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Meat, East Asian

Stir fried rice noodles with beef

Stir fried rice noodles with beef is a wok dish for 4 people, ready in 30 minutes, at an easy skill level, for about €3.20 per person. The cornstarch marinated beef stays tender, the wide noodles get a light char without too much stirring, and the bean sprouts added at the very end keep their crunch.

Tonight, a homemade version of a Cantonese restaurant classic, stir fried rice noodles with beef and crunchy bean sprouts.

Stir fried rice noodles with beef
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.20
Calories per person
580 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

This is the kind of dish that smells great the moment the wok heats up. Thinly sliced beef marinated in cornstarch stays tender, the wide rice noodles pick up a slightly charred edge, and the bean sprouts bring the crunch that pulls everything together. Soy sauce and oyster sauce coat every strand without drowning the dish.

It's a weeknight dinner that comes together fast once everything is prepped, and it works just as well for kids as it does for adults. Make it on a busy evening or on a Sunday when you're craving the taste of a Cantonese restaurant dish made at home with beef and fresh vegetables.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Wide rice noodles 300 g
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Oyster sauce 1 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Cornstarchoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp

Butcher

  • Beef flank steak 400 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Bean sprouts 200 g
  • Green onions 4
  • Garlic 2 cloves

Allergens Soy, Gluten, Mollusks

The step by step recipe

  1. Soak or cook the noodles according to the package instructions, drain them, and toss with a little oil so they don't stick together. 10 min

    Stop the cooking a touch early, the noodles keep cooking once they hit the wok.

  2. Slice the beef very thin and coat it with 1 tbsp of soy sauce and the cornstarch. 5 min

    The marinated beef holds well in the fridge for an hour, so you can prep it ahead.

  3. Sear the beef in very hot oil for 2 minutes, then set it aside. 2 min

    A very hot wok and a small amount of meat at a time, that's the real secret.

  4. Cook the garlic briefly, add the noodles, and let them sit untouched in the pan for 1 minute before flipping them. 3 min

    Don't stir too much, wide rice noodles break easily.

  5. Return the beef to the pan, add the remaining soy sauce, the oyster sauce, the sugar, the bean sprouts, and the green onions, and stir fry for 1 minute. 1 min

    Add the bean sprouts at the very end so they stay crunchy.

Our tips to get it right

  • Slice the beef against the grain, it stays much more tender during the quick high heat cooking.
  • Prep every ingredient before you turn on the heat, wok cooking moves fast and leaves no time to chop anything mid recipe.
  • Use the highest heat you have and never overcrowd the wok, cooking the beef and noodles in batches gives a far better result than one big crowded pan.

The variations

  • Swap the beef for sliced chicken or shrimp, both cook just as quickly in the wok.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with pan fried firm tofu and swap the oyster sauce for extra soy sauce or a vegetarian oyster style sauce.
  • For kids, cut back on the oyster sauce and let the bean sprouts cook a few seconds longer so they're a bit softer.

What to serve it with

  • Clear ginger broth
  • Hot green tea
  • Crunchy cucumber salad starter

Storage

Leftovers keep for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Freezing isn't ideal, rice noodles turn mushy once thawed. Reheat in a hot skillet or wok with a little oil to bring back some of the crunch.

Questions about this dish

Can I use thin rice noodles instead of wide ones?

Yes, but the soaking or cooking time will differ and they break more easily in the wok. Handle them gently and shorten the time they sit without stirring.

How do I keep the noodles from sticking together?

Drain them well and toss with a little oil right after cooking, before they cool down. Spread them on a plate rather than leaving them piled up in the colander.

Can I marinate the beef ahead of time?

Yes, beef marinated in soy sauce and cornstarch holds well in the fridge for an hour. This lets you prep everything before guests arrive or before hungry kids start asking for dinner.

What kind of oyster sauce works best here?

A standard oyster sauce from the Asian grocery aisle works perfectly, no need for a premium version. One tablespoon is enough to flavor the whole dish without making it too salty.

How long does it take to make a plate of stir fried rice noodles with beef?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a plate of stir fried rice noodles with beef?

About 580 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a plate of stir fried rice noodles with beef cost?

About €3.20 per serving, or €12.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, gluten, mollusks. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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