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Hot and Spicy Beef Recipe

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4.1 from 31 reviews

This Hot and Spicy Beef recipe features tender strips of flank steak cooked quickly in a fragrant mixture of dried chili peppers, garlic, and a savory-sweet sauce made with soy, coconut sugar, and hoisin. Perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner, the dish is enhanced with green onions and thickened for a luscious coating that pairs beautifully with rice or noodles.

Ingredients

Beef and Seasoning

  • 1-1.5 pounds flank steak, thinly sliced into strips about 2 inches long
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 8 dried chili peppers
  • 2-3 green onions, chopped in 1-inch pieces

Sauce

  • ½ cup low sodium soy sauce (can use coconut aminos, don’t use full salt soy sauce)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon flour (or gluten free flour) to thicken

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: Combine all of the sauce ingredients except the flour into a bowl and whisk well until fully mixed. Set this sauce mixture aside.
  2. Cook the steak: Heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add the thinly sliced flank steak strips and cook each side for about 1-2 minutes until browned but not fully cooked through.
  3. Add chili peppers: Toss in the dried chili peppers with the steak and sauté together for 2-3 minutes, allowing the peppers to infuse their heat into the meat.
  4. Thicken the sauce: Whisk the flour into the prepared sauce bowl just before adding it to avoid clumps, creating a smooth thickening agent.
  5. Combine sauce and steak: Pour the thickened sauce into the skillet over the steak and chili peppers. Stir well to coat everything evenly.
  6. Simmer the mixture: Allow the sauce to reach a gentle simmer, cooking for 3-4 minutes while stirring occasionally to thicken the sauce and cook the steak through.
  7. Add green onions and finish: Stir in most of the chopped green onions into the skillet, reserving a few for garnish. Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the beef to a serving dish, garnishing with remaining green onions.

Notes

  • For milder heat, reduce the number of dried chili peppers or remove the seeds before cooking.
  • Serve this spicy beef with steamed jasmine rice or noodles for a complete meal.
  • Using gluten-free flour or cornstarch works well to thicken if gluten sensitivity is a concern.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
  • Flank steak can be substituted with skirt steak or sirloin if preferred.