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The Best Quick & Creamy Spicy Beef Stir Fry

A cozy bowl of homemade Spicy Beef Stir Fry served over a bed of fluffy white rice with chopsticks.

A quick and flavorful recipe for a spicy beef stir-fry with a creamy coconut milk sauce. Thinly sliced sirloin steak is briefly marinated with fresh ginger and garlic, then quickly pan-seared. A medley of colorful vegetables, including red bell pepper, red onion, and jalapeño, are stir-fried until crisp-tender. A sweet and spicy sauce made from light coconut milk, Sriracha, and lime juice is then created in the same pan. The cooked beef and fresh baby spinach are added back at the end, and the dish is finished with green onions and cilantro.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin strips
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh gingerroot
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 cup light coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lime zest
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
  • 1 large sweet red pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, toss the sliced beef with the minced ginger, 2 of the minced garlic cloves, the pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Let it stand and marinate for 15 minutes.
  2. While the beef marinates, whisk the coconut milk, sugar, Sriracha, lime zest, lime juice, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt together in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the beef and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until it is no longer pink. Remove the beef from the pan.
  4. In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeno, and the remaining clove of garlic. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
  5. Stir in the prepared coconut milk mixture and heat it through.
  6. Add the baby spinach and the cooked beef back to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted and the beef is heated through.
  7. Sprinkle with the sliced green onions and chopped cilantro before serving.

Notes

  • This is a very quick stir-fry, so it is important to have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking.
  • Slicing the steak thinly against the grain is a key step for ensuring it is tender.
  • The beef and vegetables are cooked separately and then combined at the end to ensure nothing is overcooked.