Hunan Beef

Here’s a stir fry for my fellow spicy food lovers! Hunan Beef features thinly sliced, marinated flank steak along with bell peppers and chilis in a tasty stir fry sauce.

Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s an easy weeknight dinner that tastes so much better than takeout.

We have a lot of stir fry nights in our kitchen, and when we want it spicy, there are plenty of options. Thai Basil Chicken, Dragon Chicken and Hunan Shrimp are some of our favorites.

For plenty more ideas, check out our collection of favorite stir fry recipes. For now, let’s talk about this Hunan style beef…

Why this Recipe Works

Hunan-style recipes are know for being hot and spicy, and this Hunan Beef is a perfect example of well balanced flavors. And the beef is tender and juicy, with the cooking techniques and tips we will give you in this post.

It’s very versatile, and can be adjusted to suit different spice levels and pairs well with white rice, noodles or other grains. And it happens very fast and quick, making it ideal for weeknight meals.

What is Hunan Style Cooking?

Hunan cuisine is from Hunan Province in China and is known for its spicy and bold flavors. It is one of the eight major styles of Chinese cooking, and it often includes lots of chili peppers.

It is different from Sichuan cuisine as it focuses on a sharp, strong spiciness. It mainly uses fresh peppers. This makes the dishes very tasty, with a kind of heat that hits you right away. They also use things like vinegar and pickled vegetables, giving tangy flavor to balance the spice.

The mix of spicy and sour flavors, along with plenty of seasonings, makes Hunan cuisine known for its strong and bold tastes.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

For a complete list, along with exact measurements, see the recipe card at the end of the post. Here are the key things you’re going to need to make Hunan beef:

• Flank Steak – We love flank steak for stir fries. If flank steak is unavailable, other tender beef cuts like sirloin or tenderloin can be used.
• Shaoxing Wine – A key ingredient in Chinese cooking, but if it’s not available, you can use dry sherry or a mixture of white wine with a touch of sugar as a substitute.
• Soy Sauce – If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, tamari is a great substitute. For a soy-free alternative, coconut aminos can be used.
• Corn Starch – Arrowroot powder or potato starch can be used as alternatives to thicken the marinade.
• Baking Soda – This is used to tenderize the meat. If omitted, the meat may not be as tender but the dish will still be flavorful.
• Dark Soy Sauce – It’s slightly thicker and less salty than regular soy sauce, with a touch of sweetness. If unavailable, you can use regular soy sauce with a bit of brown sugar added.
• Chili Oil – This in a chili pepper infused oil. You can generally find it in the international section of many supermarkets, but we absolutely love our Chili Oil Recipe.
• Bell Peppers – Feel free to use any color of bell peppers. If you prefer different vegetables, broccoli, snow peas, or zucchini are good options.
• Garlic and Ginger – Usual aromatics for stir fry.
• Fresh and Dried Red Chilis – Adjust the amount based on your heat preference. For a less spicy dish, you can reduce the quantity or omit the dried chilis (but then it wouldn’t be Hunan!)

How to Make Hunan Beef

1. Marinate the beef: Combine steak with all remaining marinade ingredients. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes, or while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

2. Make the Hunan sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the Hunan sauce.

3. Brown the beef: Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add 2 Tbsp oil and swirl to coat. Add marinated beef in a single layer (cook in batches if you have a smaller pan). Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes. Toss and cook for another 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally, till beef is cooked to your desired doneness with a slight caramelization. Remove to a plate.

4. Stir fry veggies: If necessary, add an additional tablespoon of oil. Add in bell peppers and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, fresh and dried chili peppers, and the white parts of the scallions. cook for 1-2 minutes.

5. Finish the dish: Stir in Hunan sauce along with browned beef. Stir until well combined.

6. Serve: Garnish with green parts of scallions and serve with white rice.

Serving Suggestions

We usually serve our Hunan beef with regular white rice, as the main dish already packs plenty of flavor. If you want to get more elaborate, try our easy takeout style Fried Rice.

