Get ready to elevate your weeknight dinners with my Garlic Beef Stir Fry recipe! Crafted with thinly sliced beef, tossed in a homemade garlic butter soy sauce, and served over fluffy rice with a sprinkle of fresh green onions, this dish is a flavor-packed sensation ready in just 5 minutes! Say goodbye to takeout and hello to a delicious, homemade meal that’s sure to become a family favorite!
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Why I Love This Recipe
What I love about my Garlic Beef Stir Fry recipe the most is how it represents a delicious fusion of my Japanese Beef Pepper Lunch and Garlic Butter Steak Cubes creations, crafted right in my kitchen in only 5 minutes! The secret lies in the thinly sliced beef, ensuring quick prep and perfectly tender beef every time, just like in my Pan Seared Korean BBQ Brisket recipe!
Made in minutes with no prep work needed, it’s as simple as you can get, making this recipe truly exceptional. It’s perfect for someone looking for a quick, fuss-free meal using thinly sliced beef with a simple sauce made with real ingredients, ideal for a quick lunch or simple dinner paired with a green salad tossed in my Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing. So why wait? Let’s dive in and savor the deliciousness together!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Sliced Beef – thinly sliced ribeye, chuck or top sirloin beef often marked shabu shabu meat found at Asian grocery stores. Can also used shaved beef.
- Salt – sea salt preferred to lightly season the beef.
- Black Pepper – ground, to lightly season the beef.
- Neutral Oil – no taste or flavor with high cooking temperature. Some choices are sunflower oil, peanut oil, sallower oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil.
- Rice – rice of choice.
- Soy Sauce – low-sodium Soy Sauce preferred. Can also use tamari for gluten-free. Used as the base flavors for the sauce.
- Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine, found at local grocery stores or Asian markets. Helps give the sauce to mellow out the flavors and add a touch of umami.
- Garlic– freshly grated garlic. Used to provide main flavors found in the sauce.
- Butter – salted or unsalted. Used to mix with sauce.
🥩 Beef Ingredient Note
Use Shaved Beef available at grocery stores as a budget-friendly alternative to the Japanese style sliced beef.
Essential Kitchen Equipment
- Wok or Deep Large Skillet
Directions
Step 1 Start by boiling out Japanese sake in a skillet for 15-20 seconds.
🍶 Boiling Sake Pro Tip
For a quicker alternative to boiling sake, you can simply Microwave for 30-45 Seconds.
Step 2 Melt butter in a microwave for 20-30 seconds. Then, combine the melted butter with the boiled sake, soy sauce, grated garlic, and black pepper to prepare the sauce.
Step 3 Add oil to a wok or a large skillet and bring it up to temperature under medium heat. Once the oil is preheated, add in sliced beef and season with salt and black pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the beef is browned.
🍳 Cooking Pro Tip
Avoid Overcooking the thin slices. Once they’re browned, they’re ready. It’s best to use Medium Heat to cook the meat evenly. This approach preserves the tenderness and flavor of the beef slices.
Step 4 Pour the sauce over the browned beef and mix to ensure all beef is coated. Transfer the cooked beef and sauce on top of rice and finish with a sprinkle of green onions on top.
Recipe Variations
For a delightful twist on this recipe, consider using thinly sliced pork to create my Japanese Pork Stir Fry. Simply swap out the beef for pork and adjust the sauce accordingly for a flavorful variation. Alternatively, opt for sliced steak to prepare my Japanese Steak Stir Fry, offering a different texture with a similar style of flavors!
Pairing Recommendations
Pair this garlic beef stir fry with a refreshing Japanese Cabbage Salad for a crisp contrast, and add a side of Japanese Soy Sauce Pickled Garlic or Japanese Style Roasted Garlic Bulb for extra flavor! You also can’t go wrong with a bowl of comforting bowl of Tofu Miso Soup!
Frequently Asked Questions
How thinly should I slice the beef for this recipe?
For best results in this recipe, slice the beef to a thickness similar to deli meat. If you're slicing the beef yourself, a helpful tip is to do so when the meat is semi-frozen. This semi-frozen state provides a firmer texture, which makes it easier to achieve uniform slices.
What kind of pan should I use for stir-frying the beef?
For stir-frying the beef, a wok is ideal as it provides ample space for stirring the ingredients. However, if you don't have a wok, a large skillet will also work well for this recipe.
Can I add extra vegetables to the stir fry, and if so, which ones work best?
Absolutely! You can add extra vegetables to the stir fry, and I suggest incorporating onions and sliced carrots for added flavor and texture.
Storage Tips
Best enjoyed freshly made but leftover can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
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Watch How To Make It
Garlic Beef Stir Fry
Ingredients
Beef
- 1/2 lbs Thinly Sliced Beef can used shaved beef
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Neutral Cooking Oil oil with no taste
- 2 Cups Rice rice of choice
- 1/2 Stalk Green Onions
Sauce
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Japanese Sake
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 Clove Garlic grated
- 1 tbsp Butter
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Add Japanese sake in a skillet and boil for 15-20 seconds.
- Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 20-30 seconds. In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, boiled Japanese sake, soy sauce, grated garlic, and black pepper.
- Add thinly sliced beef to a wok or large skillet coated with preheated cooking oil. Lightly season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 1-2 minutes until the beef is browned.
- Add the sauce to the beef and ensure the beef is coated. Transfer the cooked beef onto the plate with rice and drizzle any remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle chopped green onions on top.