If you like making classic takeout recipes at home, then you’ve got to try my Easy Beef Fried Rice and my Authentic Chicken Lo Mein!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Sesame Beef Stir Fry is AMAZING and so simple. Marinate the beef overnight and you have a quick and easy meal to throw together the next day. This dish is just like the Sesame Beef you get at a takeout restaurant except it’s even better AND healthier. Most Sesame Beef recipes are fried in oil. I went on the lighter side and stir fried the beef instead. It’s just as juicy will less oil and calories. And the trick to this dish is cooking the steak quickly over high heat. It gets a nice sear on the outside, but stays juicy on the inside. One of the best things about this Sesame Beef is the sauce! The sauce consists of brown sugar, dark soy sauce, regular soy sauce and water. I use half of the sauce as a marinade and the other half to cook with the beef.
Sesame Beef Ingredients
Flank steak: You’ll need one pound of flank steak sliced against the grain (to optimize tenderness) into thin strips. Dark soy sauce: This can be found in the International Isle in the grocery store or Asian supermarket stores. Low-sodium soy sauce: Helps to keep the salt level down in this recipe. Light brown sugar: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the sauce! Sesame oil: All you need is a little bit to add a nice toasted nuttiness to the sauce. Garlic: I always love to use garlic in my stir frys! Bell pepper: I used a red bell pepper however you can do a mix of colors Cornstarch: Added with water the cornstarch thickens up the sauce.
How To Make Sesame Beef
Add both soy sauces, brown sugar and water to a medium bowl and stir to combine. Pour half of the sauce into another bowl and set aside. (We will be using this when we cook the beef). Add steak to the other 1/2 of the sauce and marinade for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
When you are ready to cook add sesame oil to a large skillet or wok. Add in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove steak from marinade and sauté for about 1-2 minutes on each side. (You want the pan to be very hot so the steak cooks quickly and browns.)
Add red bell pepper and sauté for 1 minute. Add in the reserved sauce and bring to a simmer.
In a small bowl combine cornstarch and water. Slowly add cornstarch mixture to pan. Continuously stir until sauce is thickened, about 1 minute.
Serve immediately with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish if desired.
Storage Tips
Store any cooled leftover sesame beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. This is a great meal-prep recipe! You can also freeze this sesame beef fully cooked for a month, or raw with the prepared sauce and parboiled veggies for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing flat in a plastic storage bag to optimize storage space.
What To Serve With Sesame Beef
Fried, white, or brown rice Or, for a low-carb option, try cauliflower rice Steamed or roasted vegetables Chow mein noodles Lo mein Steamed dumplings Zucchini noodle stir fry
More Takeout Recipes To Make at Home
Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef Easy Pepper Steak Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken Fried Rice Cashew Chicken Chicken Lo Mein Chicken Stir Fry