A classic Chinese-style stir-fry made with tender slices of sirloin beef, soft flat rice noodles, colourful peppers and spring onions. The noodles are coated in a savoury sauce with soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing rice wine and coarse black pepper.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2
Cuisine: Chinese
Course: Main Dish
Tags: Beef Recipes · Ho Fun · Rice Noodles · Stir-Fry · Black Pepper
Ingredients
For the Beef
- 220g sirloin steak, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine
- ½ tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
For the Stir-Fry
- 400g fresh ho fun, flat white rice noodles
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely diced
- ½ small red pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ small green pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ small yellow pepper, thinly sliced
- 4 spring onions, cut into 2cm pieces and finely julienned
- Oil, for stir-frying
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- ½ tbsp white rice vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp coarse black pepper
Method
1. Marinate the beef
Place the thinly sliced beef in a bowl. Add the light soy sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, sugar, cornflour and bicarbonate of soda.
Mix well until the beef is evenly coated. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge while you prepare the other ingredients.
2. Prepare the vegetables
Slice the onion and peppers and finely dice the garlic.
Cut the spring onions into approximately 2cm pieces, then finely julienne them.
Keep the vegetables separated and ready for stir-frying.
3. Prepare the sauce
Add the light soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, dark soy sauce, white rice vinegar, sugar and coarse black pepper to a bowl.
Mix well and set aside.
4. Prepare the ho fun noodles
Place the fresh ho fun noodles in a large bowl.
Pour over boiling water and leave for approximately 2 minutes.
Drain thoroughly and set aside.
5. Stir-fry the beef
Heat a little oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat.
Add the garlic and onion and stir-fry for approximately 20 seconds, until fragrant.
Add the marinated beef and stir-fry for approximately 3 minutes, until the beef is mostly cooked.
6. Add the vegetables
Add the sliced red, green and yellow peppers.
Stir-fry for 3–4 minutes, keeping the vegetables slightly crisp.
7. Add the noodles and sauce
Add the prepared ho fun noodles, spring onions and sauce mixture to the pan.
Stir-fry everything together for approximately 4 minutes, until the noodles are heated through, slightly softened and evenly coated in the sauce.
8. Serve
Transfer the black pepper beef ho fun to serving plates and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Don't over-soak the noodles: Two minutes in boiling water is enough to soften the fresh ho fun before stir-frying.
- Keep the beef tender: The cornflour and bicarbonate of soda in the marinade help create a tender texture.
- Keep the vegetables crisp: Stir-fry the peppers briefly so they retain some crunch.
- Adjust the pepper: Add more or less coarse black pepper depending on your preferred level of heat.
- Cook on high heat: A hot wok or frying pan helps give the noodles and beef a better stir-fried texture.
