Mongolian Beef Stir Fry

Mongolian Beef is a delicious beef stir fry recipe served with lots of onions and a tasty sauce. This flavorful dish is popular in Chinese restaurants, and also actually very easy to make at home - here's my Mongolian Beef Stir Fry recipe!

Jump to:

• What is Mongolian Beef?
• Origin of Mongolian Beef
• What kind of beef to use?
• What goes with Mongolian beef?
• Is Mongolian beef keto friendly?
• Is Mongolian beef paleo friendly?
• How to cook Mongolian beef?
• Storage
• How to Reheat Mongolian Beef
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Mongolian Beef Stir Fry
• Pin for later!
• More Delicious and Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipes!

What is Mongolian Beef?

Mongolian beef 蒙古烤肉 is a dish that consists of stir fried beef with onions. Sometimes it's served with other vegetables, and is not too spicy. Normally served with rice or fried rice or sometimes noodles.

Origin of Mongolian Beef

Despite its name, Mongolian beef is not from Mongolia and has little connection to traditional Mongolian cuisine. The dish is commonly traced to Mongolian barbecue restaurants that became popular in Taiwan during the 1950s.

The Mongolian barbecue concept was created in Taipei by comedian and restaurateur Wu Zhaonan, who moved from Beijing to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. He reportedly intended to call it "Beijing barbecue," but chose the name "Mongolian barbecue" because of the political sensitivities surrounding Beijing at the time.

The beef-and-onion dish now known as Mongolian beef later became a popular Chinese-American restaurant dish. Although its roots are commonly linked to Taiwan's Mongolian barbecue restaurants, the exact origin of the modern saucy version is not clearly documented.

What kind of beef to use?

Ultimately the type of steak to use is up to you - you can pick your favorite cut of beef. However, I normally use flank steak, or sirloin steak (pictured below).

Just make sure to cut evenly in to strips or slices so that it cooks evenly!

What goes with Mongolian beef?

Mongolian beef goes super well served with rice! You can also serve it with some fried rice, or noodles.

Since Mongolian Beef has less veggies than some other more veggie forward dishes, and it's so flavorful, I recommend some simple veggie side dishes:

Stir Fry Asparagus with Garlic

Shanghai Bok Choy Stir Fry with Garlic

Broccoli Stir Fry with Garlic

By the way, if you're interested in other dishes I like to order for Chinese takeout that I also make at home, here they are!

• Chicken with Broccoli
• Moo Goo Gai Pan
• Broccoli Beef
• Chicken Fried Rice
• Shrimp Fried Rice
• Twice Cooked Pork
• Snow Peas Beef Stir Fry
• Chinese Wontons
• Chinese Dumplings

Wow! This might be the first time I've noticed how many I love making at home!

Is Mongolian beef keto friendly?

If you're ordering from a restaurant, it is hard to tell because they could add a lot of sugars or cornstarch - so it's hard to say for sure.

However, THIS Mongolian beef recipe is considered keto/low carb, with  9g per serving!

Is Mongolian beef paleo friendly?

With a couple of modifications, you can easily make this Mongolian beef paleo friendly!

For the soy sauce, sub with coconut aminos. Regular soy sauce contain gluten which is restricted on the paleo food list.

Instead of cornstarch, sub with arrowroot flour or potato starch (if you are okay with potato - this has always been a gray area for some paleo eaters).

Thick Soy Sauce

In addition to regular light soy sauce, I also use Thick Soy Sauce, aka Soy Paste in this recipe. There's actually many different types of soy sauce! Thick soy sauce is a lot thicker than your normal soy sauce. It has a richer, sweeter flavor, which is perfect for this dish.

If you can't find any thick soy sauce, you can actually use regular soy sauce. However, since Thick soy sauce is more sweet, you are now missing a flavor, so I would recommend adding a bit of sugar or sweetener of your choice.

Or even more simple - Oyster sauce can often be used as a substitute because it is similar in texture and it is also salty and sweet at the same time.

