This Oriental Beef with Sesame recipe has quickly become a go-to in my kitchen. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner, but it’s also impressive enough for guests.

It’s flavorful, satisfying, and surprisingly easy to make. What I really love is how the savory beef pairs with the nutty sesame seeds and the slightly sweet and tangy sauce.

Recipe Overview: Oriental Beef with Sesame

This dish is all about tender strips of beef, coated in a delicious, savory sauce, and topped with toasted sesame seeds. It has a delightful mix of flavors and textures – savory, slightly sweet, and a little bit nutty.

It’s a fantastic meal to serve with steamed rice or noodles. You can also add some stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or snow peas to make it a complete and balanced meal.

The flavors really meld together beautifully, and the sesame seeds add a nice crunch. It’s one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for leftovers.

If you’re looking for a flavorful and easy beef recipe. This is a must-try!

Detailed Ingredients for Oriental Beef with Sesame

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious dish:

Beef: 1 pound of flank steak, sirloin, or skirt steak, thinly sliced against the grain. Thinly slicing the beef ensures it cooks quickly and stays tender.
Soy Sauce: 1/4 cup. I usually use low-sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness. You can also use tamari.
Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons. This helps thicken the sauce and gives the beef a nice coating.
Brown Sugar: 2 tablespoons. Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the savory flavors. You can adjust the amount to your preference.
Rice Vinegar: 1 tablespoon. Adds a subtle tanginess. If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar as a substitute.
Sesame Oil: 1 tablespoon. Adds a wonderful nutty aroma and flavor. Don’t skip this!
Vegetable Oil: 2 tablespoons, for cooking the beef. You can also use canola oil or any other high-heat oil.
Garlic: 2 cloves, minced. Fresh garlic is best, but you can use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder in a pinch.
Fresh Ginger: 1 tablespoon, minced. Adds a warm, spicy note. You can use 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger if you don’t have fresh.
Red Pepper Flakes: 1/4 teaspoon (optional), for a little heat. Adjust to your spice preference.
Sesame Seeds: 2 tablespoons, toasted. Toasting the sesame seeds brings out their flavor.
Green Onions: 2, thinly sliced, for garnish. Adds a fresh, oniony flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Making the Oriental Beef

Prepare the Beef: Start by thinly slicing your beef against the grain. This helps to make it tender. Then, in a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Add the sliced beef to the bowl and toss to coat it evenly in the marinade.
Marinate (Optional): While not strictly necessary, allowing the beef to marinate for even 15-20 minutes can enhance the flavor. You can cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Cook the Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn!
Cook the Beef: Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil to the skillet. Then, add the marinated beef in a single layer. It is very important not to overcrow the pan. If you are using a smaller skillet, consider doing it in batches. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. The beef should be slightly crispy on the edges.
Add the Sesame Oil: Once the beef is cooked, drizzle the sesame oil over the beef and stir to combine.
Toast the Sesame Seeds: In a small, dry skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently, until they are lightly golden and fragrant. Watch them closely, as they can burn quickly.
Finish with Sesame Seeds: Remove the beef for serving and make sure to sprinkle it with sesame seeds.
Garnish and Serve: Transfer the beef to a serving dish and garnish with the toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately over rice or noodles.

Variations & Tips for the Best Oriental Beef

Spice it Up: Add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat.
Add Vegetables: Stir-fry some broccoli florets, sliced bell peppers, snap peas, or carrots along with the beef for a more complete meal.
Make it Gluten-Free: Use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Make-Ahead: You can marinate the beef for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. The longer it marinates, the more flavorful it will be.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions: Serve with steamed white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. You can also serve it with noodles, such as soba noodles or udon noodles.

Key Details

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Equipment you’ll need: Large skillet or wok, mixing bowls, cutting board, knife.

Oriental Beef with Sesame

Tender strips of beef, coated in a delicious, savory sauce, and topped with toasted sesame seeds. It has a delightful mix of flavors and textures – savory, slightly sweet, and a little bit nutty.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Oriental

Servings 4 servings

Calories 2000 kcal

Ingredients

1 pound of flank steak sirloin, or skirt steak, thinly sliced against the grain
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
2 tablespoons sesame seeds toasted
2 green onions thinly sliced, for garnish

Instructions

Start by thinly slicing your beef against the grain. Then, in a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Add the sliced beef to the bowl and toss to coat it evenly in the marinade.
While not strictly necessary, allowing the beef to marinate for even 15-20 minutes can enhance the flavor. You can cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil to the skillet. Then, add the marinated beef in a single layer. It is very important not to overcrow the pan. If you are using a smaller skillet, consider doing it in batches. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. The beef should be slightly crispy on the edges.
Once the beef is cooked, drizzle the sesame oil over the beef and stir to combine.
In a small, dry skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently, until they are lightly golden and fragrant. Watch them closely, as they can burn quickly.
Remove the beef for serving and make sure to sprinkle it with sesame seeds.
Transfer the beef to a serving dish and garnish with the toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately over rice or noodles.