Gingergirl: Full flavours without full fat in this chilli beef recipe

Hello and welcome to all about food. This week is all about full flavours without full fat. 

If your family are fans of takeaway I suggest you opt for ‘takeaway style’ food; think stir-fries, curries…even kebabs but with a (sneaky) healthy twist. This Japanese Chilli Beef is a good example and can be made in minutes.
Mirin is a sweetened rice wine with a light syrupy texture, used in Japanese cooking. It gives a mild sweetness to a variety of dishes and is a good condiment to have in your store cupboard. If you can't find mirin, use sherry as an alternative.
I couldn’t resist including orange zest in this recipe, I think orange and beef in this style of cooking is perfect but if zest is not your thing skip it by all means.

Japanese Chilli Beef
(serves 4)
300g of rump steak, trimmed of all fat
200ml vegetable stock
4 tablespoons of soy sauce
5 tablespoons of mirin
1 tablespoon of caster sugar
1 onion, halved and finely sliced
1 tablespoon of chopped pickled ginger
4 spring onions, finely chopped
1 red chilli, thinly sliced (with seeds or deseeded, depending on your taste)
The zest of one orange (optional)
Rice, to serve

* Mix the stock, soy, mirin and sugar in a medium size wok, bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer. Add the sliced onion and cook for a further five minutes.
* Meanwhile, slice the meat as thinly as you can. Add the beef and orange zest to the pan and cook for a few more minutes, stirring continuously.
* Sprinkle with pickled ginger, spring onion and chilli, and serve with rice and some of the cooking liquid spooned over.

A side of bok choy
Bok choy is a delicious side dish with the chilli beef: Heat a little oil in a wok or large frying pan and add 2cm of fresh, sliced ginger and a clove of garlic (sliced) and cook for 1 minute.
Add one, roughly chopped, bok choy and cook for another minute, add a splash of sesame oil and soy sauce. Serve immediately.

Read more: Quick and warming dinner with a delicious fish stew

CONTACT GINGERGIRL
www.gingergirl.ie
email: helen@gingergirl.ie
Gingergirl aka Helen Keown is an artisan food producer who produces a range of handmade luxury jams, preserves and chutneys made from local, seasonal or organic ingredients. Helen’s produce is available nationwide from independent food emporiums and is also available at selected food delis across Europe.
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