Crispy Orange Beef Stir Fry

Crispy Orange Beef is a classic Asian inspired dish that is made with tender strips of beef and crisp-tender vegetables coated in a vibrant, sweet and slightly spicy orange sauce. It is most often served on top of a bed of cooked white rice, fried rice or Lo Mein noodles.

Although it is a popular menu item at most Chinese-American restaurants, it is easy to make right in your own kitchen. In fact, by the time that you order takeout, drive to the restaurant, pick it up and head back home, dinner will already be served, devoured and cleaned up.

And for those who order delivery, save your money and make it at home with just a few basic and inexpensive ingredients. With just one bite of this easy to make recipe, you will want to make this popular Asian dish over and over again.

What Cut of Beef To Use For Crispy Orange Beef Recipe

Although there are many options when determining what cut of beef to use to make this recipe, the one that you choose will make a huge difference in the taste and texture of the dish.

• Ribeye: The most tender option, but also the most expensive. Delivers intense beefy flavor but may lose some crispness due to higher fat content. I prefer to save this steak for date night!
• Sirloin: A good compromise between tenderness and affordability. Offers excellent flavor and holds its texture well during frying.
• Flank steak: A lean and affordable cut with a slightly chewy texture. Requires marinating or tenderizing to achieve best results, but provides great beefy flavor and crisps up beautifully. Because you will only need 1⁄2 pound of steak, use the other half of the steak to make Brown Sugar Flank Steak.

Other budget-friendly options:

• Skirt steak: Similar to flank steak but slightly thinner and more flavorful. May be tougher, but slicing it thinly and marinating for a longer period will ensure the Crispy Orange Beef turns out nice and tender.
• Top side (round): A lean and very affordable cut, typically used for stewing. Requires longer marinating or tenderizing, but can achieve good crispness when thinly sliced.

Additional tips:

• Regardless of the cut, always slice the beef thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness.
• Marinating tenderizes the meat and adds flavor. This step should never be skipped.
• Coat the beef in cornstarch before frying to create that iconic light and crispy crust.

4 Components of Crispy Orange Beef Stir Fry

Although the actual recipe comes together in a matter of minutes, there is a little planning involved to make this the best crispy orange beef that you have ever had. And it all starts with marinating the beef.

1. Slice The Beef Against The Grain

One of the most important steps to make this recipe turn out perfect is to slice your steak against the grain. Cutting across the grain means slicing through the muscle fibers at a 90-degree angle. This shortens the meat fibers significantly, making them much easier to break down and become tender.

2. Crisp and Fry The Beef

In order for the steak strips to get nice and crispy, you must dredge the beef in cornstarch. After slicing the beef, place the strips in a large bowl or resealable plastic container.

Then season the meat with salt and pepper and sprinkle the cornstarch over top. Toss to coat the beef strips.

However, that is not all that needs to be done to make sure that the beef strips turn out crispy. You must also make sure that the oil is nice and hot before adding the meat to the skillet or wok.

Heat the pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to bubble, carefully lay the strips in the oil in a single layer. Let the beef fry in the oil for 4-5 minutes before flipping.

It is vital that you don’t stir or toss the strips, otherwise the meat may become soggy. Once the beef is crispy on the outside, use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan.

3. Add The Vegetables

Every good stir fry includes some sort of vegetables, and this Crispy Orange Beef Recipe is no different. Chunks of onions and peppers are used in this recipe because they pair well with the other ingredients and flavors.

However, feel free to add in other veggies to what you prefer. Some common choices include: sweet onions, red, green and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, and sugar snap peas.

4. Adding the Orange Sauce

Because this recipe comes together so quickly be sure that you prepare the orange sauce before frying the beef strips. Do this by adding the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.

Then when you are ready to add the sauce back into the wok or skillet, be sure to whisk it one more time. This will help ensure that the sugar and orange zest are completely incorporated into the sauce.

5. Bring The Crispy Orange Beef Ingredients Together

Once the sauce is thickened, add the fried beef back to the pan and toss to coat. Continue to heat for 1-2 minutes or until the beef is warmed through and the sauce is thickened to your preference.

Serve the crispy orange beef over rice with your favorite vegetables, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips For Making Crispy Orange Beef

• Cut the steak across the grain and at a 45° angle so that the meat is tender and has a larger surface area to absorb the orange sauce.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying the beef. The beef should be in a single layer and left undisturbed on each side for 4-5 minutes. This will help prevent the beef from becoming soggy.
• Let the beef drain on paper towels before adding it to the sauce. This will help prevent the sauce from becoming too thin.
• You can adjust the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce to your taste. Add more sugar for a sweeter sauce, or more rice vinegar for a tangier sauce. If you want a spicier sauce, feel free to add in a few hot red pepper flakes or a dash or two of cayenne pepper powder.

Crispy Orange Beef Stir Fry Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1⁄2 tbsp oil
• 1⁄2 pound flank steak, sliced into thin strips
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1⁄2 red pepper – sliced
• 1⁄2 large onion – peeled and sliced
• zest of half an orange
• 1⁄4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
• 2 1⁄2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 1⁄2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 tsp rice vinegar
• 1⁄2 tsp ginger root, minced

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium size bowl add the orange zest, juice, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, and ginger and whisk until well incorporated. Set aside.

2. Slice the flank steak into thin strips and pat the meat dry with paper towels. Place the sliced meat into a resealable plastic bag.

Sprinkle the cornstarch, salt and pepper over the beef, seal the bag and toss to coat. Let the beef sit while you prepare the wok or skillet.

3. In a medium skillet placed over medium-high heat add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the strips of beef to the skillet.

Let the meat brown on one side for 4-5 minutes, before flipping and allowing the other side to brown for an additional 3-4 minutes.

Once the exterior of the beef is crispy and you can no longer see red juice oozing out from the inside remove the beef from the skillet using a slotted spatula or spoon. Place the meat in a bowl lined with a paper towel to allow the grease to drain.

Reduce The Heat

4. To finish off the Crispy Orange Beef turn the heat down to medium and add the sliced red pepper and onion. Saute for 2-3 minutes so that the peppers and onions are hot but still crispy.

5. Whisk the orange sauce and then pour it over the peppers and onions. Turn up the heat and bring to a light boil. Simmer for 1 minute so that the sauce can begin to thicken.

6. Then add the crispy flank steak pieces back into the skillet and toss in the sauce. Continue to heat for 1 minute, tossing frequently.

Serve warm over cooked white rice if desired.

Enjoy! Mary

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