BEST Mongolian Beef Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (2024)

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Tender, juicy strips of stir-fried beef in a luxuriously flavorful sauce! Few Chinese dishes are as irresistibly delicious as Mongolian Beef. This Mongolian Beef recipe takes the flavor over the top, is quick and easy to make (ready to serve in 15-20 minutes!), and rivals your favorite Chinese takeout!

Be sure to also check out our Mongolian Chicken as well as our General Tso’s Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, and Chinese Beef and Broccoli!

BEST Mongolian Beef Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (1)

What is Mongolian Beef?

Mongolian Beef is one of the most popular Chinese takeout and restaurant dishes and is known and served throughout many areas of the world. It is a stir-fry dish consisting of thinly sliced beef that is coated in cornstarch and then fried until crispy. The beef is then tossed in a flavorful sauce along with green onions/scallions.

Neither the ingredients nor the method of cooking are actually Mongolian at all, rather some claim this dish is a Chinese-American invention while others claim it was first invented in a Chinese restaurant in the UK.

Regardless of its origin, one thing is clear: It’s fully deserving of its popularity because it’s absolutely delicious! And now you can make it at home anytime the craving comes calling and this Mongolian Beef recipe is sure to be a slam dunk winner in your home!

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Made with just a small handful of ingredients, this Mongolian Beef is simple, quick, and ready to serve within 15-20 minutes including prep! And if you really want the BEST possible flavor, we highly recommend making your own homemade Hoisin Sauce. It’s a game changer!

An important element to making quick takeout style dishes like this is to have all your ingredients already laid out and ready to go. Have your veggies and meat sliced and have your sauce ingredients combined. Then the cooking part takes less than 10 minutes (less than 5 minutes if you’re using a high heat wok!).

BEST Mongolian Beef Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (3)

How Do I Make Vegetarian Mongolian Beef?

It’s simple! Use a meatless beef substitute such as Yves Meatless Beef Strips, Butler’s Soy Curls or tofu.

If you’re using tofu we have a tutorial for making excellent crispy tofu that you can use as a beef substitute. Check out our recipe for Baked Tofu. Cut the tofu into 1/4 inch thick, 1 inch long strips to resemble beef and follow the instructions as outlined in that tutorial.

Can You Freeze Mongolian Beef?

You sure can! Put it in an airtight freezer container or ziplock freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Then simply reheat in the microwave and serve with rice.

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Mongolian Beef Recipe

Let’s get started!

Coat the beef strips with cornstarch.

Prepare the sauce by combining all ingredients, except for the garlic and ginger, in a bowl.

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Heat the oil in a wok or heavy skillet and fry the beef until golden brown on both sides.

Remove the beef and discard all but about 2 teaspoons of the oil.

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Fry the ginger and garlic in the skillet for 30 seconds.

Add the sauce mixture and simmer, constantly stirring, until it begins to thicken.

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Return the beef to the wok along with the green onions and stir to coat.

Simmer for 1 minute so the green onions soften but remain crispy.

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Serve immediately with steamed rice and/or crispy fried cellophane noodles.

Enjoy!

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Want to bulk up this dish with more healthy veggies? Simply add some steamed broccoli and/or fry some bell peppers along with the chicken. You can also toss in some bean sprouts at the very end.

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For more delicious Chinese dishes be sure to try our:

  • Orange Beef
  • Sesame Chicken
  • Beef and Broccoli
  • General Tso’s Chicken
  • Kung Pao Chicken
  • Orange Chicken
  • Sweet and Sour Chicken
  • Wonton Soup
  • Shanghai Noodles
  • Mongolian Chicken

BEST Mongolian Beef Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (11)

Mongolian Beef

Kimberly Killebrew

Tender, juicy strips of stir-fried beef in a luxuriously flavorful sauce! This Mongolian Beef recipe takes the flavor over the top, is quick and easy to make, and rivals your favorite Chinese takeout!

Print Recipe

4.97 from 163 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American, Chinese

Servings 4 servings

Calories 366 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound flank steak or beef tenderloin cut into thin strips (this recipe also works great with chicken) (See note for vegan option)
  • cornstarch for coating
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • For the Sauce:
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger , minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh garlic , minced
  • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce (a critical ingredient)
  • OR Best Homemade Hoisin Sauce , click link for recipe (highly recommended for the ULTIMATE flavor!)
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup tamari (can substitute low sodium soy sauce)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 bunches green onions , cut into 2 inch pieces

Instructions

  • Add some oil to a hot wok or heavy skillet. Lightly coat the beef strips in cornstarch and shake to remove excess. Stir-fry beef until caramelized on both sides. Remove the meat from the wok and set aside. Discard all but 2 teaspoons of the oil.

  • To make sauce: Add the ginger and garlic to the wok and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Add remaining sauce ingredients, except for the green onions. Let the sauce simmer for 2 minutes, until sauce begins to thicken.

  • Return beef to the sauce and stir to coat. Add the green onions and stir again to coat. Simmer for 1 minute seconds. Serve immediately with steamed rice and/or crispy fried cellophane noodles.

