Whip up a mouthwatering homemade version of Orange Beef, a Chinese restaurant favorite that’s even more delicious when made in your own kitchen!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved Chinese food. Well, at least I loved the American version of Chinese food that I would eat in Chinese restaurants growing up. However, my life changed when I realized how easy it was to cook the same dishes you find at Chinese restaurants at home. This recipe for orange beef is the perfect example of that. It’s no more difficult to make than any other stir-fry dish and it includes ingredients that can easily be found in the grocery store. More importantly, it’ll taste better than anything you’ll find from the closest Chinese takeout place.
The incredible flavor of orange beef comes from two different sources. The first is the marinade that’s mostly made up of soy sauce and orange juice. This allows the sweet and tangy nature of the orange juice to seep into the meat before it’s cooked. The second half of the flavor comes from the sauce mixture you pour onto the beef while it’s cooking. With ginger, garlic, chili sauce, and even more orange juice, the sauce gives the beef even more sweet and savory flavors. By the time the beef is done cooking, it packs a punch, leaving no question as to why the dish is called orange beef.
Is Orange Beef Healthy?
If it’s consumed in moderation, there are some positive aspects of orange beef from a health perspective. The beef used is high in protein and vitamin B12, while the orange juice in the recipe adds a little vitamin C to the meal. However, other than that, orange beef doesn’t offer a lot of nutritional value. This dish is also high in sodium, so anybody watching their sodium intake may want to use low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos instead of regular soy sauce.
Include Some Veggies
If there’s one thing missing from this recipe, it’s vegetables. Obviously, you can pair a vegetable side dish with orange beef to solve that problem. However, it’s also easy to include veggies in the dish that will cook alongside the beef. This will help give the dish more nutritional value while also allowing you to reduce the amount of steak you use if you’re looking to cut down on how much meat you eat. My suggestion would be to use some combination of carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers because they will mix well with the beef and create a more balanced meal.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 pounds flank steak, thinly sliced
- 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Asian chili sauce
- 4 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Chopped scallions, for garnish
- Rice for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
Marinate
Prepare and marinate beef.
Stir-fry
Cook beef, add sauce, and thicken.
Serve
Serve hot over rice, garnished with scallions.
Devour!
How To Make Ahead And Store
Leftover orange beef can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet for best results.
Serving Suggestions
I’ve always found it best to serve orange beef on a bed of rice. Depending on your preference, you can pair this dish with Vegetable Fried Rice or Baked Rice. Another good alternative is Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice. If you prefer noodles over rice, I suggest pairing orange beef with Soba Noodles and Asian Ramen Slaw. Of course, if you’re cooking a Chinese dish at home, you may also want to make your own Chinese appetizers like Air-Fryer Wontons or Air-Fryer Egg Rolls.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds flank steak thinly sliced
- 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Asian chili sauce
- 4 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Chopped scallions for garnish
- Rice for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, toss the thinly sliced flank steak with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoons orange juice, and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Let it marinate for 10-15 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup orange juice, rice vinegar, Asian chili sauce, remaining soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and remaining cornstarch until smooth.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated beef and stir-fry until browned and nearly cooked through, about 3-4 minutes.
- Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet with beef. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
- Serve the orange beef hot over rice, topped with chopped scallions.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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