Hearty Beef Over Rice Using Frozen Beef
Creating a Delicious Beef Over Rice Bowl with Frozen Beef
Let’s make a generous beef over rice bowl using frozen beef from your freezer! It’s a fantastic way to repurpose any leftover beef, perhaps from a previous meal. Instead of just reheating it, we’ll transform it into a vibrant dish with an assortment of vegetables. This recipe offers a delightful combination of tender beef, crisp-tender vegetables, and a savory sauce that perfectly coats fluffy rice, making it a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Ingredients- Frozen beef (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- Onion (sliced)
- Bell pepper (sliced)
- Broccoli florets (blanched and cut)
- Oyster mushrooms (trimmed and torn)
- Minced garlic
- Scallions (chopped)
- Basil powder
- Ginger powder (or ginger juice)
- Pickled mushrooms (chopped)
- Pickled mushroom brine
- Sesame oil
- Slurry (1 Tbsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp water, mixed)
- Olive oil or cooking oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the vegetables that will go into the rice bowl. Feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand in your refrigerator. Trim and tear the oyster mushrooms, slice the napa cabbage if using, cut the blanched broccoli into bite-sized pieces, and slice the bell pepper into strips.
Step 2
Heat a generous amount of olive oil or cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped scallions and minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant and slightly softened. This step creates a flavorful scallion oil that enhances the overall taste of the dish.
Step 3
If your beef is frozen, thaw it either naturally or by using the microwave on a defrost setting. Once thawed, cut the beef into generously sized pieces and add them to the pan. Season with black pepper, basil powder, and optionally, onion seasoning. If you don’t have onion seasoning, you can omit it or just use black pepper.
Step 4
As the beef begins to cook, add the chopped pickled mushrooms and the pickled mushroom brine to the pan. Stir everything together and continue to cook. The brine will provide an initial layer of savory flavor. If you don’t have pickled mushroom brine, you can substitute it with a bit of soy sauce.
Step 5
Once the beef is mostly cooked, add all the prepared vegetables (onion, bell pepper, oyster mushrooms, etc.) to the pan. Stir well and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes, ensuring the sauce evenly coats all the ingredients.
Step 6
When the vegetables and beef are nicely combined, add a small amount of water to the pan. There’s no need for separate broth or artificial seasonings, as the beef itself will release enough juices to create a delicious sauce.
Step 7
As the vegetables become tender and the sauce has slightly reduced, it’s time for the final seasoning. Add oyster sauce to achieve the perfect balance of flavors. If oyster sauce is unavailable, use salt to adjust the taste according to your preference.
Step 8
To thicken the sauce and help it adhere to the ingredients, slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring constantly. This will give the dish a glossy finish and ensure the flavors are well-integrated. You’ll notice a significant difference in how the sauce coats the beef and vegetables after adding the slurry; it makes the dish much more cohesive and flavorful.
Step 9
Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in sesame oil for an aromatic finish. Give it a final stir and turn off the burner. Your savory beef stir-fry is now ready! Now, prepare your serving bowl by filling it with warm, cooked rice.
Step 10
Generously spoon the delicious beef stir-fry over the rice. The thick, rich sauce will cling beautifully to each grain of rice. For a final touch, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and freshly chopped scallions. Your hearty beef over rice is complete and ready to be enjoyed!
