I saw these mini bunches of asparagus while out shopping so I had to grab them. Whether they use a shrinking ray gun or they’re a new variety, I wouldn’t know. All I do know is they’re cute, they look tasty and I thought I could use them in a recipe! As it has been a warm day here, I thought I would do something Asian. So I grabbed some diced beef and headed home like an excited child!
I haven’t cooked a stir fry for a while so I took inspiration for this recipe from Wok with Ray. It was such an enjoyable afternoon cooking compared to my baking disaster a few days ago. I attempted to make a Turkish sesame bread ring called a Simit but I did nothing right. Today was a win in the kitchen though!
I almost burned the asparagus but I didn’t mind, I was having fun and it certainly didn’t affect the taste. I’ll be doing this recipe again pretty soon.
I’m also learning my way around the new Nikon camera too. There’s still much to learn so I have been watching and reading plenty of tutorials online.
The beef and asparagus stir fry meal is quick, easy, cheap, and most importantly, tasty! I give it 2 thumbs up 😉
- ½ kg or 1 pound of steak diced for stir fry
- 1 tablespoon of dry sherry
- 2½ tablespoons of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch / cornflour
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1 onion diced
- Ginger minced. Small knob or to taste (less than a tablespoon)
- 3 cloves of garlic minced.
- 1 bunch of asparagus cut in half or thirds depending how long they are.
- ½ a red capsicum (red bell pepper)
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- Rice to serve.
- 1 tablespoon of black bean sauce
- 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce
- 1 cup of beef broth or beef stock
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch (cornflour)
- 1 tablespoon of water
- If you couldn't buy the beef already sliced, cut it into thin strips.
- Place the marinade ingredients into a bowl large enough to place the steak in. Mix them well and cover all the beef in the marinade. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and place it in the fridge until you're ready. It should sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare the onion, garlic, ginger, capsicum (bell pepper), and asparagus. I like my stir fry pieces smaller and less chunky. Sit them aside for later.
- Put the rice on. I just cook mine in a saucepan, but many people seem to have specialty rice cookers these days. Use whatever rice cooking method you're comfortable with.
- Add all the stir fry sauce ingredients to a small saucepan and stir the mixture. Once it starts to simmer just take it off the heat and let it sit.
- Mix the tablespoon of cornstarch and tablespoon of water together and have it ready to use for later.
- Now the fun part. Have all your ingredients out and ready to go. Heat your wok to high and add a dash of vegetable oil. Start with the asparagus for 30 seconds.
- Then add the onion and capsicum (bell peppers) for another 30 seconds. They should really sizzle when you add them to the wok or you just don't have the heat up high enough.
- Remove the vegetables from the wok and place them in a bowl. You'll return them to the wok again later.
- Make sure the wok is still very hot and add the other tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the ginger and garlic for a brief moment.
- Add the marinated beef and fry it off until it's browned. This will all happen very quickly as the wok is on high heat.
- Then return the vegetables to the wok with the beef for 20 seconds. Mixing the whole time.
- Now add the sauce mix and combine very well.
- Add the cornstarch and water mix to thicken the dish. When it starts to boil, finish it off with the sesame oil.
- By this time the rice should be cooked and it's all ready to serve.
食飯 or sihk faahn
Lotty says
I love the second image 🙂 dimension!
Looks yummy. I’d love to be your neighbour.
Recipes says
Yeah, I like the second more too.
And I have been using a jackhammer to break up rocks this week so my current neighbours probably aren’t loving me as a neighbour! lol