Wok Wednesdays | Hong Kong-Style Silky Stir-Fried Minced Beef

WW wokking thru Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge
by Grace Young

 This is one stir-fry you'll want to file under "comfort food."

 Mise en place.

Bowl 1: Onion, garlic

Bowl 2: Flank steak, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, oil, cornstarch, dry sherry, sesame oil, pepper

Bowl 3: Salt

Bowl 4: Peas

Bowl 5: Chicken broth, dry sherry

Bowl 6: Dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, water

Bowl 7: Egg, egg yolks

Bowl 8: Scallions

The flank steak is cubed into 1/4-inch dice, then the dices are roughly chopped. The chopping of the diced beef was not working for me (even after sharpening my knife!), so I left them at the quarter-inch size.

Grace mentions that Chef Danny Chan (who taught her this recipe) hand-minces the beef, rather than using ground beef (which crossed my mind), for it will give an inferior texture and taste to the stir-fry; which I wholeheartedly agree.

This just screams comfort food, doesn't it?

The aromatics (onion/garlic) are first stir-fried till fragrant and pushed aside, then the beef and salt is added and allowed to sear for a bit. Then the peas are stirred in, the broth mixture is added and the contents are stir-fried till the beef is no longer pink. Next, you add the dark soy sauce mixture, and cook till it starts to thicken slightly. The beef mixture is then spread out evenly in the wok, then the beaten eggs are poured over the beef, the heat is reduced to low, and the eggs are allowed to cook till barely set, at which time the scallions are added and stir-fried until the eggs are set and everything is combined.

I'm thinking a little minced Thai red pepper, or chili oil added to the soy sauce mixture would be a delicious addition.. as most of you know, I like my food spicy. :)

I may have cooked it a bit too long at some point, for it wasn't as saucy as in the picture that Grace posted on the WW Facebook page.

This would be delicious served with pasta as well. 



I was struggling with writing this story. Andy asked, having trouble? Yeah, I don't know what to write. I'll tell you what to write, "Shit is good! Just make it!" Ha ha. Maybe I should start thinking in simpler terms.

We have been asked not to post the recipes here on our blog. If you would like the recipe, you will find it on page 99, of  Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge, which you can purchase at your local bookstore or find it at your local library. I highly recommend purchasing the book - you won't be disappointed.

Wok Wednesdays | Hakka-Style Stir-Fried Shrimp and Vegetables

WW wokking thru Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge
by Grace Young

This stir-fry is chok full of vegetables (my kind of dish!) and according to Grace, only a modest amount (by Western standards) of shrimp - a half pound - this to serve two to three people. However, I found the amount of shrimp to be just perfect. I would add more cabbage next time though, for I like cabbage.

 Mise en place.

Bowl 1: Garlic

Bowl 2: Carrot

Bowl 3: Shrimp

Bowl 4: Napa cabbage

Bowl 5: Broccoli, cauliflower

Bowl 6: Salt, white pepper

Bowl 7: Carrot water

Bowl 8: Carrot water, cornstarch

The carrots are first soaked in cold water for one hour before stir-frying; this, it is said, makes for a crisper carrot. The left over carrot water was also used in the stir-fry to add a little sweetness.

I was surprised how much flavor this dish had, with the only seasonings being salt, pepper, and garlic. Granted it had over a tablespoon of garlic! - that along with a little wok hei, made for a simple and tasty stir-fry.

We have been asked not to post the recipes here on our blog. If you would like the recipe, you will find it on page 175, of  Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge, which you can purchase at your local bookstore or find it at your local library. I highly recommend purchasing the book - you won't be disappointed.