Mongolian Beef: What It Is and How to Enjoy It

If you’re a fan of stir-fried dishes, you may have wondered what is Mongolian beef and why it’s so popular. Known for its deliciously rich sauce and tender beef, Mongolian beef is a dish that has captured the taste buds of many. Despite its name, this popular dish doesn’t have Mongolian origins but was inspired by Mongolian barbecue in Taiwan. In this guide, we’ll explore what makes Mongolian beef unique, its key ingredients, cooking techniques, and how best to enjoy it.

What Is Mongolian Beef?

While the name might suggest otherwise, what is Mongolian beef is a creation of Taiwanese chefs who adapted Mongolian barbecue techniques to create this now-popular stir-fried dish. It’s a staple in American-Chinese cuisine, featuring thinly sliced beef (often flank steak) cooked with a soy sauce-based glaze. This sauce combines salty, sweet, and umami flavours for a well-balanced dish that’s perfect for pairing with rice or noodles.

Unlike traditional Mongolian cuisine, which typically focuses on simple, hearty flavours, Mongolian beef’s taste profile is more complex. Its sauce, made from soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger, coats the beef with a glossy, sticky glaze. Often garnished with green onions, Mongolian beef is a dish designed to be both visually appealing and incredibly satisfying.

GinGin Grass Fed Mongolian Beef 

Gingin Grass Fed offers premium grass-fed beef, which is ideal for preparing dishes like Mongolian Beef. Their beef is sourced from cattle raised on open pastures in Western Australia, ensuring a natural and wholesome product free from hormones and antibiotics. For Mongolian Beef, cuts such as flank steak or sirloin are recommended due to their tenderness and flavour. Gingin Grass Fed provides a variety of suitable cuts, including:

• Grass-Fed Beef Flank Steak: Known for its rich flavour and ideal for stir-frying.
• Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Steak: A tender cut that works well in quick-cooking recipes.
• Grass-Fed Beef Rump Steak: Versatile and flavourful, suitable for various dishes.

These cuts can be sliced thinly against the grain to achieve the best texture in your Mongolian Beef preparation. Gingin Grass Fed is a family-owned business with over 174 years of farming tradition in Western Australia. They partner with local WA farmers who share their commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, ensuring that all products are responsibly sourced and raised with care.

Key Ingredients in Mongolian Beef

Creating the perfect Mongolian beef requires a few essential ingredients that deliver its characteristic taste and texture:

Beef: The Heart of the Dish

• Flank Steak: This cut of beef is the most commonly used for Mongolian beef due to its flavour and tenderness. Flank steak slices thinly and absorbs marinades well, making it ideal for stir-frying.
• Cornstarch: Often used to coat the beef, cornstarch adds a slight crispiness to the meat when stir-fried, enhancing the texture of the final dish.

The Signature Sauce

• Soy Sauce: The primary base for Mongolian beef sauce, soy sauce adds a deep, salty flavour.
• Brown Sugar adds sweetness to balance the savoury taste and creates the dish’s signature sticky, glossy glaze.
• Garlic and Ginger: Essential aromatics in Asian cooking, these ingredients provide warmth and depth of flavour.
• Hoisin Sauce (Optional): Some recipes add hoisin sauce to give extra depth and complexity, though it’s not always essential.

Garnish

• Scallions (Green Onions): Added at the end of cooking, these provide a burst of colour and a fresh, mild onion flavour that complements the beef.

Cooking Method

Now that you know Mongolian beef, let’s dive into the cooking process. Mongolian beef is a straightforward dish, perfect for quick weeknight meals or special occasions. Here’s how to make it:

1. Preparation: Slice the flank steak thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness. This is essential for achieving that melt-in-your-mouth texture. Lightly coat the beef in cornstarch and set it aside to absorb.
2. Stir-frying the Beef: Heat a small amount of oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the beef and cook quickly, stirring, until browned and crispy on the outside. Remove the meat from the pan and set it aside.
3. Making the Sauce: In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed, then sauté minced garlic and ginger until fragrant. Next, add soy sauce and brown sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves and thickens slightly. You can also add a spoonful of hoisin sauce at this stage for an extra layer of flavour.
4. Combining the Ingredients: Return the beef to the pan, tossing it in the sauce until it’s fully coated. Add sliced scallions (green onions) just before serving to retain their fresh colour and flavour.
5. Serving: Mongolian beef is typically served hot over steamed rice, which absorbs the sauce beautifully. Alternatively, you can serve it with crispy or rice noodles for added texture.

Enjoying Mongolian Beef

The beauty of Mongolian beef is in its versatility. This dish can be enjoyed in various ways, making it suitable for any meal, from casual weeknight dinners to gatherings with friends. Here are some popular ways to serve and enjoy Mongolian beef:

Over Rice

One of the most traditional ways to enjoy Mongolian beef is over a bed of steamed rice. The rice soaks up the savoury sauce, complementing the rich flavours and balancing the meal. You can use jasmine, basmati, or fried rice as a base.

With Noodles

For a crunch, serve Mongolian beef with crispy rice or cellophane noodles. The combination of tender beef with the crispy texture of the noodles creates a delightful contrast that elevates the dining experience.

Paired with Vegetables

Consider pairing Mongolian beef with stir-fried or steamed vegetables for a more balanced meal. Bok choy, broccoli, and snow peas are excellent choices. This combination adds freshness and nutrients while enhancing the dish’s flavour.

As part of a Feast

Mongolian beef is a wonderful addition to a Chinese-inspired feast. Pair it with dumplings, spring rolls, or fried rice to create a complete meal with complementary textures and flavours.

Nutritional Considerations

For those wondering what Mongolian beef is from a nutritional perspective, it’s a dish that can fit into various diets with slight modifications. The dish is generally high in protein due to the beef, and with lean cuts like flank steak, it can be a relatively healthy choice. However, if you monitor these aspects of your diet, be mindful of the sauce’s sugar and sodium content. Opt for low-sodium soy sauce or reduce the sugar content to suit your preferences.

Wrapping up

So, what is Mongolian beef? It’s a delicious stir-fry dish inspired by the Mongolian barbecue style but crafted with a distinct Asian flavour profile. Mongolian beef is a versatile and satisfying meal with its savoury-sweet sauce and tender beef. Easy to make and even more straightforward to enjoy, this dish is perfect for beginners and seasoned cooks. Try it over rice, with noodles, or as part of a more extensive spread for a meal that’s sure to impress.

Ready to try cooking Mongolian beef at home? Visit Gin Gin Grass Fed for premium quality beef, perfect for all your recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions