Make Chinese Crispy Beef in the comfort of your home using my quick and easy Air Fryer Crispy Beef recipe! These deliciously crisp beef strips smothered in a tangy sticky sauce will become your new obsession...
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time20 minutesmins
Course: Main
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: Air Fryer Crispy Beef, Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef
450g(1 lb) sirloin steaks, remove large pieces of fat
1tbspcornflour(cornstarch)
¼tspbicarbonate of soda(baking soda)
½tbspsoy sauce(light or all-purpose)
2tspsesame or vegetable oil
2tspChinese cooking wine(optional)
FOR THE COATING
3tbspcornflour(cornstarch)
3tbsprice flour
sesame or vegetable oil(in a spray bottle)
FOR THE SAUCE
1tbspsesame oilor vegetable oil
1onion, sliced thinly
1carrot, cut into thin strips
3garlic cloves, minced
1tspminced ginger
3tbspdark soy sauce
2tbsprice vinegar
5tbspketchup
2tspSriracha, or more to taste
3tbsphoney
2tspcornflour diluted in 2 tbsp cold water
TO SERVE
2spring onions, finely sliced
2tbspsesame seeds
1green chilli, sliced (optional)
Instructions
PREPARE THE BEEF
Place the steaks in the freezer for 30 minutes to make them easier to slice (this is helpful but not essential). Slice the beef into thin strips, using a sharp knife and cutting against the grain.
450 g (1 lb) sirloin steaks
Place the cornflour, baking soda, soy sauce, oil and Chinese wine in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the beef strips, toss to coat and leave to marinate for 30 minutes while you get the rest of the ingredients ready.
1 tbsp cornflour, ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda, ½ tbsp soy sauce, 2 tsp sesame or vegetable oil, 2 tsp Chinese cooking wine
Toss the marinated beef in more cornflour until well coated and a bit sticky. Add the rice flour and toss again.
3 tbsp cornflour, 3 tbsp rice flour
Separate the beef strips, laying them flat on a plate. Mist well with oil (sesame or vegetable oil).
sesame or vegetable oil
AIR FRY THE BEEF STRIPS
Preheat the air fryer to the maximum heat setting for three minutes (my Ninja goes up to 240°C/ 465°F). Spread the strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 7 minutes or until crisp and browned. Shake the basket twice so that they crisp up evenly.
MAKE THE SAUCE
NOTE: the sauce cooks quickly – you will need to multitask and get it ready while the beef strips are in the air fryer. If that stresses you out you can prep the sauce first, take it off the heat, and have it ready before your air fry the shredded beef.
Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan. Add the sliced onion and carrot strips and stir fry over high heat for about a minute.
1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 tbsp sesame oil
Add the minced garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, sriracha and honey and bring to a boil. Finally stir in the cornflour slurry.