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A plate of crispy chilli beef with a glossy sauce.

Weeknight Crispy Chilli Beef

This recipe delivers crispy chilli beef perfect for a weeknight meal. Thinly sliced beef is fried until golden and then tossed in a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Paper towels
  • Medium bowl
  • Large skillet or wok
  • Slotted spoon
  • Wire rack
  • Small bowl

Ingredients
  

For the Beef

  • 500 g beef sirloin or flank steak thinly sliced against the grain
  • 1 large egg white
  • 3-4 tbsp cornstarch (or potato starch for extra crispiness)
  • salt Pinch of
  • white pepper Pinch of
  • Vegetable oil for frying

For the Sauce

  • 2-3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar (or honey)
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • chilli flakes Pinch of (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 0.5 tsp sesame oil
  • 1-2 tbsp water or beef broth (to adjust sauce consistency)

For Garnish (Optional)

  • Sesame seeds
  • Chopped green onions or cilantro

Instructions
 

Prepare the Beef

  • Pat the thinly sliced beef dry, then whisk an egg white until frothy in a medium bowl.
  • Add the beef, cornstarch, salt, and white pepper to the bowl and toss thoroughly until all pieces are well coated.

Fry the Beef

  • Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering (350-375°F / 175-190°C).
  • Working in batches, add the beef in a single layer and fry for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
  • Remove the fried beef with a slotted spoon and place it on a wire rack over paper towels to drain excess oil.

Make the Sauce

  • While the beef fries, whisk together sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, ginger, garlic, chilli flakes, sesame oil, and water/broth in a small bowl.

Combine & Serve

  • Once all the beef is fried, remove most oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon; add the sauce mixture to the hot pan.
  • Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly (1-2 minutes).

Toss

  • Return the crispy beef to the pan with the sauce and quickly toss to coat all the beef thoroughly.

Garnish & Enjoy

  • Transfer immediately to serving plates and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions or cilantro.
  • Serve hot with your preferred accompaniments.

Notes

For extra crispy beef, ensure the oil is at the correct temperature and do not overcrowd the pan. You can adjust the spice level of the sauce by adding more or fewer chilli flakes.