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Easy Szechuan Beef Stir-Fry

Szechuan beef is a quick, bold stir-fry that brings spicy peppers, fragrant garlic, and the distinctive flavor of Sichuan pepper together with tender strips of beef. This easy Szechuan beef recipe uses flank steak, soy sauce, cooking wine, cornstarch, jalapeño, green onions, and sesame oil to create a flavorful dinner in about 25 minutes. It is a great choice when you want a homemade alternative to takeout without a long ingredient list or complicated sauce.

The key to tender Szechuan beef is slicing the flank steak very thinly. Whenever possible, cut across the grain to shorten the muscle fibers and make the beef easier to chew. Toss the sliced beef with soy sauce, cooking wine, and cornstarch, then set it aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients. This light coating helps the beef cook quickly and gives the seasonings a chance to cling to the meat.

A hot wok is ideal for this recipe because it allows the beef and aromatics to cook quickly over high heat. Heat the vegetable oil, add the sliced garlic and jalapeño, and stir-fry briefly until fragrant. Add the beef and sauce seasonings, including salt, sugar, Sichuan pepper, and sesame oil. Stir-fry just until the beef is cooked, then add the green onions near the end so they retain some freshness and texture.

Sichuan pepper has a distinctive citrusy aroma and a tingling sensation that differs from ordinary black pepper. If you enjoy extra heat, you can adjust the jalapeño to your taste, but keep in mind that adding more chile changes the balance of the original recipe.

Serve this spicy beef over steamed jasmine rice or alongside simple stir-fried vegetables and Perfect Potstickers. Broccoli, green beans, or bok choy make excellent additions to the meal. For best results, prepare all the ingredients before turning on the stove, because stir-frying moves quickly once the wok is hot.

With just a handful of ingredients and a short cooking time, this Szechuan beef recipe is an easy way to bring lively, peppery flavor to your weeknight dinner table.

Garlic is revered in Egypt for its medicinal qualities, and prized in Italian, Asian, and Indian cooking, garlic has been called “the stinking rose” for good reason. Check out more Garlic Recipes.

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