Notes

Vegetarian/Vegan: Use Yves Meatless Beef Strips, Butler's Soy Curls or tofu (cut into 1/4 in. thick, 1 in. long strips and prepared as outlined here: https://www.daringgourmet.com/baked-tofu/

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 1028mg | Potassium: 497mg | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2.7mg

Keyword Mongolian Beef

Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet October 2013

BEST Mongolian Beef Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (12)

BEST Mongolian Beef Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (2024)

FAQs

What cut of beef is Mongolian beef made from? ›

Mongolian beef is a dish from Taiwan consisting of sliced beef, typically flank steak, usually made with onions. The beef is commonly paired with scallions or mixed vegetables and is often not spicy. The dish is often served over steamed rice, or in the US, over crispy fried cellophane noodles.

Why is Mongolian beef so tender? ›

This is the KEY ingredient to super tender beef. Baking soda is commonly used in Chinese cooking to tenderize beef. If you're curious about the science behind it – baking soda neutralizes acid and raises the pH level, which causes the meat to become more alkaline.

What is the difference between Mongolian beef and Chinese beef? ›

Szechuan beef vs Mongolian beef, what's the difference? Szechuan beef has a sweet and spicy flavor, and Mongolian beef has a mild taste. Szechuan beef hails from the Sichuan Province in southwestern China. Its main ingredients are chili peppers, garlic, and Szechuan peppercorn.

What is the difference between Mongolian beef and Szechuan beef? ›

Mongolian Beef can be described as having a savory soy-based sauce with scallions as its main aromatic. Szechuan Beef has a similar soy sauce-based profile but with the addition of a spicy element, such as fresh or dried chilis and/or Sichuan peppercorns for a numbing sensation.

How to velvet beef for Mongolian beef? ›

Instructions
  1. Slice beef thinly against the grain. ( Note 3)
  2. Place in a bowl. Sprinkle over baking soda, toss with fingers to coat evenly.
  3. Refrigerate for 30 to 40 minutes. ( See Note 1 for different cuts)
  4. Rinse beef well with tap water. ...
  5. Proceed with recipe of choice.
Feb 23, 2019

What is the secret ingredient to tenderize meat? ›

Less than a teaspoon of baking soda ensures that your steak remains juicy and tender—even after a speedy marinade. While other recipes demand hours of marinating, this baking soda hack makes a flank steak or any other fibrous cut of beef ready to sear after just an hour.

How do Chinese restaurants make the beef so tender? ›

There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts. “People go for either egg white or baking soda as they are both alkaline ingredients.

Do you need to rinse baking soda off meat? ›

From there, leave it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight. Then take the meat out of the container and rinse it ensuring that all—or most—of the baking soda is off the steak.

Is Mongolian beef healthy for you? ›

In conclusion, Mongolian beef can be a healthy and nutritious dish when prepared with the right ingredients and cooking methods. It's a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and various vitamins and minerals.

What is another name for Mongolian beef? ›

Stir-Fried Spicy Beef (Previously: Mongolian Beef)

Sliced beef marinated in soy and then stir-fried with peppers and onions.

Is Hunan beef same as Mongolian beef? ›

Hunan beef also packs in some heat in the form of chili peppers, but it's not a numbing heat whatsoever and I like to think of it as the milder cousin to Szeuchuan beef. What's the difference between Hunan beef vs Mongolian beef? Another favorite beef recipe of mine, Mongolian beef is much sweeter than Hunan beef.

What goes good with Mongolian beef? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Mongolian beef are broccoli and cauliflower, steamed vegetables, chow mein, brown rice and vegetables, quinoa, cilantro lime rice, lentil salad, macaroni salad, stuffed peppers, rosemary bread, French bread pizza, Thai cucumber salad, pickled jalapenos, garlic noodles and green salad, ...

What is Mongolian beef supposed to taste like? ›

When done just right, it's perfectly sweet and savory, slightly spicy, and loaded with lots of delicious aromatics such as ginger, garlic, green onions and even a few dried red chilis, all combined to bring a nice pop of deep, fragrant flavor.

What kind of meat is used for Mongolian BBQ? ›

Typically, diners select a variety of raw ingredients from a display of sliced meat (such as beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken, and shrimp) and vegetables (such as cabbage, tofu, onion, broccoli, and mushrooms).

What cut of beef do Chinese use? ›

More often than not, it's the cheapest cuts like flank or hanger steak, or loin or butt meat from the pork or beef. Just like in the modern age, the mark of a good chef is the ability to turn cheaper ingredients into something really tasty.

What is thinly sliced beef called? ›

Carpaccio (pronounced "car-PAH-chee-oh") is a traditional Italian appetizer consisting of raw beef sliced paper-thin, drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice, and finished with capers and onions. In contemporary cuisine, carpaccio can refer to any thinly sliced raw meat or fish, such as tuna, served in this fashion.

What cut of beef is used in Chinese food? ›

Chinese restaurants typically use flank steak, an affordable cut with great flavor. The steak should be cut thinly against the grain. Each slice should be about one-eighth of an inch thick, since thinner slices have more surface area for the marinade.

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