Quick Cumin Beef Stir-Fry

Cumin beef is a quick Chinese stir-fry featuring tender, juicy beef with aromatic cumin and chilies. With this easy recipe, whip up a delicious beef dinner at home in under 20 minutes!

When you think of cumin, you don’t usually link it with the idea of a Chinese stir-fry. However, this aromatic cumin beef stir fry is quite a popular dish in China.

If you are looking for the authentic Asian dinner ideas that are easy to make and affordable, this recipe might be your weekly routine.

What is Cumin beef?

Although cumin is not a typical spice in Chinese cooking, this cumin beef is influenced by the ethnic Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, the northwest region of China, who use cumin in their kebabs ands stews.

Chinese cumin beef uses pre-fried beef which is then stir fried with cumin spice with fresh chilies, garlic, and ginger to create a very aromatic beef stir-fry.

Many parts of China, like Sichuan and Hunan, have their own version of cumin beef. While Sichuan cumin beef uses an abundance of tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns, Hunan cumin beef, instead, often incorporates chili pickles that provide a slightly sour taste.

This cumin beef recipe is tasty and satisfying. The beef is very tender with a hint of smokiness from the dried red pepper flakes and cumin, without being overpowering.

You can add vegetables like sweet peppers to make it more hearty. I made it without the addition of veggies this time so that I can enjoy the savory beef all by itself.

Cumin beef ingredients

• Beef – Sirloin is the best cut for stir-frying, or try another tender steak cut.
• Light soy sauce – for saltiness
• Dark soy sauce – provides the dark color with caramelized taste.
• Shaoxing wine – adds depth to the taste. You can substitute with dry sherry or plain rice wine
• Potato starch (or cornstarch) – crisps up the beef and adds a sheen. It also help thicken the sauce.
• Baking soda – tenderize the beef
• Dried red pepper flakes – adds more spiciness and smoky flavor
• Cumin – aromatic spice and a key ingredient. Use ground cumin powder
• Additional aromatics – Fresh chilies (either green or red, or both), ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and cilantro (optional)

How to make cumin beef

Step 1. In a bowl, mix thinly sliced beef sirloin with Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, baking soda, and potato starch. Toss until the beef is evenly coated, then let it marinate for 5 minutes.

Step 2. In a wok or skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of oil over high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring, until it’s browned and crispy on the outside. Remove and set aside on a plate.

Step 3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan, then toss in the ginger and garlic. Stir-fry for a few seconds until fragrant, then add the chilies and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute.

Step 4. Return the browned beef to the pan, then add the cumin and dried chili flakes. Cook, stirring, until the beef is well coated and aromatic.

Recipe Tip: If you are adding bell pepper, try stir-frying with the aromatics in step 3. Then proceed to step 4.

Step 5. As a final step, drizzle in the sesame oil and add the chopped green onion and cilantro (if desired). Give everything a good toss, then serve the cumin beef hot with rice.

If you’re a fan of beef stir fry, give our Chinese crispy beef or beef and pepper stir-fry a try. Both are ready in under 30 minutes and are sure to be a hit!

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