Description
This Beef Onion Stir-fry is a quick and flavorful Asian-inspired dish featuring thinly sliced flank steak marinated and cooked with sweet small onions in a savory sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner with a balance of tender beef and tender-crisp onions.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Marinade
- 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola)
Sauce
- 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup water
Vegetables and Cooking Oil
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil, divided
- 10 ounces small onions, sliced into wedges (approximately 3 small onions)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Thinly slice 1 pound of flank steak against the grain. In a bowl, combine the beef slices with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon neutral oil. Toss until the beef is evenly coated and set aside to marinate for about 10 minutes. This tenderizes the beef and prepares it for stir-frying.
- Make the Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 teaspoon oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce, 2 teaspoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons oyster sauce, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil, and 1/4 cup water. Set this sauce mixture aside to be added later.
- Cook Onions: Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the sliced small onions (approximately 10 ounces), and stir-fry until they start to soften and become fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir-fry the Beef: Push the onions to the side of the skillet and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of neutral oil. Add the marinated beef slices in a single layer. Let the beef sear for about 1 minute undisturbed, then stir-fry with the onions until the beef is nearly cooked through, about 2-3 more minutes.
- Add the Sauce and Finish Cooking: Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and onions. Stir well to coat everything evenly. Continue stir-frying for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and the beef is fully cooked.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and serve the beef onion stir-fry immediately with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- For more tender beef, marinate the flank steak a bit longer, up to 30 minutes.
- You can substitute small onions with thinly sliced yellow or white onions if preferred.
- Adjust the soy sauce and sugar to taste for a more savory or sweeter profile.
- Serve with steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles to complement the dish.
- The use of baking soda in the marinade helps to tenderize the beef quickly.
