Food Network UK

Kung Pao Beef

5

Recipe by Ching-He Huang

Ingredients

  • For the Beef:

  • 570g beef tenderloin, Technique: Slicing Cutting a larger piece of food into even pieces or strips. I know this Teach me, please sliced to 1cm thick strips
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground white pepper
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch

  • For the Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry
  • 2 tbsp Chinkiang black rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar
  • 2 heaped tsp Guilin chilli sauce
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns, divided
  • 2 tbsp peanut oil
  • 5 whole dried Thai chillies
  • 2 small red Fresno peppers or 1 Serrano chile, bruised and cut into 3.5cm pieces
  • 60g dry roasted peanuts
  • 2 spring onions, cut into 5cm pieces
  • 4 tbsp Technique: Chop To cut large ingredients or dishes into smaller chunks using a sharp knife. You can chop using a serrated blade fitted inside your food processor. I know this Teach me, please chopped coriander, stems and leaves

Use imperial measurements

Method

How to make Kung Pao Beef

In a medium bowl, season the beef with salt and pepper. Add two tablespoons of cornstarch and mix well.

In another smaller bowl, stir together all the sauce ingredients and set aside.

In a small pan over medium heat, toast Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant; about one to two minutes. Remove from heat and crush half a tablespoon of the peppercorns in a mortar and pestle, or in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. Leave remaining peppercorns whole.

Heat a wok over high heat and when wok starts to smoke, add the peanut oil. Add the remaining whole Sichuan peppercorns, dried chilies, and fresh chilies and stir-fry for a few seconds. Then add the beef and stir-fry for two to three minutes to brown meat. Add the sauce mixture and peanuts and cook until the sauce has reduced slightly and is sticky and has a thicker consistency. Add the scallions and coriander; toss to coat and warm through. Then transfer to a serving plate, garnish with ground Sichuan peppercorns. Serve immediately.