If you’re craving something crispy, flavorful, and super easy to make, this air fryer crispy Beijing beef is the recipe for you! With tender beef, sweet and spicy sauce, and just a few ingredients, you can have this dish on the table in no time. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight dinner or a weekend treat, this recipe will satisfy your hunger and leave you wanting more. And the best part? It’s made in the air fryer, so there’s less mess and a lot less time spent in the kitchen! Let’s dive in and get cooking!
Method in Detail
Coat the Beef
Start by preparing the beef strips. Take 500g of rump steak (or any other beef cut you prefer) and slice it into thin strips. To make the coating process easy and mess-free, place the beef in a freezer bag or a Tupperware container. Add 2 tablespoons of cornflour to the bag or container, seal it, and shake it well to coat the beef evenly. This step is important for achieving that crispy texture when the beef is air fried. The cornflour acts as a light coating that will crisp up beautifully in the air fryer, so make sure all the beef is coated evenly.
Air Fry the Beef
Once the beef is coated, it’s time to air fry. Lightly spray the beef with some oil to help it crisp up. Then, arrange the beef strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 200°C and cook the beef for 10-14 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your beef. Give it a shake halfway through the cooking time to ensure that the beef cooks evenly and becomes crispy on all sides. Keep a close eye on it towards the end of the cooking time to prevent overcooking. If you like your beef extra crispy, feel free to add a minute or two more to the cooking time.
Prepare the Veggies
While the beef is cooking, you can get the veggies ready. Start by slicing one onion and preparing a handful of sugar snap peas. In a pan or wok, heat a little oil and gently sauté the onion and sugar snap peas until they begin to soften. This process should only take a couple of minutes. You want the vegetables to remain tender but still have a bit of crunch, so don’t overcook them.
Combine the Beef and Sauce
Once the beef is crispy and golden, carefully remove it from the air fryer and set it aside. In the same pan with the softened onion and sugar snap peas, add the crispy beef. Then, it’s time to make the sauce! In a bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons of hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, 3 tablespoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of sriracha, 2 tablespoons of sweet chilli sauce, 4 crushed garlic cloves (or garlic purée), and 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar. Pour the sauce into the pan with the beef and vegetables, stirring everything together so that the beef is evenly coated in the flavorful sauce. Let everything heat through for a couple of minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the beef and veggies beautifully.
Serve and Garnish
Finally, it’s time to serve! Prepare your noodles (150g per person) according to the package instructions. Once the noodles are ready, place them on serving plates and top with the crispy Beijing beef mixture. For a bit of heat and extra color, garnish the dish with thinly sliced red chilli. The balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors will make this dish the perfect treat!
Necessary Tools
- Air fryer
- Freezer bag or Tupperware for coating the beef
- Knife and chopping board
- Saucepan or wok for softening onion and sugar snap peas
- Serving plates and bowls for noodles
Crispy Beijing Beef
Cuisine: ChineseDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes14
minutes24
minutesIngredients
For the Beef and Veggies:
500g beef strips (I used rump steak cut up)
1 onion
Handful of sugar snap peas
2 tbsp cornflour
1 red chilli (to garnish)
150g noodles per person
For the Sauce:
3 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
3 tbsp honey
3 tbsp sriracha
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
Garlic purée or 4 crushed cloves
1 tbsp rice vinegar
Directions
- Coat the beef in the cornflour. You can use a freezer bag or Tupperware to make this step easier and less messy.
- Spray the beef well with oil and air fry it at 200°C for 10-14 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your beef.
- While the beef is cooking, soften the onion and sugar snap peas in a pan or wok.
- Once the beef is crispy, add it to the pan along with the sauce ingredients (hoisin, sesame oil, honey, sriracha, sweet chilli sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar).
- Stir everything together until well coated and heated through.
- Serve the crispy Beijing beef over noodles and garnish with sliced red chilli for an extra kick, if desired.
Notes
- Coating the Beef: Be sure to coat the beef strips evenly with cornflour. If you’re using a freezer bag, make sure you shake it well so that each piece is coated thoroughly. This helps create that crispy texture when you air fry the beef.
- Air Fryer Settings: Every air fryer is a little different, so keep an eye on the beef while it’s cooking. If you like your beef extra crispy, feel free to add an extra minute or two to the cooking time.
- Stir-Frying: When adding the beef and sauce to the pan, make sure to stir quickly to avoid the sauce burning. This ensures the sauce evenly coats the beef and veggies without overcooking.
Serving Suggestions
This crispy Beijing beef pairs perfectly with a bowl of steamed rice or noodles. You can also serve it alongside some stir-fried veggies or a fresh green salad for a lighter touch. Want to spice things up? Add a drizzle of extra sriracha or sweet chilli sauce on top for that perfect balance of heat and sweetness.
Fun Fact
Did you know that hoisin sauce, one of the key ingredients in this recipe, is often called “Chinese BBQ sauce”? It’s made from fermented soybeans and is super sweet and tangy, making it perfect for marinades and stir-fries like this one!
Conclusion
This air fryer crispy Beijing beef is a perfect combination of crispy, spicy, and sweet flavors, all packed into one easy-to-make dish. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home. It’s quick, delicious, and always a hit, whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding a crowd. So, what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try, and I guarantee you’ll be coming back for more!
