Easy Chinese Steak Over Noodles
Rice vermicelli noodles puff up nicely when deep-fried. However, if you don't have any on hand, you can serve the steak and vegetables with tortilla or taco chips.
INGREDIENTS | SERVES 2
- ½ pound flank steak
- 1½ tablespoons ketchup
- 1½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoons water, or as needed
- 1½ teaspoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 shallots, peeled and chopped
- ½ green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- ½ pound fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced
- ½ red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon liquid, if needed
- 2 ounces deep-fried rice vermicelli
Cut the steak across the grain into thin strips, 1½ to 2 inches long, ⅛ inch wide, and ⅛ inch thick. Combine the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, water, and brown sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.
Heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat until it is nearly smoking. Add 1½ tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add half the garlic. Stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the flank steak. Let sear briefly, then stir-fry the beef until it is no longer pink and is nearly cooked. Remove the beef and drain in a colander or on paper towels.
Heat 1½ tablespoons oil in the wok or skillet. Add the remaining garlic and stir-fry for 10 seconds. Add the shallots and stir-fry briefly, until they begin to soften. Add the green bell pepper and the mushrooms. Stir-fry for a minute, then add the red bell pepper. Splash the vegetables with 1 tablespoon water or dry sherry if they begin to dry out during stir-frying.
Add the sauce and bring to a boil. Add the beef back into the pan. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 more minutes to blend the flavors. Serve hot over the deep-fried rice vermicelli.
How to Deep-Fry Rice Vermicelli
To fry rice noodles, pour 2 inches of oil into a wok or deep-sided heavy skillet and heat to 375°F. When the oil is hot, remove the noodles from the package and use tongs to lower them into the hot oil. Cook briefly (for 1 second), turn over, and cook for 1 second more. Remove the noodles and drain in a colander or on paper towels.
