Easy Cantonese Beef Curry

By
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking.
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Updated on 07/21/21
Chinese curried beef in white bowl
Ruocaled/Flickr/CC
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings

For best results, use one of the hotter or milder Indian Madras curry powders in this dish.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound flank steak

  • 1 medium onion

  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or stock

  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, mixed in 3 tablespoons water

  • 2 tablespoons curry powder, mixed with 2 tablespoons water to make a paste)

  • 5 tablespoons water, for making curry and cornstarch pastes

  • 2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons peanut oil

Steps to Make It

  1. Cut the beef across the grain into thin strips, approximately 1 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Peel and chop the onion.

  2. In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth, dark soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Set aside. In another small bowl, combine the cornstarch with water and set aside.

  3. Preheat the wok on medium-high heat; the wok is ready when a couple of drops of water sizzle are added.

  4. Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons oil to the wok, drizzling to coat the sides. When the oil is hot, turn the heat down to medium and add the onion. Add the curry powder, brown briefly, then add the water to make a paste.

  5. Turn the heat back up to medium-high. Push the onion to the sides and add the beef in the middle. Sear for about 30 seconds, then stir-fry until the redness is gone, about 2 minutes. Splash the beef with the rice wine or dry sherry while stir-frying.

  6. Add the sauce to the wok. Bring to a boil and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.

  7. Remove the wok from the heat. Give the cornstarch and water mixture a quick re-stir. Stir the cornstarch and water mixture into the sauce. Return the wok to the burner and continue stirring until the sauce thickens. Serve hot over rice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
328 Calories
12g Fat
35g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 328
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 46mg 15%
Sodium 287mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 37mg 3%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 307mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)