Sesame beef is very juicy and tastes great. You should make it tonight! It’s made with less oil than at a Chinese restaurant, so you can enjoy the taste in a healthier way!
Demystifying Sesame Beef A Guide to the Sweet, Savory, and Satisfying Chinese-American Classic
Crispy beef coated in a sweet and savory sesame sauce has become a beloved menu item at Chinese restaurants across America. But what exactly is sesame beef, and what makes it so craveable? In this guide, we’ll explore the origins, ingredients, and prep tips for making restaurant-quality sesame beef at home.
What Is Sesame Beef?
Sesame beef is a Chinese-American dish made by coating sliced beef in cornstarch and frying it until crispy. The fried beef is then tossed in a sauce containing toasted sesame oil rice vinegar soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame seeds. The end result is tender beef with a sweet, nutty flavor and a delicious crunchy texture.
Sesame beef likely originated from Chinese restaurants in the United States adapting Northern Chinese cuisine for American tastes. The combination of crispy fried beef and a rich sesame sauce proved to be a winning formula. Over time, sesame beef has become a staple menu item at many North American Chinese restaurants.
Key Ingredients in Sesame Beef
To achieve that craveable balance of flavors and textures, sesame beef relies on several key ingredients:
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Flank steak or sirloin: Flank steak is commonly used for its leanness and meaty flavor. It’s sliced against the grain into thin pieces.
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Cornstarch: Dredging the beef in cornstarch is vital for achieving a crispy coating when fried. Toasted sesame seeds can also be added to the cornstarch for extra crunch.
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Neutral oil: Peanut, vegetable, or canola oil allows high-heat frying to get the beef crispy.
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Toasted sesame oil: The nutty aroma of sesame oil is essential for flavor. A small amount is also used in the sauce.
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Sesame seeds: Whole toasted sesame seeds add nuttiness and visual appeal. Black or white seeds can be used.
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Soy sauce: For sodium and savory umami taste. Light soy sauce is typical.
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Rice vinegar: Provides mild acidity to balance sweetness.
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Brown sugar: A touch of sugar adds sweetness. Light or dark brown sugar works.
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Garlic: Minced garlic adds a punch of flavor. Ginger can also be included.
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Scallions: Finely chopped scallions add freshness and color as garnish.
How to Make Crispy Sesame Beef
To recreate the crispness of sesame beef from your favorite takeout joint, follow these tips:
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Velvet the beef: Marinating in a mix of cornstarch, oil, and seasoning tenderizes the beef.
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Fry at high heat: The wok or oil should be around 375°F to fry the beef without steaming it.
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Don’t overcrowd: Fry the beef in a single layer with space between pieces.
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Drain on a rack: Letting the fried beef drain keeps it ultra crispy.
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Toss gently in sauce: Quickly coat beef in sauce without over-mixing to maintain texture.
Serving Suggestions for Sesame Beef
Sesame beef is usually served as an entrée with steamed rice; the contrast of fluffy rice and crisp beef works perfectly. Simply prepared sautéed veggies like bok choy or broccoli also complement the dish.
For a more complete meal, sesame beef pairs well with egg drop soup, crab rangoon, and pork fried rice. You can also wrap leftovers in lettuce cups or stuffed in Chinese buns.
The sweet, salty, nutty flavors of sesame beef make it a dish you’ll crave again and again. Crisp-fried beef in that addictive sesame sauce is a taste of Chinese-American cuisine at its finest.
Sesame Beef: A Healthier Version
One dish that seems incredibly popular at most Chinese restaurants in America is sesame beef. This tasty dish is rarely served in restaurants because it is quickly fried in a wok with lots of oil and then cooked with a sauce. So something that would be a reasonable choice for a meal is now packing on more calories.
This homemade sesame beef, on the other hand, tastes just like takeout and is juicy and tender, but it doesn’t have any of the oil. I’ll show you how to pan fry it so you’re using way less oil than the restaurants use. It’s a little less crispy, but it’s incredibly delicious. And you can indulge without gobbling up more calories than you bargained for.
How to cook sesame beef
Cooking pan fried beef is super easy:
- Pan fry the beef until crispy
- Set the beef aside so it crisps up even more
- Reduce the sauce until sticky
- Mix the beef back and add the sesame seeds
The pan-fry method is much easier for anyone, even beginners, to master. The result is tender juicy beef that is crispy on the outside. It’s so much easier to do this than to flash fry the beef in a lot of oil like Chinese restaurants do.
Crispy Sesame Beef – The Best Way to Cook Your Steak
FAQ
What is sesame beef made of?
What does sesame sauce taste like?
What cut of beef is used in Chinese stir-fry?
What is Sesame beef?
Sesame beef is a Chinese dish made of fried crispy beef, tossed in a lightly sweet sauce with balanced acidity, toasted sesame oil, and sesame seeds. No wonder it’s a household hit! While it’s not as well-known as the iconic Chinese American sesame chicken —it has all the makings of a regular rotation recipe.
How do you make a Sesame steak?
This sesame beef recipe is made with strips of round steak and chopped scallions marinated with soy sauce and garlic, then quickly stir-fried with sesame seeds. Serve with rice. Mix together sugar, oil, soy sauce, green onions, and garlic in a large bowl; set marinade aside. Cut steak into strips and add to marinade; stir to coat.
What is crispy Sesame beef?
Thin beef strips fried until perfectly crisp and then tossed in a homemade sweet and sticky sauce. Crispy Sesame Beef uses less oil than traditional recipes and better quality ingredients. This recipe tastes amazing with the flavors of sesame, ginger and garlic.
Is Sesame beef fried in oil?
This dish is just like the Sesame Beef you get at a takeout restaurant except it’s even better AND healthier. Most Sesame Beef recipes are fried in oil. I went on the lighter side and stir fried the beef instead.