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Sesame Beef
5 from 36 votes

Sesame Beef

Sesame Beef features tender flank steak marinated with Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and oyster sauce, then dredged in a toasted sesame seed and cornstarch coating before being quickly seared. The sauce blends soy, brown sugar, oyster sauce, and rice vinegar for a balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors. The cooking technique crisps the beef's edges while keeping the slices juicy inside, making it useful for a flavorful stir-fry or a protein-rich addition to rice or noodles.

Prep Time
1 hr 30 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 493 kcal
Cuisine: Chinese-American Fussion

Ingredients

For marinating the beef:
  • 12 ounces flank steak sliced against the grain into ¼-inch/6mm slices, beef
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
For the sauce:
  • 2/3 cup water hot
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce light
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 pinch white pepper
For the rest of the dish:
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds toasted
  • 1/2 cup neutral oil (such as canola or vegetable oil)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon scallions (chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch (mixed into a slurry with 1 tablespoon water)

Instructions

Marinate the beef:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine the sliced beef with the water, cornstarch, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, oyster sauce, and baking soda. Stir well, and set aside to marinate for 1 hour. You can also do this the night before. (For convenience—it doesn’t make a significant difference in flavor.)
Prepare the sauce:
  1. In a medium bowl or measuring cup with a pour spout, stir together the hot water, light brown sugar, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and white pepper. Set aside.
Dredge and sear the beef:
  1. In a shallow dish, stir together the cornstarch and sesame seeds. Dredge the beef slices in this mixture until thoroughly coated. Give each slice a gentle shake to release excess cornstarch (grab a few at a time to expedite the process).
  2. Heat the neutral oil in the wok or pan over medium-high heat. When a piece of beef sizzles in the oil (just before the oil begins to smoke), it’s ready for frying. Place the beef slices in the wok/pan in an even layer. Shallow-fry for 1 minute on each side to achieve a crusty coating, and transfer to a plate or sheet pan in one layer. Don’t pile the pieces on top of each other; you want the beef to stay crispy.
Finish the dish:
  1. Let the particles in the oil settle, then drain the oil into a heat-proof bowl, leaving behind any sediment. Wipe the wok/pan clean with a paper towel. Add a tablespoon of oil back to the wok over medium heat, and add the chopped garlic. Cook for 15 seconds.
  2. Then add the sauce mixture. Stir the sauce to deglaze the pan and bring it up to a simmer. Then add the scallions.
  3. Add the cornstarch slurry mixture, and stir until the sauce thickens just enough to coat a spoon. You can also add a teaspoon or two of hot water to thin out the sauce if it looks too thick for your liking. Add the beef, and toss until the pieces are coated in sauce. Transfer to a plate and serve with lots of rice!

Nutrition Information

Calories 493kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 21g (7%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 37g (57%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 10g (59%) Monounsaturated Fat 21g (105%) Trans Fat 0.1g (5%) Cholesterol 51mg (17%) Sodium 912mg (38%) Potassium 364mg (8%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 16IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 84mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 493

% Daily Value*

Calories 493kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 37g 57%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g 59%
Monounsaturated Fat 21g 105%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 51mg 17%
Sodium 912mg 38%
Potassium 364mg 8%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 16IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 84mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.