Szechuan Beef Stirfry

Ingredients

• 1 pound / 450 grams rump steak (or your own choice of beef cut.)
• 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornflour / cornstarch
• 2 tablespoon dry sherry (or use Shaoxing wine)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 2 medium onions (quartered and separated into petals)
• 1 large red pepper / capsicum (deseeded, membranes removed and sliced)
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons sunflower oil (for frying)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger paste
• 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon szechuan peppercorns (ground in a mortar and pestle)
• 1/2 teaspoon 5-spice powder
• 1 teaspoon cornflour
• 1/2 teaspoon chilli paste / dried chilli flakes (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup water
• Salt to taste

Instructions

1. 1

   Slice the beef across the grain into thin strips

2. 2

   Place the beef in a mixing bowl and add the marinade ingredients.

3. 3

   Mix well to combine then cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for an hour to marinade.

4. 4

   Grind the szechuan peppercorns in a mortar and pestle until they are quite fine.

5. 5

   Combine the ingredients for the sauce into a small bowl and set aside.

6. 6

   Prepare the vegetables:Peel the onions, cut them into quarters and separate them into petals. Remove the seeds and membranes from the red pepper and slice it thinly. Separate the broccoli into florets.

7. 7

   --- Make the stirfry ---

8. 8

   Heat the sunflower oil in a pan until it sizzles if you add a few drops of water.

9. 9

   Add the marinated steak piece by piece in a single layer and fry for 2 minutes per side. Remove the beef to a plate and set aside. You may have to fry the meat in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. Reserve any leftover marinade.

10. 10

    Add the onions and red peppers to the same pan along with the garlic and ginger paste and stirfry for about 3 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.

11. 11

    Add the broccoli and continue to stirfry for 2 minutes.

12. 12

    Stir the sauce to ensure the ingredients are well combined, then pour it into the vegetables along with any leftover marinade. Bring to the boil then turn the heat down to a simmer and stir until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are cooked to your liking.

13. 13

    Add the beef strips and simmer for another 2 minutes until the meat has heated through.

14. 14

    Taste for seasoning and add salt if needed.

15. 15

    Serve with white rice or noodles.