4.8 from 15 votes
Beef with Black Bean Sauce
Rich, savory, and bursting with flavor, this umami-packed beef with black bean sauce is the quintessential Chinese takeaway treat.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 310 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs beef sirloin (See Note 1)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce (See Note 2)
Sauce
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 3 tbsp black bean paste
- 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (See Note 2)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Stir Fry
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 medium white onion
- 1 lb asparagus woody ends trimmed off
- 4 talks celery
Instructions
- Cut beef with the grain into 2-inch strips, then cut across the grain into ¼-inch pieces, or use pre-cut beef strips for stir fry.
- Add beef to a bowl with vegetable oil, cornstarch and soy sauce. Stir to coat, marinate for 10 minutes.
- Peel and cut onion in half, trim both ends. With cut end toward you, cut each into 1/2-inch strips across onion. Cut celery into 1/2" pieces and asparagus into thirds. Set aside.
- In small bowl, whisk together beef broth, bean paste, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes and sesame oil. Set aside.
- Heat a wok over high heat. Once hot, add 2 tablespoons oil and stir fry the beef. Be sure to break meat apart into strips if stuck together. Continue stir frying for 3 minutes, tossing occasionally until beef is no longer pink. Remove from wok and set aside.
- Add the onion and stir fry for 3 minutes. Add the celery and cook another 3 minutes. Add the asparagus, sauce mixture and beef back to the wok and stir fry for 4 minutes.
- Serve as is, over noodles or with steamed rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and cilantro sprigs (optional).
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Other good cuts of beef for stir fry are hangar steak, ribeye, flank or skirt steak, and boneless rump roast.
- Dark soy sauce is much different than traditional light, all-purpose soy sauce. It's very thick, with a rich umami flavor and is fermented/aged rather than being chemically processed like all purpose soy sauce. It also has less salt! The color is very dark, almost black. If you can't find dark soy sauce, equal parts regular soy sauce and oyster sauce could be used instead, or just regular soy sauce.
Nutrition Information
Calories
310kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
15g
(5%)
Protein
43g
(86%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
94mg
(31%)
Sodium
958mg
(40%)
Potassium
890mg
(25%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
1024IU
(20%)
Vitamin C
9mg
(10%)
Calcium
78mg
(8%)
Iron
6mg
(33%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 310
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 310kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 5% |
| Protein | 43g | 86% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 94mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 958mg | 40% |
| Potassium | 890mg | 19% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 1024IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 78mg | 8% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.