Stir-Fried Beef and Cucumber: A Flavorful and Elegant Side Dish to Spark Your Appetite
Beef and Cucumber Stir-Fry Recipe: A Harmonious Blend of Fragrant Cucumber and Tender Beef, an Elegant Home-Style Side Dish
As the spring weather gets unusually warm, leaning towards early summer, it’s the perfect time to enjoy hydrating and cooling cucumbers. Instead of the usual way of simply mixing them, let’s stir-fry them with beef for an elevated side dish. The delightful ‘crunchy’ texture combined with a savory and aromatic flavor will surely whet your appetite on these languid spring days. Here’s a recipe for a simple yet sophisticated beef and cucumber stir-fry.
Main Ingredients
- 3 Persian cucumbers (medium size)
- 200g ground beef
- 1/2 stalk green onion
Beef Marinade
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (e.g., Mirin)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- A pinch of black pepper
Other Seasonings and Ingredients
- 1/2 Tbsp salt (for salting cucumber)
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (e.g., Mirin)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- A pinch of black pepper
Other Seasonings and Ingredients
- 1/2 Tbsp salt (for salting cucumber)
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Slice the cucumbers thinly, about 0.3cm thick. Slicing them too thick will diminish the texture, while too thin can make them mushy when cooked, so the right thickness is key. Place the sliced cucumbers in a bowl, sprinkle evenly with the prepared salt (1/2 Tbsp), and gently mix with your hands. Let them salt for about 20 minutes. While the cucumbers are salting, you can prepare the other ingredients to save time.
Step 2
In a separate bowl, combine the ground beef with soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine, minced garlic, and black pepper. Mix well and let it marinate for a while. For 200g of beef, 1 Tbsp of minced garlic adds a lot of flavor, but feel free to adjust to your preference. Marinating beforehand means you won’t need to add extra garlic during the stir-frying process. Since the cucumbers will also be seasoned with salt, keep the beef seasoning mild to create a subtle flavor profile. It’s similar to a bulgogi marinade, but we’ll omit the green onion and sesame oil for now, as they’ll be added during cooking.
Step 3
Finely mince the green onion. The finer the mince, the better it will blend with the cucumber and beef, enhancing the overall flavor.
Step 4
After 20 minutes of salting, taste a piece of cucumber. If it’s seasoned appropriately, simply squeeze out the water. If it tastes too salty, rinse it briefly under cold water and then squeeze out the excess moisture thoroughly. Properly seasoning the cucumber itself will allow you to skip additional seasoning during cooking, resulting in a cleaner taste. Squeezing out the water from the cucumber is the crucial step for achieving the right texture in this stir-fry. To avoid a soggy or mushy texture, it’s essential to remove as much water as possible for a crisp and slightly chewy result.
Step 5
Heat a lightly oiled pan over medium-high heat. Add the marinated ground beef and stir-fry until it changes color. Break up any clumps to ensure even cooking.
Step 6
Once the beef is fully cooked, push it to one side of the pan. Add the squeezed cucumber to the empty space and stir-fry briefly. Avoid overcooking the cucumber, as it can release water and become soft. Cook over high heat for a quick 1-2 minutes.
Step 7
While the cucumber is cooking, add the minced green onion. Mix the cooked beef and cucumber together and continue to stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. You’ll start to smell the delicious aromas.
Step 8
When all ingredients are well-stirred, turn off the heat. Finally, drizzle in the sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds, then mix gently. The nutty aroma of sesame oil adds the perfect finishing touch. Your delicious beef and cucumber stir-fry is ready!
Step 9
The finished beef and cucumber stir-fry can be enjoyed immediately, or cooled slightly and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, it’s best enjoyed fresh. Allowing the dish to cool completely before storing prevents excess moisture from forming and helps maintain its vibrant color, ensuring it stays delicious.
