Name: Stir-fried beef with ginger
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 28 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 350g lean beef cut across the grain into thin slices (you need a quick-cooking cut, such as minute steak); 1 lemongrass stalk trimmed and finely chopped; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp fish sauce; 4 tsp brown sugar; ½ tsp chilli flakes; 1 lime juiced; 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 green pepper thinly sliced; 2 bunches of spring onions green and white parts separated and finely sliced; 6 garlic cloves finely chopped; 1 tbsp grated ginger; small bunch of basil or purple basil, leaves picked and roughly chopped; cooked rice (about 250g uncooked weight) or cooked rice noodles; 50g roasted peanuts roughly chopped

Stir-fried beef with ginger

Forget a takeaway – make this beef and green pepper stir-fry with fragrant lemongrass and ginger instead. Marinate the beef while you prep the other ingredients

28 min total 20 min prep 8 min cook 4 324 cal

Instructions

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1 Toss the strips of steak, the lemongrass, soy sauce, half the fish sauce, half the sugar and half the chilli flakes together in a bowl. Set aside in the fridge to marinate for at least 20 mins or up to 6 hrs.
2 Mix the remaining fish sauce with the lime juice, remaining chilli flakes, the rest of the sugar and 3 tbsp water, then set aside.
3 Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large non-stick or cast iron wok or frying pan over a high heat. Once hot, tip in half the marinated steak strips and stir-fry for 2 mins until just cooked through, then remove to a large plate using tongs or a slotted spoon and repeat using another 1 tbsp of oil and the remaining beef. Remove to the plate, then wipe the wok or pan clean using kitchen paper.
4 Add the remaining oil to the pan and fry the green pepper and the white parts of the spring onion. Stir-fry over a high heat for 2-3 mins, then add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for another 45 seconds-1 min. Return the steak to the pan, stir well, then add the lime dressing and most of the basil leaves, mixing well to coat.
5 Divide the stir-fry between bowls alongside rice or noodles, then scatter with the chopped peanuts, the remaining basil leaves and the green parts of the spring onions.