I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the beef and cabbage stir fry recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of how to prepare beef and cabbage stir fry.
Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What is Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry?
Beef and cabbage stir fry is a flavourful and quick meal that mixes the crunchy cabbage and other veggies with beef strips.
This one-pan meal is famous for its versatility and simplicity, involving ingredients such as carrots, bell peppers or onions based on one’s preference.
It is seasoned with garlic, ginger and soy sauce, it provides a flavorful balance of fibre and protein.
It is great for busy weeknights and can be served over noodles or rice, making it a nutritious and comforting choice for everyone.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy Preparation: The stir fry doesn’t take much time to prepare, making it a great choice for a weeknight dinner.
Healthy Ingredients: Packed with vegetables and lean protein, it is a nutritious choice. The beef provides proteins while the cabbage offers high fiber.
Flavorful and Savory: The mix of garlic, soy sauce, and ginger offers a savoury flavour profile. You can easily customize the sauce based on your taste preference.
One-Pan Meal: Cooking everything in just one pan makes cleanup easier. Stir-frying quickly cooks the food maintaining the crunchiness of the vegetables.
Satisfying and Filling: The mix of cabbage and beef makes this stir fry a filling meal that will keep you satisfied without feeling heavy.
Tips
Choose the Right Cut of Beef: Go for tasty cuts such as flank steak, sirloin, or ribeye. These have great flavour and get soft when you cut them thin and cook them fast.
Slice Against the Grain: Slicing the beef across its muscle fibres breaks it up, which makes it easier to chew. This step is key to getting a nice texture.
Marinate the Beef: Let the beef sit in soy sauce, garlic, and a little cornstarch for 15-30 minutes. This makes it taste better and become more tender. The cornstarch helps create a smooth feel when you cook it.
Prep Ingredients Ahead of Time: Stir-frying doesn’t take long so have all your stuff cut up chopped, and measured before you start. This makes cooking faster and smoother.
Add Vegetables in Stages: Begin with harder veggies like carrots and onions that need more time to cook. Add softer ones like cabbage and bell peppers later. This way, everything turns out just right.
Variations
Beef and Cabbage with Ginger: Add fresh ginger to the stir fry to create a warm fragrant taste.
Shred or mince ginger and mix it in with the garlic. This change brings a zingy and sweet touch to the meal.
Beef and Cabbage with Asian Greens: Add in other Asian greens such as bok choy, snow peas, or Chinese broccoli with the cabbage.
This change adds more colour, feel, and good stuff to the dish.
Beef and Cabbage with Mushrooms: Put in sliced mushrooms (like shiitake, button, or oyster mushrooms) to the stir fry.
The mushrooms soak up flavours and bring an earthy richness making the overall taste and texture better.
Beef and Cabbage with Noodles: Mix in cooked noodles (like rice noodles or egg noodles) into the stir fry.
Mix the noodles with the beef and cabbage at the end letting them soak up the sauce for a filling satisfying meal.
Beef and Cabbage with Pineapple: Toss in bits of fresh or canned pineapple for a sweet and tangy flavour. The pineapple browns a bit while cooking adding a nice contrast to the meaty flavors of the beef and cabbage.
Serving Suggestions
Steamed Rice: Pair your stir fry with steamed white or brown rice to soak up the tasty sauce creating a complete meal.
To add some extra fragrance, you can try jasmine or basmati rice.
Fried Rice: For a delicious choice, serve your stir fry with fried rice. Add any leftover rice, veggies, and eggs to make a yummy side that goes great with the stir fry.
Noodles: You can serve cooked noodles like rice, egg, or udon with your stir fry. Mix the noodles in the same sauce as the stir fry for a better flavour.
Quinoa: If you’re looking to keep things healthy dish, serve the stir fry over quinoa. This adds a bit of nuttiness and packs in some extra protein making your meal more nutritious.
Spring Rolls: Crispy veggies or shrimp spring rolls make for a great starter or side. They bring a nice crunch that works well with the soft beef and cabbage in your stir-fry.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the stir fry cool at room temperature.
- Transfer the stir fry to an air-tight container. I maintain freshness and avoid absorbing the odours from the fridge.
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let the stir fry cool completely.
- Portion the stir fry into individual servings to allow easy thawing.
- Use freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags. Eliminate as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn.
- Label the bag or container with content and fate to keep track of freshness.
- It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Thawing
- You can thaw the stir fry in the refrigerator overnight.
- You can reheat in the microwave over medium heat until heated through.
- If the stir fry looks dry, you can add a broth or a splash of water to rehydrate it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the beef and cabbage stir fry is an easy and quick dish, perfect for a busy lifestyle.
With its bright colours, nice flavours and comforting textures, this meal is sure to please everyone’s taste buds.
So why don’t you give this beef and cabbage stir fry a try? Grab your ingredients and start enjoying the cooking process.
Don’t forget to share your experience in the comments below.
Read More:- Beef Chop Suey Recipe
Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
Ingredients
- For the Stir Fry:
- 1 lb 450g beef (such as flank steak or sirloin), thinly sliced against the grain
- 4 cups green cabbage shredded
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil for cooking
- 1-2 carrots julienned (optional)
- 1 bell pepper sliced (optional)
- For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce optional
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce optional
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch optional, for thickening
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes optional, for heat
Instructions
- Slice the beef into thin pieces across the grain. Shred the cabbage and slic the garlic, onion,and other vegetables.
- In a little bowl, combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, cornstarch, and a bit of salt and pepper. Keep it aside.
- In a large skillet, warm a tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high flame.
- Add the sliced beef in a single layer and cook until turn brown, it may take around 2-3 minutes. Take the beef out from the pan and put it aside.
- In the similar pan, add another tablespoon of oil. Add the sliced garlic and onion, and cook until fragrant for around 2 minutes.
- Then, add the shredded cabbage to the pan. Cook until the cabbage until crispy and tender, it may take around 3-5 minutes.
- Put the cooked beef back in the pan with the vegetables. Pour the sauce and mx everything thoroughly. Cook for more 2-3 minutes until the sauce is thickened a bit.
- It’s time to serve the beef and cabbage. You can try it with noodles or rice.
