Japanese Beef Stir-Fry Recipe

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless beef sirloin or beef top round steaks (3/4" thick)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can Campbell's Condensed Beef Broth
• cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms
• 1 head Chinese cabbage (bok choy), thinly sliced
• 2 medium red peppers, cut into 2"-long strips
• 3 stalks celery, sliced
• 2 medium green onions, cut into 2" pieces
• Hot cooked regular long-grain white rice

Directions:

Step 1: Slice the beef into very thin strips.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch, beef broth, soy sauce, and sugar until smooth. Set this mixture aside.

Step 3: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a saucepot or wok over high heat. Add the beef in two batches, stir-frying until browned. Once browned, set the beef aside.

Step 4: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pot. Add the shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, red peppers, celery, and green onions in two batches. Stir-fry the vegetables over medium heat until tender-crisp. Once done, set the vegetables aside.

Step 5: Stir the cornstarch mixture and add it to the saucepot. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils and thickens.

Step 6: Return the beef and vegetables to the saucepot, mixing everything together. Heat through for a couple of minutes.

Step 7: Serve the stir-fry mixture over a bed of hot, cooked long-grain white rice.

Recipe Tips:

• For easier slicing, freeze the beef for 1 hour before cutting it into strips.
• If preparing in advance, chop the vegetables and place them in resealable plastic bags. Refrigerate them overnight.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):

Calories	8g Fat	26g Carbs	26g Protein
290	8g	26g	26g

Percent Daily Values:

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Total Fat	8g	10%
Saturated Fat	2g	11%
Cholesterol	39mg	13%
Sodium	1271mg	55%
Total Carbohydrate	26g	10%
Dietary Fiber	3g	9%
Total Sugars	7g	-
Protein	26g	53%
Vitamin C	67mg	74%
Calcium	91mg	7%
Iron	4mg	22%
Potassium	568mg	12%

Japanese Beef Stir-Fry is a delicious, quick, and healthy dish that combines tender beef strips with a variety of vibrant vegetables, all cooked together in a savory, sweet sauce. This easy-to-make recipe brings the flavors of Japanese cuisine into your home, offering a satisfying and nutritious meal. It's typically served over a bed of rice, making it a complete and balanced dish perfect for a weeknight dinner or a weekend treat.

Origin and History

Stir-frying is a cooking technique with roots in ancient China but has become widely popular across East Asia, especially in Japan. The practice of stir-frying beef with vegetables in a savory sauce has been embraced in various regional cuisines, with Japan adapting the method to suit its taste and ingredients. The use of soy sauce, ginger, and other traditional Japanese ingredients elevates the dish, making it both flavorful and simple to prepare. Although stir-frying beef is a common dish in Japan, the combination of ingredients in this recipe gives it a distinct, recognizable Japanese flair.

Regional Features

This stir-fry recipe highlights several ingredients that are typical of Japanese cuisine. For example, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and soy sauce are staples in many Japanese dishes. Each of these ingredients plays a key role in balancing the flavors: the umami from the mushrooms, the mild bitterness of the bok choy, and the rich saltiness of soy sauce. Though stir-fry dishes are popular in many Asian cuisines, Japanese stir-fries often feature lighter, more delicate vegetables and a subtle sauce that lets the freshness of the ingredients shine.

Differences from Similar Dishes

What sets Japanese Beef Stir-Fry apart from other similar stir-fried dishes is its unique combination of ingredients and the use of a lighter, savory sauce. While Chinese-style stir-fries often use a heavy, thick sauce with hoisin or oyster sauce, Japanese stir-fries typically focus on the clean flavors of soy sauce, mirin, and sometimes dashi (a fish stock). Additionally, the vegetables in Japanese stir-fries are often cooked to retain their crisp texture, providing a satisfying contrast to the tender beef.

Where It's Typically Served

Japanese Beef Stir-Fry is commonly served in homes as a quick, nutritious meal. It's often a staple of family dinners, where it is enjoyed with steamed white rice. The dish is also popular in Japanese restaurants around the world, where it may be featured as a part of a larger bento meal or served alongside other Japanese specialties like tempura or sushi. Its appeal lies in its versatility, as it can easily be adapted with different vegetables or proteins, depending on personal preference or seasonal availability.

Fun Facts

• In Japan, stir-fry dishes like this are often prepared using a wok, a traditional Chinese cooking vessel that has become a staple in Japanese kitchens.
• Shiitake mushrooms, a key ingredient in this recipe, are not only delicious but are also known for their medicinal properties, including boosting immune health.
• While beef is commonly used in stir-fries around the world, in Japan, beef stir-fries became especially popular after World War II, when beef became more accessible to the general population.
• The dish is flexible, and you can substitute the vegetables based on whats available zucchini, snow peas, and baby corn are popular additions in Japan.

FAQ about Japanese Beef Stir-Fry Recipe

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