By the way you can find these sauces, in your local Asian grocery store or even on amazon here:

Kimlan Soy Paste / Thick Soy Sauce

Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce

How to cook Mongolian beef?

Let's get to the good stuff - here's my recipe for Mongolian Beef Stir Fry

Ingredients

• Beef Marinade:
  • 1 lb flank steak, cut in to strips or thinly sliced
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoon cooking oil, separated
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced or roughly chopped
• ½ onion, sliced
• 2 stalks of scallions, cut in to 2 inch length
• 2 tablespoon soy paste (aka thick soy sauce)*
• Dried red peppers, optional

Instructions

In a bowl, add beef with soy sauce, cornstarch, honey (or sugar) and ground ginger together. Combine well and set aside to marinade for 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.

Heat cooking oil in a wok or cooking pan, and add the marinated beef along with the sauce in to pan and stir fry for about 2 minutes or until mostly browned, and then remove from heat.

Add sliced onions, garlic, and dried red peppers in to pan to the pan, and stir fry for about 2 minutes or until the onions start turning translucent.

Add the beef back to pan and stir fry for about 1 more minute, then add the green onions, and stir fry until everything is cooked thoroughly.

Add thick soy sauce and mix well, then remove from heat and serve!

Storage

Store leftover Mongolian beef with its sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking-you don't need to wait for it to cool completely.

For longer storage, freeze in individual portions for up to 2-3 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The onions will be softer after freezing, but the sauce helps keep the beef moist.

How to Reheat Mongolian Beef

Stovetop: Add the beef and sauce to a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in a small splash of water to loosen the sauce, then stir occasionally until heated through.

Microwave: Place a portion in a microwave-safe bowl, add a splash of water, and cover loosely with a microwave-safe lid. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until hot throughout.

Reheat leftovers to 165°F. Stop heating once they're ready so the beef doesn't become tough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cut of beef should I use?

Flank steak and sirloin both work well. Slice the beef thinly against the grain, keeping the pieces a similar thickness so they cook evenly.

How do I keep the beef tender?

Start with thin slices cut against the grain, and give the beef time to marinate. The cornstarch coating helps retain moisture during cooking. Avoid overcooking the beef, especially when you return it to the pan with the onions.

Is Mongolian beef spicy?

This version is sweet and savory, with optional heat from dried red peppers. Leave them out for a mild dish, or include them if you like a little spice.

What is thick soy sauce?

Thick soy sauce, also called soy paste, has a thicker consistency and sweeter flavor than regular soy sauce. It adds richness and helps the sauce coat the beef.

What can I substitute for thick soy sauce?

Oyster sauce is an option with a similar thick, sweet-savory character, though it will change the flavor. You can also use regular soy sauce with a little sugar to taste, but the finished sauce may be thinner. Dark soy sauce is a different product and isn't a direct substitute for soy paste.

Can I prepare this ahead of time?

Yes! You can marinate the beef overnight in the refrigerator and slice the onions ahead of time. Keep the vegetables in a separate covered container, then cook everything when you're ready to eat.

What should I serve with Mongolian beef?

Steamed rice is my go-to for soaking up the sauce! Fried rice or noodles also work well. Add a simple vegetable side, such as garlic bok choy or broccoli, to round out the meal.

Pin for later!

More Delicious and Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipes!

• If you love noodles, you have to try this Beef Noodles Stir Fry! Marinated beef stir fried with garlic, carrots, onions, snow peas, and tender noodles in a tasty sauce! This recipe is yummy and easy to make!
• Pepper Steak with Onions Stir Fry is pretty much always a win! Perfect for week days or weeknights - tender beef stir fried with peppers and onions!
• If you are looking for a classic Chinese dish, check out my Beef and Yu Choy Stir Fry! Packed with protein and leafy greens! The beef is marinated, and then stir fried with yu choy (aka choy sum) in a tasty sauce.
• Only have ground beef? No worries! Make this delicious Stir Fry Ground Beef recipe! It features ground beef, onions, mushrooms, and garlic, sprinkled with green onions in a soy sauce mixture!