Tender, juicy strips of stir-fried beef in a luxuriously flavorful sauce! Few Chinese dishes are as irresistibly delicious as Mongolian Beef. This Mongolian Beef recipe takes the flavor over the top, is quick and easy to make (ready to serve in 15-20 minutes!), and rivals your favorite Chinese takeout!
Mongolian Beef is one of the most popular Chinese takeout and restaurant dishes and is known and served throughout many areas of the world.
Neither the ingredients nor the method of cooking are actually Mongolian at all, rather some claim this dish is a Chinese-American invention while others claim it was first invented in a Chinese restaurant in the UK.
Regardless of its origin, one thing is clear: It’s fully deserving of its popularity because it’s absolutely delicious! And now you can make it at home anytime the craving comes calling and this Mongolian Beef recipe is sure to be a slam dunk winner in your home!
Made with just a small handful of ingredients, this Mongolian Beef is simple, quick, and ready to serve within 15-20 minutes including prep!
An important element to making quick takeout style dishes like this is to have all your ingredients already laid out and ready to go. Have your veggies and meat sliced and have your sauce ingredients combined. Then the cooking part takes less than 10 minutes (less than 5 minutes if you’re using a high heat wok!).
How Do I Make Vegan or Vegetarian Mongolian Beef?
It’s simple! Use a meatless beef substitute such as Yves Meatless Beef Strips, Butler’s Soy Curls or tofu.
If you’re using tofu we have a tutorial for making excellent crispy tofu that you can use as a beef substitute. Check out our recipe for Baked Tofu.  Cut the tofu into 1/4 inch thick, 1 inch long strips to resemble beef and follow the instructions as outlined in that tutorial.
Can You Freeze Mongolian Beef?
You sure can! Put it in an airtight freezer container or ziplock freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Then simply reheat in the microwave and serve with rice.
Mongolian Beef Recipe
Let’s get started!
Coat the beef strips with cornstarch.
Prepare the sauce by combining all ingredients, except for the garlic and ginger, in a bowl.
Heat the oil in a wok or heavy skillet and fry the beef until golden brown on both sides.
Remove the beef and discard all but about 2 teaspoons of the oil.
Fry the ginger and garlic in the skillet for 30 seconds.
Add the sauce mixture and simmer, constantly stirring, until it begins to thicken.
Return the beef to the wok along with the green onions and stir to coat.
Simmer for 1 minute so the green onions soften but remain crispy.
Serve immediately with steamed rice and/or crispy fried cellophane noodles.
Enjoy!
Want to bulk up this dish with more healthy veggies? Simply add some steamed broccoli and/or fry some bell peppers along with the chicken. You can also toss in some bean sprouts at the very end.
For more delicious Chinese dishes be sure to try our:
- Orange Beef
- Sesame Chicken
- Beef and Broccoli
- General Tso’s Chicken
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Orange Chicken
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Wonton Soup
- Shanghai Noodles
- Mongolian Chicken
Mongolian Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak or beef tenderloin cut into thin strips (this recipe also works great with chicken) (See note for vegan option)
- cornstarch for coating
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- For the Sauce:
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger , minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic , minced
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce (a critical ingredient)
- OR Best Homemade Hoisin Sauce , click link for recipe (highly recommended for the ULTIMATE flavor!)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup tamari (can substitute low sodium soy sauce)
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 bunches green onions , cut into 2 inch pieces
Instructions
- Add some oil to a hot wok or heavy skillet. Lightly coat the beef strips in cornstarch and shake to remove excess. Stir-fry beef until caramelized on both sides. Remove the meat from the wok and set aside. Discard all but 2 teaspoons of the oil.
- To make sauce: Add the ginger and garlic to the wok and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Add remaining sauce ingredients, except for the green onions. Let the sauce simmer for 2 minutes, until sauce begins to thicken.
- Return beef to the sauce and stir to coat. Add the green onions and stir again to coat. Simmer for 1 minute seconds. Serve immediately with steamed rice and/or crispy fried cellophane noodles.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet October 2013
Erin says
This Mongolian Beef is seriously making me hungry!
Beth Pierce says
The meat was so flavor filled and absolutely delicious! Thanks!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Beth, thank you!
Dorothy Reinhold says
Mongolian Beef is always a hit around here. I never thought to make Mongolian Chicken. I think I will make both.
Natasha says
Tried this and we were so happy with the outcome. The meat was so tender and it’s so full of flavor so yummy!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wonderful, Natasha, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
stephanie says
I made this for dinner and the whole family loved it.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Stephanie, I’m so glad it was a hit, thank you!
wilhelmina says
I found this to be even more delicious than what I get at our local restaurant! Easy and yummy!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so happy to hear that, Wilhelmina, thank you!
Anonymous says
i like it
Russell Flynn says
This a great recipe, but a couple things I’ve found…..
1) I really like Korean pepper paste, so adding a tablespoon to this recipe gives it a little kick I always look for in my Asian dishes. Evens out the sweetness a little bit as well.
2) Getting older I find my teeth don’t work as well as they once did, so the thinner I can slice the meat the better. I freeze the meat and then use a serrated knife to cut it super thin.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Russell, thank you for the feedback!
JimmyB says
Hi Russell:
I am older and also have teeth problems. I have found a product that works very well. It is called Old Neighborhood Shaved Beef Steak. It is easy to chew and works well in recipes similar to this. In my part of the country it is carried by Aldi and Wal-Mart.
LIEZEL says
Made this for supper tonight and it was a huge hit. So simple and easy!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s fantastic, Liezel, thanks for the feedback!
Teun says
Hi Kimberly, lovely recipe, thanks for sharing. I added 2 tablespoons of Chinese rice-wine to the sauce-mixture for extra flavour and it gave it a smooth taste. (I might be alcoholic, but maybe it’s a good tip…)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Lol, Teun, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Heike Brett says
Thanks for this lovely recipe, we really enjoyed the end result. Keep the good work up and the recipes coming. Although sometimes the ingredients are hard to get where I live ( southern Spain), I love trying out your exotic dishes. My favourite so far is the chicken Machboos, drizzled with a bit of rose water. WOW!!! Next one to be tried will be Sega Wat.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so happy to hear that, Heike, thank you! :)
Meagan says
Has anyone tried this with pork? I’ve made it a few times with beef and it’s amazing!
Mariet Robinson , Moama, NSW, Australia says
I have just tried it with Lamb! Whoeah, it is amazing. Thank you.
Stacey Callahan says
I fixed this and it’s a five-star recipe! Thanks so much for sharing this delicious recipe with all of us. I had never heard of hoisin sauce before, but now I’m a big fan! I can’t wait to use it on some chicken.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Stacey, I’m so glad you enjoyed it – thank you!
Scott Hornyak says
Good but a bit salty in my opinion. Thoughts on adding 1/4 cup or less beef stock, low or no sodium, of course)?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Scott, the saltiness will greatly depend on the brand of soy sauce you use. You can also try using a low-sodium soy sauce. And sure, you substitute some of it with beef stock.
Sarah says
Thank-you for this recipe, it is so very close to what my favourite restaurant serves- I have a feeling the only difference between this recipe and theirs is theirs probably has a good dose of MSG :)
One trick I learned years ago from a little old Chinese lady who was once my next door neighbour. When cooking beef for chinese food – notice how restaurant beef is that ridiculously soft, melty texture?
Its called velveting the meat. Just marinate the meat, after cutting it against the grain into strips, in about 4tb bicarb soda (Americans call it baking soda I believe) and enough water to make a thick sludge. Rub it all over the meat strips, cover and fridge for 15-20. Take out, rinse REALLY WELL (run your fingers over the meat -make sure there are no grains of bicarbonate soda left), pat dry and use immediately.
Guaranteed super soft beef every-time.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks for the tip, Sarah!
Gary Davis says
This really works good Sarah. Susan and I tried it and man…does it make the meat tender and soft. GREAT TIP!!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Gary