As a delicacy on people's daily tables, beef is loved by everyone. Whether it's Chinese-style stir-fried beef or Western-style steak, beef has become a standout among many ingredients due to its rich taste and nutritional value. Especially in the pursuit of high-protein, low-fat diet, beef is highly regarded. However, how to make beef tender and refreshing is a headache for many home cooks.
When cooking beef, most people habitually marinate it directly with salt and cooking wine, believing that it can remove the smell and enhance the flavor. However, this treatment often causes the beef to lose moisture when cooked at high temperatures, becoming dry and firm and overly chewy. The correct pickling method is actually more detailed, and the key lies in the following steps.
1. Pat the beef: First, the beef needs to be lightly patted a few times with the back of a knife or a meat hammer before cutting. The effect of this step is to break down the muscle fiber structure and make the beef more fluffy so that it is not easy to harden when cooking.
2. Reverse grain cutting (cross-cutting): The texture of beef is more obvious, and when cutting beef, it is necessary to cut (cross-cutting) against the texture, which can effectively reduce the tendon of beef after cooking and make the taste smoother.
3. Use Sichuan pepper water: Use a small amount of Sichuan pepper, shredded green onion and ginger to soak in boiling water to make Sichuan pepper water, which is used to marinate beef. This step is to better remove the smell and improve the freshness, and the aroma of Sichuan pepper can make the flavor of beef more unique.
4. Add egg whites and starch: Next, add the right amount of egg whites and starch to the beef, the egg whites coat the surface of the beef and prevent moisture loss, and the starch allows the beef to lock in more juice as it cooks.
5. Seasoning and mixing: Finally, add salt and light soy sauce, stir well, so that the seasoning fully penetrates into the beef, marinate for about 15-20 minutes, and then it is ready to cook.
With this method of curing, the beef not only remains tender, but also greatly enhances the flavor. Next, I would like to introduce you to two classic beef dishes, namely beef cubes with black pepper and stir-fried shredded beef with pea sprouts.
Recipe 1: Beef cubes with black pepper
Ingredients: 200g beef, appropriate amount of chopped black pepper, half an onion, 1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, a little minced garlic, salt, light soy sauce, sugar, appropriate amount of cooking oil.
Here's how:
1. Cut the beef into small pieces, marinate the beef according to the method mentioned above, and cut the green peppers, red peppers, and onions into cubes for later use.
2. Heat the pan with cold oil, add minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant, then put in the marinated beef pieces, quickly stir-fry until it changes color, add green peppers, red peppers and onion pieces, stir-fry evenly, add an appropriate amount of salt and light soy sauce, add crushed black pepper and a small amount of sugar, stir-fry evenly and then you can get out of the pot.
The key to this black pepper beef cube is the mastery of the heat. The marinating method of the beef allows it to lock in moisture during the rapid stir-frying process, ensuring that the meat is tender and smooth. The spicy aroma of black pepper complements the tenderness of the beef, while the refreshing taste of green peppers and onions adds depth to the dish.
Recipe 2: Stir-fried beef with pea sprouts
Ingredients: 150 grams of beef, 200 grams of pea sprouts, a little shredded ginger, a little minced garlic, light soy sauce, salt, pepper, cooking oil.
Specific steps:
1. Shred the beef and marinate it according to the method mentioned above.
2. Heat the pan with cold oil, add shredded ginger and minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant, then add the marinated shredded beef and stir-fry quickly, until it changes color, then put it out for later use.
3. Put the pea sprouts in the same pot, stir-fry for about 1 minute, until the bean sprouts are slightly soft, pour the shredded beef back into the pot, add light soy sauce, salt and a little pepper to taste, stir-fry evenly and then remove from the pot.
This dish is perfect for those who prefer a light taste, and the shredded beef is marinated so that it is very tender and makes a great match for the freshness and freshness of the pea sprouts. The nutritional value of pea sprouts should not be underestimated, rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium, making them a healthy and delicious home-cooked dish.
Cooking beef may seem simple, but there are many tricks involved. With the right curing method, the beef can be kept tender and smooth during the cooking process and avoid being dry and hard. This not only enhances the taste, but also enhances the taste of the dish. Whether it's the classic black pepper beef cubes or the fresh stir-fried shredded beef with pea sprouts, mastering the art of marinating beef will make your beef dishes even more delicious.
[Personal opinion, for reference only!] This article is original by "Show Chef Niang", the article and pictures are copyrighted, please do not plagiarize, delete, or misappropriate without permission, and infringement must be investigated! 】