Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Crispy Orange Beef

I made this last night and used bibb lettuce and rice stick noodles to make it into lettuce wraps. The beef was very good. It was OK in a lettuce wrap - but this concept needs to be developed more - probably some other ingredients would help. But, as a stand alone recipe the beef is very tasty.
(though it is double deep fired - so it won't win any health food contests)


Orange Beef

half pound boneless beefsteak, sliced into 1 half X 2 x half inch pieces
half teaspoon baking soda
half Cup water

Marinade:
half teaspoon kosher salt
1 small egg
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon corn oil

Sauce:
2 tablespoons chicken broth recipe here
1 teaspoon sugar
half teaspoon cornstarch
half tablespoons rice wine
half teaspoons mild rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon oriental sesame oil

for frying
canola oil

For Stir Frying:

1 large piece dried tangerine peel, in small pieces
4 to 5 dried hot red chili peppers
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
half teaspoon minced garlic
1 scallion, chopped
2 teaspoons sugar

Mix the beef with the baking soda and water; refrigerate for 1 hour (about 30 minutes was fine). Rinse the beef thoroughly with cold water and dry well. The meat must be very dry.

Mix the marinade ingredients, add the beef, mix well and refrigerate again for at least 1 hour.

Mix the sauce ingredients and set aside with all the other ingredients near the stove.

PHeat a wok over high heat and add the oil.

When the oil is hot and almost smoking, add the beef. Stir and fry until it just changes color, then remove the beef with a slotted spoon

Heat the oil again until very hot. Return the beef to the oil and stir and fry once more, until the beef is crispy around the edges.

Reheat the wok to medium hot. Get rid of all but 2 Tablespoons of the oil. Heat 2 tablespoons of the drained oil, then add the tangerine peel, chili peppers, ginger, garlic and scallion. Stir fry for a few seconds, or until the chili peppers brown, then add the beef. Stir for 30 seconds and add the sugar.

Add the sauce to the beef, stirring constantly until it coats the meat with a clear glaze. Turn off the heat and serve hot.