and a balance of savory and slightly sweet flavors.
The combination of fresh wide rice noodles and marinated beef creates a harmonious dish that can be served as a fulfilling main meal. Chinese chives offer a mild onion-like aroma, and if unavailable, common green chives are a practical substitute without significantly changing the dish's character.
Ingredients
For the beef:
- 5 oz beef preferably flank/skirt steak
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce light
- 1 teaspoon Shaoxing rice wine
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 pinch sugar
- 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
You also need:
- 1 lb sa-ho fun see note 1, fresh
- 2 tablespoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 2 oz beansprouts
- ¼ onion thinly sliced
- 1 oz Chinese chives see note 2
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce light
Instructions
Marinate the beef
- Slice the beef against the grain. Mix with light soy sauce, rice wine, cornstarch, water and sugar. Coat with oil then leave to rest for 15 minutes.
Prepare the rice noodles
- If using fresh ones: Gently separate the sa-ho fun by hand into long strands (try not to break them into small pieces).
- If using dried ones (reduce the quantity to 8oz/230g): follow the instructions on the package to cook then rinse under cold water prior to stir-frying.
Stir fry
- Pour oil into a hot wok. Stir in the marinated beef slices. Fry until they just turn pale (do not overcook). Dish out and leave the oil in the wok.
- Put in sa-ho fun. Gently stir around with a pair of chopsticks. When the sa-ho fun begins to wilt, add in beansprouts and onion. Fry for 30 seconds or so.
- Add the beef and Chinese chives. Pour in light soy sauce and dark soy sauce. Cook for a further 30 seconds.
Notes
- Sa-ho fun is a type of wide, thick Chinese rice noodle identifiable by the Chinese characters 沙河粉 and has a distinct chewy texture.
- Fresh sa-ho fun should be gently separated by hand to avoid breaking the noodles.
- Two types of Chinese chives exist: regular green and yellow chives; yellow chives have a milder, slightly sweet flavor traditionally used in authentic Cantonese Beef Chow Fun.
- If yellow chives are unavailable, regular Chinese chives make a suitable substitute.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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