Ingredients
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Beef and Asparagus Main Dish
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1 pound Beef Sirloincut lengthwise
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1 pound Asparaguscut in half
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2 teaspoons Soy Sauce
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1 teaspoon Rice Vinegar
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2 teaspoons Cornstarch
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1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
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1/2 teaspoon Sugar
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3 tablespoons Canola Oil
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Asian Sauce
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2 tablespoons Fermented Black Beans
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1 teaspoon Soy Sauce
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2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
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1 piece fresh Ginger
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2 cloves of Garlic
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Chinese Rice
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2.5 cups long grain Chinese Rice
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6 cups Water
Steps for Marinated Beef, Asparagus, & Rice
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1
Done
40 Minutes
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Marinate the beefFirst of all, cut the beef lengthwise, Chinese style. In a bowl large enough to hold the beef, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, cornstarch, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir to mix and dissolve the cornstarch. Stir in the beef and coat well. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes. |
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2
Done
3 Minutes
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Preparing the Asian SauceTo make the sauce, in a small bowl, stir together the black beans, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and soy sauce. Set aside. |
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3
Done
10 Minutes
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Prepare the riceWhile the beef is marinating and you've done with the sauce, prepare the rice as per instructions from the package. I can write how to do it, but every brand of Chinese rice has different timings of cooking. Anyway, you only need water and Chinese rice, and by the way, do not add salt in it. |
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4
Done
2 Minutes
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Prepare the asparagusWhen the beef is almost ready, over medium-high heat, heat the remaining oil in a wok or deep frying pan and sauté the asparagus until bright green, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. |
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5
Done
6 Minutes
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Cook the beefPut the beef and its marinade in the hot oil, and stir. Cook until the meat has changed color but is still pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the black bean mixture and continue to cook just until the meat is cooked through, another 1 to 2 minutes. |
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6
Done
3 Minutes
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Wrapp upStir in the asparagus to cook another 30 seconds, just to warm the asparagus. Most probably, the rice is also ready and you can put it in 4 plates. Add the marinated beef and asparagus mixture over, and serve hot. You can add more soy sauce over if you like. Enjoy! |
Additional Info for Marinated Beef, Asparagus, & Rice
Fermented black beans, a common Asian ingredient, and fresh ginger are used in this recipe to make a great sauce for the beef and the fresh spring asparagus. Usually, Asian cuisine serves black beans, beef & asparagus over long-grain rice (Chinese is recommended). If you are looking for a quick, tasty, and healthy meal, then you do not want to miss out on this amazing dish!
Content on this page…
About Marinated Beef and Asparagus recipe
I’ve just started to see spring asparagus in the markets these days, and I saw a really fresh selection today. In fact, the asparagus was so fresh that I decided to make beef asparagus stir fry with some of my preferred choice: sirloin steak. This stir-fried beef & asparagus recipe is one of those 45-minute, over-rice, easy-to-make, one-pan dishes with a great sauce to soak into. The fresh asparagus gives a fresh and unique flavor with a texture similar to bamboo shoots. If you don’t like beef, substitute it with chicken or pork.
In this recipe, I included fermented black beans. Fermented black beans (also known as Douchi) is a condiment used for seasoning, and it’s common in Chinese cuisine. It is aromatic, pungent, earthy, and salty. The main use of fermented beans is to enhance the flavors. Don’t confuse its name with the normal (veggie) black beans. Fermented beans entail cooked soybeans that are fermented in water, then sundried and preserved in salt and spices. This normally softens the beans while drying them out.
Health Benefits for Marinated beef and asparagus
- Asparagus is a spring vegetable packed with a lot of vitamins, minerals, and other great benefits. When you buy asparagus, either fresh from the farmers’ market or grocery store, it’s best to eat it right away. Asparagus pairs nicely with lots of other spring vegetables and flavors-think peas, garlic, or new potatoes. 1 cup of cooked asparagus has 40 calories, 4 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and 404 milligrams of potassium. Potassium is good for blood pressure, and asparagus also contains a compound called asparagine, which helps improve blood flow, lowering blood pressure.
- The fermented black beans help to lower blood sugar levels which makes them suitable for those with diabetes. The fermented beans help with insulin and stimulate it to fight low blood sugar.
- Beef is categorized as red meat — a term used for the meat of mammals, which contains higher amounts of iron than chicken or fish. Beef protein is highly nutritious and may promote muscle maintenance and growth. It also contains varying amounts of fat, including CLA, which has been linked to health benefits. This particular meat is an excellent source of various vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, iron, niacin, and vitamin B6.
The Asian way for healthy meals
The main focus of the Asian diet is to create wellness. This I believe, is the best medicine, and by practicing these diet habits, you will see improvement in your overall health. Limit drinks, especially cold drinks, during meals. Some of us have a bad habit of drinking a cold glass of water or soda during meals, and changing this bad habit alone will create better digestion of food. Limit fluid intake with your meals, and you will stop diluting your digestive enzymes, which are so important for proper digestion. Green tea or other hot teas before a meal supports enzymatic activity and helps enhance your digestive abilities. It’s best to add liquids 30 minutes before or after meals, not during them. This is how Asian people tend to be slimmer…
Can the marinated beef with asparagus and rice be frozen or refrigerated?
Properly stored, cooked asparagus will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Properly stored, froze asparagus will maintain the best quality for up 10 to 12 months but will remain safe beyond this time. Moreover, cooked asparagus that is kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely. When it comes to fresh meat (in our case, beef), it can last for several months in the freezer, depending on what type of meat it is. Specifically, the FDA says that raw steaks can be kept in the freezer for six to 12 months. Chops, however, last shorter at four to six months while roasts can be kept frozen for anywhere between four months to a year. The USDA says to eat refrigerated leftovers within 4 days.
The whole dish can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator (maximum) or can be kept up to 5 to 7 months in your freezer (these timings are for safety, can be kept longer in the freezer, but it is not recommended).
Recipe Instructions (Steps for Marinated Beef and Asparagus recipe) ↓
