Chili Beef (Desi Chinese)
Chili Beef (Desi Chinese)
Ingredients
Beef Marinade:
- 1 lb. beef
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 1/2 tbsp garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp vinegar
Chili Beef:
- 4 tbsp oil divided
- 1 cup cubed onion about 1 medium onion
- 1 cup cubed green pepper about 1/2 of a medium green pepper
- 12 green chilies
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Instructions
Beef Marinade:
- Cut the beef into very thin strips against the grain. Marinate with all the ingredients listed under "Beef Marinade." Leave overnight if possible.
Chili Beef:
- Prepare the chilies by slicing them vertically down the middle. For half of the chilies, use the tip of a knife to scrape out the seeds and discard. If you want it to be spicier, skip this part. If you want to reduce spiciness, remove the seeds from more of the chilies. Use gloves when handling chilies.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wide frying pan. Add onion and green pepper and stir fry until edges turn brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add 2 more tbsp of oil to the frying pan. Stir fry the beef on medium high (uncovered) until almost cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Add all the green chilies, followed by the water and sugar. Cover and let cook about 5 minutes.
- Add the sauteed onion and green pepper back to the pan.
- Dilute the cornstarch with a little bit of water in a cup and pour in. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Serve hot with rice and enjoy!
Desi Chinese Style of Cooking
Before I talk about this Desi Chinese Chili Beef, let’s first ask: what is Desi Chinese cuisine? Also called Indo-Chinese cuisine, this is a popular fusion style of cooking that’s a cuisine all on its own. Originating from Chinese migrants in Kolkata, India, the flavors of Chinese cooking married the spice-rich palate of South Asian cooking to create the most phenomenal fusion!
About Chili Beef
Beware: this dish is spicy! But as always, you can control the amount of spiciness with the amount of slit green chilies. I like to remove the seeds and veins (that’s the spicy part!) of about half of the green chilies I’m using. The reason why I don’t just use less green chilies altogether is because the green chilies serve a purpose other than just adding heat. The skin is actually loaded with flavor! This distinct flavor is essential to this dish, so don’t skimp on adding all the green chilies the recipe calls for, even if you remove the seeds from most.
There are different variations of Chili Beef, but this recipe is one that is familiar to people from Bangladesh. It’s one of my dad’s favorite dishes (he munches on chili peppers like they’re chips) and my mom makes it often whenever she’s throwing down a full Desi Chinese spread. It always gets compliments from guests!
The Steps, in a Nutshell
Chili beef is a really simple stir fry. The beef is simply marinated and stir fried with some vegetables. What makes this dish special are those green chilies! They add tons of flavor, along with heat, making this dish a treat for the spice lover.
And Finally…
If you recreate this recipe, don’t forget to leave a star rating and comment below. And feel free to share your recreations with me on Instagram!