Description
Thai Hot and Spicy Beef is a quick and flavorful stir-fry dish featuring tender beef slices cooked with red curry paste, aromatic kaffir lime leaves, garlic, and fresh chilies. Balanced with oyster sauce, fish sauce, and a hint of sugar, this vibrant recipe delivers authentic Thai flavors in just 20 minutes, perfect for a delicious weeknight meal served with jasmine rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 tablespoon red curry paste
- 4 kaffir lime leaves, torn
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 chilies, sliced (adjust for heat)
- 10 ounces beef, sliced thin against the grain
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- ½ tablespoon fish sauce
- ½ tablespoon white sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Heat oil: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking, to prepare for stir-frying.
- Add aromatics: Add 1 tablespoon red curry paste, torn kaffir lime leaves, minced garlic, and sliced chilies to the wok. Stir-fry for about 20 seconds until fragrant to release their flavors.
- Cook beef: Add the thinly sliced beef to the wok and stir-fry, tossing continuously until the beef is just cooked through, about 2-3 minutes depending on thickness.
- Combine sauce: Stir in 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, ½ tablespoon fish sauce, ½ tablespoon white sugar, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix well until the sugar dissolves completely and the sauce coats the beef evenly.
- Serve: Remove the dish from heat immediately to prevent overcooking. Serve hot, ideally with steamed jasmine rice to complement the spicy, savory flavors.
Notes
- Adjust the number of chilies based on your preferred spice level.
- Slice the beef thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness.
- Kaffir lime leaves can be difficult to find, but they add an authentic citrus aroma; fresh or frozen leaves work best.
- This dish pairs perfectly with steamed jasmine rice for an authentic Thai meal experience.
- Prepare all ingredients ahead of time as stir-frying is a quick process.
