This Spicy Cumin Beef is inspired by Xinjiang Cumin Lamb, but using beef which is more widely available. This dish, with its aromatic spices and succulent beef, pays homage to the culinary traditions of Xinjiang, a region in China renowned for its diverse and bold culinary creations that blend the best of Chinese and Middle Eastern cuisine, due to the high Muslim population in the region.
At the heart of this dish lies the carefully crafted marinade, transforming the beef slices into savory delights. The marriage of ground cumin, light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sugar, and cornstarch not only tenderizes the meat but also infuses it with delicious flavors.
The supporting cast includes the vibrant red onion, providing a sweet contrast, while the aromatic ginger and garlic lend depth to the flavor profile. Coriander, with its dual role of stalks and leaves, adds a refreshing herbal note to the ensemble.
No Xinjiang-inspired dish is complete without a dash of bold and spicy seasoning. Sichuan peppercorns, ground cumin, and chili flakes create a medley of heat and aromatic undertones, with a pinch of salt to tie everything together.
When frying, the sizzling aromatics fill the kitchen, turning the beef golden brown with the marinade infused within. Then the rest of the ingredients are stir fried till fragrant, before the beef returns with the seasoning to meld together in a flavorful delight. And finally, fresh coriander leaves garnish the Spicy Cumin Beef for a Xinjiang-inspired main dish.
Xinjiang-inspired Spicy Cumin Beef is a uniquely vibrant taste that fans of “mala” (麻辣) or “shao kao” (烧烤) will be familiar with. Just make sure your kids don’t eat it, unless they’re used to the spicy-tingly feeling on the tongue from the Sichuan peppercorn! So let’s get to it!
Watch How To Make It
Spicy Cumin Beef (Xinjiang inspired)
Ingredients
- 200 g beef sliced
- 3 bunches coriander
- 1/2 red onion finely sliced
- 1/2 inch ginger chopped
- 6 cloves garlic chopped
Marinade
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Seasoning
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Place the beef in a mixing bowl and add the marinade ingredients. Mix well and let it marinade for 30 minutes.
- Chop the coriander into 1-inch lengths, and separate the stalks and leaves. Then prepare the rest of the ingredients and the seasoning.
- Heat up oil in your pan until smoking hot. Then pour in the beef and let it sear for 1 minute before turning to sear the other side for another minute until it is browned. Transfer the beef to a plate.
- Return to the pan, turn down the heat and stir fry the red onion, ginger, garlic and coriander stalks until fragrant. Add the beef and seasoning and continue to stir fry for another minute until well combined.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve!