Pineapple Beef Stir-Fry with Sweet and Savory Flavor
Today, I recommend making a quick and appetizing dish with a sweet and sour flavor - Pineapple Beef Stir-Fry. The fresh sweetness of the pineapple meets the tender smoothness of the beef. The aroma of the fruit and the meat dance on the tip of your tongue. It's excellent for enhancing appetite and goes perfectly with rice. Even beginners in the kitchen can easily master it!
Why do I recommend making this dish?
Well-balanced nutrition: It contains protein (from the beef), dietary fiber (from the green peppers and onions), and vitamin C (from the pineapple). With one plate, you can cover your main course, vegetables, and fruits.
Pleasing in color, aroma, and taste: It has bright colors and a rich aroma, making it eye-catching when served on the table.
Simple and quick to cook: You don't need complex seasonings, nor do you need to stew for a long time. Beginners can finish it in just 20 minutes.
Loved by the whole family: Kids love the sweetness of the pineapple, and adults enjoy the tenderness of the beef. It's a "miracle rice companion" suitable for all ages.
What does this dish taste like? Is it sweet?
This is a Chinese quick stir-fry with a natural fruit sweetness underlying the savory flavor.
The pineapple provides a gentle acidity and a refreshing sweetness. Paired with the savory flavor of soy sauce and the mild spiciness of black pepper, the whole dish has a rich and appetizing flavor profile. It's not as strongly flavored as Sweet and Sour Chicken, nor as greasy as traditional beef dishes. Instead, it has a just-right refreshing flavor, making it very suitable for spring and summer.
What is the most suitable part of the beef for stir-frying?
It is recommended to choose parts that are suitable for quick stir-frying and have tender meat, such as beef tenderloin, beef shoulder, beef rump, or steak cuts (such as sirloin, ribeye).
These parts have fine fibers and moderate fat content, resulting in a tender texture when stir-fried. When cutting, slice against the grain, with a thickness of about 0.5 - 1 cm. This makes it easier to cook through and keeps the meat from becoming tough.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
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·200g beef
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·1 green pepper
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·1/4 onion
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·150g fresh pineapple (about 1/4 of a whole pineapple)
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·4 cloves garlic
Seasonings
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·1/2 tsp black pepper
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·1/4 tsp salt
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·1/2 tsp sugar
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·1 tbsp light soy sauce
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·Cooking oil, as needed
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Cut the beef
Cut 200g of beef into thin slices about 1 cm thick. Try to keep them as uniform in size as possible to ensure even cooking later on.
Step 2
Marinate the beef
Put the cut beef into a bowl. Add 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp sugar. Mix well with your hands to let the beef fully absorb the flavors of the seasonings. Finally, add 1 tbsp of cooking oil and mix again. Marinate for 10 minutes.
Step 3
Prepare the vegetables
Cut the green pepper and onion into pieces. Cut the pineapple into evenly sized triangular pieces. Mince the garlic cloves for later use.
Step 4
Fry the beef
Heat a pan over high heat. Pour in 2 tbsps of cooking oil. When the oil reaches about 150 degrees Celsius (you can tell the oil temperature by inserting a chopstick into the oil; if fine bubbles appear around it, the temperature is right).
Put in the marinated beef slices. Fry for 30 seconds on one side until it changes color, then flip it over. Fry for another 15 seconds on the other side. As soon as it's 70% cooked, take it out immediately (to preserve the internal tenderness).
Step 5
Sauté the vegetables
Leave 1 tbsp of oil in the pan. Turn to medium heat. Pour in the onion pieces and stir-fry for about 30 seconds to bring out the onion's aroma.
Then add the green pepper pieces and continue stir-frying for 1 minute until the green peppers are slightly softened. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry to release the garlic fragrance.
Step 6
Incorporate the pineapple
Pour in the pineapple pieces. Add 1/4 tsp of salt and quickly stir-fry for 1 minute, allowing the pineapple to absorb the salt while releasing its sweet aroma.
Step 7
Return the beef to the pan
Pour the fried beef back into the pan. Drizzle in 1 tbsp of light soy sauce. Turn to high heat and quickly stir-fry evenly to fully combine the beef and the side dishes, ensuring that each piece of ingredient is coated with the sauce. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds and then take it out of the pan.
Step 8
Serve and enjoy
Scoop the stir-fried Pineapple Beef onto a plate and it's ready to enjoy.
The sweet and sour pineapple paired with the tender and juicy beef makes a delicious and rice-companion dish.
Recipe Tips
1.Marinating for freshness lock
When marinating the beef, add 1 tbsp of cooking oil at the end to form a protective film on the surface, reducing moisture loss during frying and preventing the meat from becoming dry and tough.
A 10-minute marinating time is sufficient. Over-marinating may cause the beef to release water.
2.Anti-sticking techniques
Heat the pan first then add cold oil: Heat the pan over high heat first, then pour in the oil to coat the pan. After the oil temperature reaches 180°C, turn to medium or low heat to fry the beef and avoid oil splashing caused by high heat.
Choose your tools: Use a non-stick pan or a thick-bottomed iron pan to reduce the risk of sticking.
3.Avoid beef releasing water
Don't flip the beef frequently when frying. Wait until one side is set before flipping to lock in the meat juice.
When returning the beef to the pan, avoid long-term stir-frying. Just quickly coat it with the sauce within 30 seconds.
4.Controlling the softness of the pineapple
Cut the pineapple into 1.5 cm thick triangular pieces to retain the fibrous texture of the pulp. This makes it less likely to break during stir-frying and allows it to fully absorb the sauce.
Don't stir-fry the pineapple pieces for more than 1 minute after putting them in the pan to preserve the fruity aroma and crispness. Overheating will turn it into a mushy state.
5.Salt gradient control
Use 1/4 tsp of salt when marinating the beef and add another 1/4 tsp of salt when stir-frying the side dishes. The total salt amount should not exceed 0.5 tsp to highlight the sweet and sour flavor of the pineapple as the dominant taste.
6.Tips for using light soy sauce
When returning the beef to the pan, pour the light soy sauce along the side of the pan. The high heat will bring out the sauce aroma. Quickly stir-fry to coat the ingredients evenly and avoid long cooking time which may make the flavor dull.
Recipe Variations
1.Chicken version
Replace the beef with 200g of chicken thigh meat. Add 1/4 tsp of ginger juice to the marinade. Shorten the frying time to 20 seconds on one side and 15 seconds on the other side.
2.Seafood version
Replace with 150g of large shrimps + 50g of squid rings. Substitute white pepper powder (1/2 tsp) for black pepper. Stir-fry over high heat for no more than 2 minutes throughout the process.
3.Vegetarian version
Replace with 200g of pleurotus eryngii slices + 100g of firm tofu cubes. Add 1 tsp of nutritional yeast powder to the marinade to add a meaty aroma.
4.Thai flavor
Add 1 tbsp of fish sauce + 1 tsp of lime juice during stir-frying. Sprinkle fresh lemongrass shreds before taking the dish out of the pan.
5.Sichuan flavor version
Add 1 tsp of Chinese prickly ash powder when marinating the meat. Add 5 red chili peppers to the side dishes. Drizzle 1 tsp of chili oil before taking the dish out of the pan.
Serving Suggestions
1.Pairing recommendations
Staple food pairing: This sweet and sour Pineapple Beef Stir-Fry is very suitable to be paired with rice. The distinct grains of white rice can fully absorb the sauce of the dish.
De-greasing drinks: I recommend iced lemon tea or plum juice to balance the sweetness of the pineapple and the savory flavor of the beef.
Advanced way of eating: Wrap the pineapple beef with lettuce to make a "sweet and sour hand roll", which is fresh and appetizing.
2.Storage method
If there are leftovers, it is recommended to put them in the refrigerator as soon as possible. The storage time should not exceed 24 hours.
When reheating, it is recommended to use a microwave or re-stir-fry in a pan. Note that the reheating time should not be too long, otherwise the beef will become tough and the pineapple will become mushy, affecting the taste.
3.Precautions for special groups
Diabetic patients: They need to control the portion size because the pineapple and sugar contain a certain amount of sugar. It is recommended to reduce the amount of sugar used or not add sugar at all.
People with sensitive stomachs: The pineapple contains bromelain, which may irritate the stomach and intestines. It is recommended to soak the pineapple in salt water for 10 minutes before cooking to reduce the irritation.
More Recipes Worth Trying
Fatty Beef with Enoki Mushrooms
FAQs:
Sweet fruits such as mangoes and apples can also replace the pineapple. The sweetness of mangoes pairs well with beef, creating a unique flavor; apples can add a refreshing taste. However, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar appropriately after replacement to avoid the dish being too sweet.
This way, during the frying and stir-frying process, the moisture of the beef is less likely to be lost, maintaining its tender and juicy texture.
Pineapple contains bromelain, which may irritate the mouth and stomach. You can soak it in a 1:100 salt water solution (500ml of water + 5g of salt) for 10 - 15 minutes. This can break down the protease, reducing the irritation. At the same time, it can also enhance the sweetness and taste of the pineapple.
Make sure to drain the water before putting it in the pan to avoid too much juice affecting the flavor during stir-frying.
Third, don't flip the beef frequently when frying. Wait until one side is set before flipping.
White pepper has a milder flavor and is suitable for those who don't like the strong flavor of black pepper; Chinese prickly ash powder can add a numbing and fragrant flavor, while five-spice powder brings a unique complex aroma. You can choose according to your personal taste.
It is recommended to choose canned pineapples soaked in fruit juice instead of syrup.
Rinse it with clean water before use to reduce the overly sweet taste.
Fresh pineapple has a stronger flavor and a chewier texture, but both can make a delicious dish.
