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Sesame Beef is a simple and flavorful Chinese beef stir-fry with tender beef coated in a delightful soy sesame brown sugar sauce. This recipe is so irresistible, you'll be craving for seconds!
Beef With Sesame
One of the easiest ways to cook beef is through Asian stir fries. All you need to do is prep the ingredients, heat up your wok, skillet, or pan, give it a few quick stirs, and the dish is ready.
It really couldn’t get any easier than that. An example is this absolutely delicious and easy sesame beef that only takes me 15 minutes to make, just like my other favorites such as broccoli beef, ginger and scallion beef and Mongolian beef.
Asian stir fry typically comes together in just 10-20 active minutes, making it one of the easiest cooking techniques ever – not to mention the amazing results that’s better than Chinese takeout!
Why This Recipe Works
- Affordable. Enjoying homemade Chinese or Asian stir-fries is simpler and more economical than you might imagine, especially with exorbitant price of dining out now.
- Healthy Cooking. Opting for homemade Chinese food provides a healthier and more flavorful alternative to dining out or ordering takeout. You have the flexibility to choose higher-quality cuts of beef, reduce the use of cooking oil, and skip additives like MSG, ensuring a meal that’s both satisfying and nutritious.
- Easy Recipe: The simple preparation methods make sesame beef stir fry accessible for home cooks of all skill levels, allowing them to achieve Chinese restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.
Sesame Beef Ingredients
This sesame beef recipe is big in flavors but calls for a few simple ingredients:
- sesame oil and sesame seeds – both infuse the beef with the iconic sesame aroma.
- flank steak – this is a flavorful and versatile cut of beef, perfect for stir frying. Slice it against the grain and you will have tender beef.
- red chili flakes – spice up the brown sauce with a tint of heat, just like Szechuan beef.
- soy sauce – the king of umami lends the savory good taste to the sauce.
- dark brown sugar – better than regular sugar, dark brown sugar adds depth and richness to savory dishes with its robust molasses flavor.
- dark soy sauce – this is a staple condiment used in Asian recipes, known for its intense flavor and deep color, adding richness and gorgeous color stir fry dishes and sauces.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
Recipe Variations
- If beef isn’t your preference, chicken makes for an equally delightful alternative in this dish, check out sesame chicken.
- Serve the beef on top of vegetable lo mein if you do not want to pair it with steamed rice.
- Adapt the recipe to make crispy Sesame Orange Beef using my orange chicken sauce:
How To Make Sesame Beef
Step 1. Marinade. Marinate the beef with all the Marinade ingredients for 10 minutes.
Step 2. Heat up a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the sesame oil, swirl to coat. Add the garlic and stir fry until aromatic or until they turn light brown. Add the beef and stir continuously, for 1 minute.
Step 3. Add the red bell pepper, chili flakes, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, and water. Cook until the sauce slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add the scallion, give it a few quick stirs, dish out, top with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Cooking Tips
- To achieve restaurant-quality tender, smooth, and silky beef, marinate the sliced beef with cornstarch. This process, known as velveting in Chinese cooking, seals the moisture in the beef, resulting in tender meat after cooking, such as onion scallion beef and ginger green onion beef.
- Sesame oil is the secret ingredient in this recipe as it lends the super aromatic—and mouthwatering—toasted sesame flavors in the sesame beef.
- If you’re short on time, supermarkets often offer pre-sliced, unseasoned flank steak, providing convenience without compromising on quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other than flank steak, you may use tenderloin or sirloin. Both cuts of beef are tender, and great for Chinese beef stir fry.
This recipe takes 20 minutes from start to finish, so there is no need to make it ahead of time. However, you can certainly prep the ingredients ahead of time, for example: cutting the vegetables.
This recipe is only 280 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For a wholesome Chinese meal and easy weeknight dinner at home, I recommend the following recipes.
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Other Recipes You Might Like
Sesame Beef
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz (230g) flank steak, sliced
- 1/4 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 stalks green onion, scallion, cut into 2-inch length
- white sesame seeds, for garnishing
Marinade:
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce, optional
Instructions
- Marinate the beef with all the Marinade ingredients for 10 minutes.
- Heat a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the sesame oil and swirl to coat. Then, add the garlic and stir-fry until aromatic or until it turns light brown. Next, add the beef and stir continuously for 1 minute.
- Add the red bell pepper, chili flakes, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, and water. Cook until the sauce slightly thickens, about 1 minute. Add the scallions, give it a few quick stirs, then dish out, top with sesame seeds, and serve immediately.
Notes
- To achieve restaurant-quality tender, smooth, and silky beef, marinate the sliced beef with cornstarch. This process, known as velveting in Chinese cooking, seals the moisture in the beef, resulting in tender meat after cooking.
- Sesame oil is the secret ingredient in this recipe, as it imparts the incredibly aromatic and mouthwatering toasted sesame flavors to the sesame beef.
- If you’re short on time, supermarkets often offer pre-sliced, unseasoned flank steak, providing convenience without compromising on quality.
- If beef isn’t your preference, chicken makes for an equally delightful alternative in this dish, check out sesame chicken.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this tonight, the marinade was great, however I think I might add a drop or two of toasted sesame oil to the marinade too. And maybe some spinach or bok choy if I’m feeling it. My meat was so tender and I added more red pepper to mine personally, but I want to say Bravo!
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