5 Ingredient Ginger Beef

Stir-fries are quick, easy, and delicious, but it always seems like they’re the low effort choice or last resort. Part of the reason is that they are often the same general flavor profile, and part of the reason is that most people don’t have a great stir fry sauce. This ginger beef solves both those problems, with the bold flavor of ginger and the delicious depth of Bachan’s. It’s so good we predict it’s going to go directly into your weekly rotation. 

What is ginger beef?

Ginger beef is a stir-fried dish made with ginger and beef. This is actually a riff off of a classic Canadian-Chinese dish made with ginger, beef, and a sweet sauce. Typically ginger beef is deep-fried, kind of like orange chicken, but this ginger beef is a stir-fried version, which makes it easier to cook and a lot more health-forward. 

Ginger goes amazing with beef

Ginger is a great complement for the savory depth of beef. If you’ve never cooked with fresh ginger before, you’re in for a treat. It’s spicy, warm, and highlights all the good flavors of beef. When paired with a bit of brown sugar and the unmistakable umami of Bachan’s Original Barbecue Sauce, the combination is unbeatable.

Fresh ginger

Ginger is a root vegetable even though some people consider it a spice. When fresh, it’s used as a spicy aromatic accent to dishes like curry, soups, and stir-fries. Most people know ginger through gingerbread or ginger ale, but ginger is super versatile and full of nutrients and health benefits. Fresh, it’s amazing - it’s zingy, peppery, and warm. Unlike ginger powder, fresh ginger is super juicy, a touch spicy, and very comforting.

How to choose the best fresh ginger

When buying fresh ginger, look for plump, firm pieces with smooth skin and no dry spots. Don’t get ginger roots that look shriveled or have soft or wet spots. At the store, ginger tends to be sold with pieces that have been snapped off - find a piece that doesn’t have many segments snapped off, there’s more of a chance it will be juicy.

How to peel and julienne fresh ginger

First off, give your ginger a wash, then grab a vegetable peeler and a small spoon. Use the peeler to peel away most of the skin, then go in with the small to scrape away any bits of skin leftover in between the creases.

From there, take a look at the ginger and try to cut it into slices against the grain, about 1/4 inch or less in thickness. Stack several of the slices on top of each other and then cut into thin matchsticks, which are the ideal shape for ginger beef.

Ginger beef ingredients

onion - slices of onion add an extra layer of sweetness while maintaining a bit of bite.

brown sugar - a touch of brown sugar is going to highlight the peppery warmth of the fresh ginger

ginger - fresh ginger is incredible, adding warmth, heat, and a fresh peppery flavor.

thinly sliced beef - thinly sliced beef cooks quickly while staying tender. You can buy a larger steak and slice it thin or go to an Asian grocery store where they sell packages of thinly sliced beef, more on that below.

Bachan’s Original Barbecue Sauce - this is what’s going to make your dish sing. The sweet and savory flavors of Bachan’s Original Barbecue Sauce are perfect with beef. The umami from the traditionally brewed soy sauce combined with the sweetness of aged Japanese mirin pair with the slight tartness of organic rice vinegar to create a symphony of flavor highlighted by organic green onions, ginger, and garlic. It’s absolutely addictive.

Beef - look for cuts of beef that cook up quickly and tenderly like flank steak, skirt steak, or beef tenderloin. These steaks are generally leaner and have lots of intense beef flavor. The key is to slice them thinly, against the grain.

Where to buy thinly sliced meat

While it might be easier to find beef to slice, the easiest and best beef for stir fries is thinly sliced beef sold in Asian grocery stores. They sell them in rolls or laid out on trays, frozen. Because they have commercial meal slicers, the slices of meat are perfectly thin, making them very quick to cook. Because they’re not hindered by hand slicing, they offer a lot of different cuts like ribeye, short rib, chuck roll, and shank. They’re usually labelled as “hot pot” beef and are perfect for stir fries.

How to make ginger beef

Cook - Heat up a bit of oil in a pan. When hot, add sliced onions and cook, stirring, until soft and fragrant. Add a sprinkle of brown sugar and the matchstick ginger. Stir everything together and cook for 1-2 minutes, then remove the onions and ginger from the pan and set aside.

Sear - Add a drizzle of oil to the pan and turn to high heat. Sear the thinly sliced beef, flipping as needed, until seared and cooked.

Sauce - Add the ginger and onions back to the pan with the beef and a generous drizzle of Bachan’s Original Barbecue Sauce. Turn the heat, mix thoroughly, and let the sauce coat the beef.

Enjoy! - Enjoy hot, with steamed rice.

What to serve with ginger beef

You won’t be remiss serving ginger beef with simple steamed rice, but if you want to amp up the flavor, a garlic fried rice along side would be delicious. And since you’re going the distance, why not whip up some super easy cold tofu and yuzu brussel sprouts to go for an all out  feast?