Copycat Beijing Beef

When you pull up to your local Panda Express®, you face a hard choice; how many orders of Beijing Beef do you want? After all, one serving just might not be enough of that sweet, spicy sauce. Copycat Beijing Beef ensures you always have enough to satisfy your cravings without even having to leave the house! The golden-brown, juicy beef, the caramelized onions, and red peppers, and that lick-the-plate-clean sauce come out hot straight from your own kitchen anytime. Copycat Beijing Beef is a simple stir-fry that tastes anything but!

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound) flank steak
• 1 teaspoon plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
• 3 egg whites, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 6 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
• 4 teaspoons sweet chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 1 yellow onion, sliced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch strips
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

Step 1 -Cut the flank steak against the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices.

Step 2 -In a medium-sized bowl, add the beef, 1 teaspoon of the cornstarch, the egg whites, and the salt, mixing together.

Step 3 -Let the beef marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.

Step 4 -In a small bowl, whisk together the water, the sugar, the ketchup, the hoisin, the soy sauce, the oyster sauce, the sweet chili sauce, the red pepper flakes, and the apple cider vinegar.

Step 5 -Pour the remaining cornstarch into a bowl.

Step 6 -Add the marinated beef to the cornstarch, discarding the excess marinade.

Step 7 -Heat a small saucepan with 1 cup of the canola oil over medium-high heat.

Step 8 -Toss the beef with the remaining cornstarch, shaking off any excess.

Step 9 -Fry the beef slices in batches until golden-brown, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 10 -Transfer the beef to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Step 11 -Heat a large pan on high heat and add the remaining oil.

Step 12 -Add the onions and the bell peppers and sauté until they begin to caramelize, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 13 -Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 10-30 seconds.

Step 14 -Transfer the sautéed veggies and the fried beef to a plate.

Step 15 -Add the sauce mixture to a large pan and cook on high until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.

Step 16 -Add the beef and the vegetables to the sauce and toss to combine.

Step 17 -Serve immediately.