Mandarin Beef Stir-Fry
Inspired by a recipe in Citrus, by Catherine Phipps
yield: feeds 2-4 people, depending on what else is served
For the marinade:
1 pound lean beef, sliced in thin, bite-sized pieces (this can be flank steak, fillet, or top round; some markets sell beef labeled “for stir-fry”)
1 fresh mandarin, scrubbed, peeled, and juiced. Peel goes into marinade; juice is used later in cooking
1 1/2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
1 teaspoon potato starch or cornstarch
For the stir-fry:
Peanut or other neutral high heat oil for cooking
1 small piece ginger, smashed, peeled, and minced (about 1/8 teaspoon)
1-2 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 scallion, trimmed and sliced
1 lobe shallot or small onion (about 2 tablespoons), peeled and finely chopped
1 dried red chili pepper, seeded if you prefer less heat (see notes) or about 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper
2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns
1 teaspoon white pepper
the mandarin juice
additional Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry) as needed
salt, to taste
sesame oil, for drizzling over the final dish
hot chile oil, for serving
White rice (optional)
Put your rice on to cook.
Ideally, mandarin beef stir-fry is prepared in a 14-inch wok. Lacking a wok, use a large frying pan–12-14 inches across–able to tolerate high heat. High quality aluminum alloy pans like All-Clad would work. So would enameled cast-iron. Nonstick is not advised, as some coatings dissolve at high heat and are toxic.
Bring the beef to room temperature.
Mandarin peel tends to come off in ragged pieces. Scrape off any large bits of white pith with a paring knife or your fingernail. Trim peel into neat (ish) wedges.
To make the marinade, place the soy sauces, rice wine, potato starch, and peel in a 4-quart bowl. Stir with a fork to blend. Add beef and mix well with the fork or your clean hands. Set aside.
Place wok on high heat. Add about two tablespoons peanut oil–enough to cover the bottom of the pan–and allow to heat.
Add the ginger, garlic, scallion, and shallot. Stir fry for a few moments, until you smell the aromatics, taking care not the burn them. Turn down heat a bit if necessary.
Add the red chili pepper, Sichuan peppercorns, and white pepper. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, monitoring heat. You want the heat high, but not so high it burns the spices.
Tip contents of the marinade bowl into the wok. Stir-fry briskly, separating the meat.
Add the mandarin juice. Continue stirring.
If the wok starts getting too dry, add a little more wine, standing back slightly as you do.
Once beef is cooked through–five minutes or less–drizzle sesame oil over all and taste for seasoning. Add more mandarin juice, soy sauce, or salt, to taste.
Serve with white rice.
Leftovers, should you have any, improve with time. To freeze mandarin beef stir-fry, remove any peel, store food in freezer-safe container, and eat within three months. Refrigerated leftovers should be consumed within four days.
Notes:
I used whole spices and pounded them in a mortar and pestle with the shallot and garlic. This is optional.
Feel free to substitute navel oranges for mandarins. To use blood oranges, taste first: you may wish to add sweetener. If you are worried about ruining the dish, squeeze the juice into a bowl and add sugar or honey in small increments, tasting as you go.
Be careful when handling chili peppers; I never wear gloves, inevitably rub my eyes, and am very sorry.
This recipe will work if you use one kind of soy sauce. I realize most people don’t stock multiple soy sauces.
Happy New Year!