Totally inauthentic yet delicious 30-minute sesame beef bowls for two.
Sesame Beef Bowls
Although I always knew it on some level, it wasn’t until I visited China that I fully realized pretty much everything I order from my neighborhood Chinese take-out place is nothing like what you might order off a menu in China. So, it goes without saying this sesame beef bowl recipe claims no authenticity and is just a homemade riff on what I might have delivered to my door in a paper bag along with my beloved crab rangoons, which are also a specialty of said neighborhood take-out place and bear no resemblance to small bites I enjoyed on my China trip a few years back (I have yet to see sea snails and cured jellyfish listed on my take-out menus).
So, having accepted the inauthenticity of most of my favorite take-out dishes I’ve come around to making more of it at home instead of dialing up delivery. I’ve learned most of my Chinese food cravings hit on Friday nights, so I tend to keep things on hand that will thwart an urge to order take-out because most of the things I like don’t take long to make. Case in point, these sesame beef bowls for two. The components are simple – some thin-sliced beef, veggies, rice, and a sauce made mostly from pantry ingredients – and it all comes together in about 30 minutes. Add a couple store-bought egg rolls (I love Chung’s brand) and you get a Friday night take-out fake-out experience that doesn’t require leaving the house or talking to anyone on the phone. I also find I save money because when I order take-out I order all the things plus two drinks so the delivery person will think I am sharing the bounty.
Just kidding. I don’t order two drinks, but I’ve considered it.
Some Ingredients You’ll Need
- There are few cuts of beef that work well (flank steak and sirloin being a couple), but I like to use chuck-eye steak because it’s less expensive. Slice it thin and it cooks fast in a hot pan.
- The sauce is simple: Soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, a little honey, fresh garlic, and red pepper flakes. I keep these ingredients on-hand because pretty much any take-out style dinner I make has some combination of these ingredients. A little cornstarch helps thicken the sauce once it hits the hot pan.
- Some snow peas and diced red bell pepper add color and a fresh bite.
- Long grain white rice and sesame seeds
More Easy Recipes for Two
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Sesame Beef Bowls
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Prep Time: 10 minutes - Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
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Yield: 2 servings -
Category: Main Course
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Pin RecipeDescription
These sesame beef bowls for two take just 30 minutes start to finish. Be sure to prep all of the ingredients before you start cooking because once you get going it all cooks very fast!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup long grain white rice
- 1 large clove of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 pound chuck-eye steak seasoned with salt and pepper, sliced thin against the grain
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 green onion, white and tender green parts sliced
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to package directions.
- Whisk the garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, pepper, red pepper flakes and honey in a small bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and whisk until smooth.
- Coat the beef in 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat until it easily coats the bottom of the pan. Place the beef in a single layer in the pan and cook it for about five minutes, or until it’s browned. Transfer the beef to a plate. Add the bell pepper and snow peas to the skillet and cook them for 2-3 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a plate.
- Transfer the beef back to the pan and add the sauce. Cook the beef and sauce for about a minute, or until the sauce thickens and coats the beef. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the top of the beef.
- Divide the rice, beef, and veggies between two bowls. Garnish with the sliced green onion.
Nutrition
- Calories: 515
- Fat: 28.6g
- Carbohydrates: 38.6g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 30g
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