If you’re craving noodles, any of your favorite Asian varieties will work as a starchy side. You can keep the fiery theme going and cook our favorite Spicy Noodles.

For something lighter on the side, think Asian Cucumber Salad or Wonton Soup.

For more inspiration, check out our collection of favorite sides for stir fry!

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Cutting the Beef: Slice the beef thinly against the grain. This ensures the meat is tender and absorbs the marinade better. Thin slices also cook faster and more evenly.
• Marinating Time: Allow the beef to marinate for at least 30 minutes, if not longer. This helps to tenderize the beef and infuse it with flavors.
• High Heat Cooking: When stir-frying, use high heat. This technique helps to sear the meat and vegetables quickly, locking in flavors and maintaining a crisp texture.
• Avoid Overcrowding the Pan: Cook the beef in batches if necessary. Overcrowding the pan can lower the temperature, causing the meat to steam rather than fry, making the meat chewy.
• Balancing Flavors: Adjust the amount of sugar and vinegar in the sauce to balance the spiciness to your liking. The key to a good Hunan dish is finding the right balance between spicy, sour, and sweet.

Leftovers and Storage

Hunan beef is great as leftovers, making it an ideal meal prep option for the whole week. Go ahead and make a double batch, and you can serve it various different ways.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Simply thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheat in the microwave until heated through, or in a lightly greased skillet over medium heat with a splash of extra water.

Give your stir fry night a spicy Hunan style twist with this easy beef stir fry recipe. No matter how fiery you make it, you’re in for one tasty dinner.

Pin or bookmark this easy recipe so you always know where to find it. And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up new recipes for you.

For more easy weeknight dinners, check out our hand picked collection of Dinner Ideas for Tonight. Until next time…

Hunan Beef, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

Try these other great stir fry recipes!
Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Nasi Goreng
Beef Bulgogi
Orange Chicken
Pork Stir Fry
Beijing Beef
Thai Basil Beef
Easy Chicken Stir Fry

Hunan Beef Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Hunan Beef is a spicy Chinese stir fry dish with layers of great flavor. Great weeknight dinner in about 25 minutes!

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Ingredients

To Marinate

• 1.5 pounds flank steak, thinly sliced
• 1 Tbsp Shaoxing wine
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp corn starch
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cooking oil

Hunan Sauce

• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp Shaoxing wine
• 2 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp chili oil
• 1 Tbsp white sugar
• ½ tsp corn starch

Stir Fry

• 2 Tbsp cooking oil
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1 fresh red chili pepper, sliced
• 5-6 dried red chilis
• 3-4 scallions, cut into 2 inch lengths.

Instructions

1. Combine steak with all remaining marinade ingredients. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes, or while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the Hunan sauce.
3. Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add 2 Tbsp oil and swirl to coat. Add marinated beef in a single layer (cook in batches if you have a smaller pan). Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes. Toss and cook for another 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally, till beef is cooked to your desired doneness with a slight caramelization. Remove to a plate.
4. If necessary, add an additional tablespoon of oil. Add in bell peppers and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, fresh and dried chili peppers, and the white parts of the scallions. cook for 1-2 minutes.
5. Stir in Hunan sauce along with browned beef. Stir until well combined.
6. Garnish with green parts of scallions and serve with white rice.

Notes

1. If flank steak is unavailable, other tender beef cuts like sirloin or tenderloin can be used.
2. Slice the beef thinly against the grain. This ensures the meat is tender and absorbs the marinade better. Thin slices also cook faster and more evenly.
3. Cook the beef in batches if necessary. Overcrowding the pan can lower the temperature, causing the meat to steam rather than fry, leading to a chewier texture and less flavorful dish.
4. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave until heated through, or in a lightly greased skillet over medium heat with a splash of extra water.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 486Total Fat 36gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 29gCholesterol 48mgSodium 1079mgCarbohydrates 18gFiber 4gSugar 8gProtein 33g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.