Beef With Tomatoes Recipe
A classic Chinese stir-fry of marinated sliced beef with tomatoes, celery and spring onions in an oyster sauce base.
⏱️ Prep: 20 min🍳 Cook: 15 min
Ingredients
| 1 pound | 455 g | beef (such as sirloin or round) |
| 2 tablespoons | 30 ml | oyster sauce (marinade) |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 ml | light soy sauce (marinade) |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 ml | granulated sugar (marinade) |
| 2 teaspoons | 10 ml | vegetable oil (marinade) |
| 1 1/4 teaspoons | 6.3 ml | cornstarch (marinade) |
| 4 large or 6 medium | large or medium tomatoes | |
| 2 | ribs celery | |
| 2 | spring onions (green onions, scallions) | |
| 2 | slices ginger | |
| 1 | garlic clove (peeled and chopped) | |
| 2 1/2 tablespoons | 38 ml | oil for stir-frying |
| 2 teaspoons | 10 ml | sugar |
| 1/4 teaspoon | 1.3 ml | salt |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 ml | cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (optional) |
| — | salt and pepper (to taste) |
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients.
- Cut the beef across the grain into thin slices approximately 1 1/2 inches long.
- Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl, stirring to combine.
- Add the beef, cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Scald the tomatoes by plunging them briefly into the boiling water for about 1 minute.
- Remove the tomato skin and cut each tomato into 4 to 6 equal pieces. If preferred, leave the skins on.
- Cut the celery and spring onions on the diagonal into sections about the same length as the beef.
- Heat a wok over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil. When hot, add the garlic and cook briefly until aromatic, then add the beef. Let brown briefly, then stir-fry until it changes color and is 80 percent cooked. Remove from the wok; clean the wok if necessary.
- Heat the wok with 1/2 tablespoon oil. Add the ginger and stir-fry a few seconds, then add the celery, then the tomato. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt over top. Cover and bring to a boil.
- Re-stir the cornstarch/water mixture. Uncover the wok and push the tomatoes to the side. Add the cornstarch mixture in the middle, stirring quickly to thicken.
- Return the meat to the pan and mix everything together. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot over rice.
Tip: Oyster sauce is available in the international or Asian sections of most supermarkets, near the soy sauce (Lee Kum Kee is a very good brand); it can also be found at Asian markets.