10 Aug

Mongolian Beef

Glossy, sweet-savory Mongolian beef with seared flank steak and broccoli, made with half the sugar of the restaurant version and none of the deep fry. A light cornstarch dusting gives the beef that signature velvet edge and thickens the sauce as it goes. Better than the place on the corner, honestly.

Prep Time 15 min
Cook Time 12 min
Total Time 27 min
Servings 4
Mongolian Beef
322 Calories
34g Protein
12g Fat
21g Carbs

Method

  1. Toss the sliced beef with the cornstarch until lightly coated all over. Shake off the excess.

    💡 Tip: A dusting, not a batter. Shake off what does not cling.
  2. Sear the beef in the oil in a very hot pan in two batches, about 90 seconds per batch, until browned at the edges. Remove.

    💡 Tip: Ninety seconds. It finishes in the sauce, and overcooked flank is chewy flank.
  3. Add the broccoli with a splash of water and cook 3 minutes until bright and crisp-tender. Add the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds.

  4. Pour in the soy, honey, water, and red pepper flakes and bring to a bubble. Return the beef and toss until the sauce turns glossy and clings, about a minute. Fold in the scallion batons and serve.

    💡 Tip: The cornstarch on the beef thickens the sauce on contact. If it tightens too much, loosen with a splash of water.

Notes

Slice the flank thin and against the grain, this cut is tender or chewy purely based on your knife work.
The cornstarch dusting crisps the edges of the beef and thickens the sauce, no separate slurry needed.
Restaurant Mongolian beef can carry a quarter cup of sugar. Two tablespoons of honey across four servings does the job here.
Nutrition is for the beef and broccoli. Add rice separately.

Nutrition Information

Per Serving 1 of 4
Calories 322kcal
Total Fat 12g
Total Carbohydrates 21g
Protein 34g
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Frequently Asked Questions

What cut should I use?

Flank is traditional, sirloin and skirt both work. Whatever you choose, slice it thin and against the grain, that single technique matters more than the cut.

How is this lighter than restaurant Mongolian beef?

Three ways: the beef is seared rather than deep-fried, the sauce uses half the sugar, and broccoli makes up real volume on the plate. The flavor profile, dark, glossy, sweet-savory, is unchanged.

Can I make it gluten-free?

Yes, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos. Everything else is naturally gluten-free, cornstarch included.

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