Print

Chinese Beef and Onion Stir Fry Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.4 from 12 reviews

This Chinese Beef and Onion Stir Fry is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender marinated sirloin steak cooked with aromatic ginger, garlic, and onions in a savory stir-fry sauce. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal, this recipe highlights a balance of soy, oyster, and hoisin sauces giving it a rich umami taste complemented by a velvety texture from the cornstarch coating.

Ingredients

Beef Marinade

  • 300 g sirloin steak (or rib eye, flank steak, or blade steak)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (added after marinating)
  • 1 tablespoon oil (added after marinating)

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • ½ white onion (or yellow onion)
  • 4–5 slices ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced or sliced thinly)
  • 1 stalk green onion (cut into 2-inch pieces)

Stir Fry Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons oyster sauce
  • ½ tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine (or dry sherry/rice wine)
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce (for color, can substitute with regular soy sauce)
  • ½ cup water
  • Oil for cooking (approximately 3-4 tablespoons total)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Peel and slice ½ white onion, separating the segments. Peel and thinly slice or mince the garlic cloves. Slice the ginger slices and set aside. Trim the root part of the green onion and cut into 2-inch pieces; halve the thick white part lengthwise. Set all aromatics aside for cooking.
  2. Marinate the Beef: Thinly slice the sirloin steak against the grain. (Optional: Slightly freeze for 15 minutes to make slicing easier.) Place beef in a bowl and add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine, 2 tablespoons water, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Marinate for 15 minutes. After marinating, stir in 1 teaspoon cornstarch evenly to create a velvety coating, then add 1 tablespoon oil and mix well. Set aside.
  3. Make the Stir Fry Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 tablespoon corn starch until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon sugar, 1½ tablespoons oyster sauce, ½ tablespoon hoisin sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, ½ tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine, and 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce. Mix well. Stir in ½ cup water and set aside.
  4. Stir Fry the Beef: Heat a large frying pan or wok over high heat until very hot. Add about 3-4 tablespoons of oil, then add the marinated beef. Spread thinly and sear the beef, stir frying for 2-4 minutes until about 90% cooked. Remove beef from pan and set aside.
  5. Cook Aromatics & Vegetables: Add a little more oil to the pan and toast the ginger slices for about 1 minute until slightly browned. Add the onion slices and garlic, stir frying until soft and slightly browned, about 2 minutes.
  6. Combine and Thicken Sauce: Push the aromatics to the side of the pan. Stir the prepared stir-fry sauce (to redistribute cornstarch) and pour into the pan. Stir continually until sauce thickens and changes from milky to dark brown.
  7. Finish the Dish: Mix the onions and garlic into the thickened sauce, return the beef to the pan along with the green onion pieces. Stir fry for about 1 minute to combine and heat through.
  8. Serve: Plate the stir fry and enjoy with steamed rice for a complete meal.

Notes

  • For best texture, slice beef thinly against the grain to keep it tender.
  • The optional freezing step firms the beef making it easier to slice uniformly.
  • Use a very hot pan or wok to properly sear the beef and develop flavor.
  • The cornstarch coating on the beef creates a velvety texture and seals in juices.
  • Shaoxing cooking wine can be substituted with dry sherry or rice wine if unavailable.
  • Adjust the amount of oil according to the lean content of the beef to prevent sticking.
  • Serve immediately for best texture and flavor, paired with steamed rice or noodles.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/chinese-beef-and-onion-stir-fry-recipe/