Secret Four-Flavor Beef

Four-Flavor Beef is not just a dish, but also a unique culinary art. It perfectly combines the rich texture of beef with four distinct seasonings, creating a dish that is visually appealing and bursting with flavor. With each bite, you can taste its distinct layers and experience a delightful array of flavors that leave a lasting impression. While beef takes center stage, the role of the seasonings is equally important. The sourness stimulates the appetite, sweetness brings satisfaction, spiciness excites the taste buds, and saltiness balances all the flavors, creating a harmonious blend. The four flavors intertwine and complement each other, resulting in a dish that is truly distinctive. Overall, Four-Flavor Beef is a dish that surprises and challenges. It requires intricate cooking techniques and unique seasoning combinations, but it is precisely this complexity and refinement that give the dish its allure. Whether enjoyed with friends or savored during a solo dinner, Four-Flavor Beef is a culinary delight that should not be missed.

Comprehensive rating:

Ingredients for Four-Flavor Beef：

Steps:
1.First, purchase a piece of beef tenderloin from the supermarket. Cut the beef tenderloin into large slices, and then further cut them into strips that are similar in thickness to a small finger. Place the sliced beef into a bowl and rinse it several times with clean water to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.Next, add an appropriate amount of salt and cooking wine to the bowl. Mix the salt and cooking wine evenly to marinate the beef for a period of time, enhancing the flavor of the beef. This step infuses the beef with a savory taste, making it more delicious and flavorful.

2.Add white sugar, white vinegar, salt, and light soy sauce one by one into a bowl. Stir until all the ingredients are completely dissolved and mixed together. The sweetness of the sugar combines with the acidity of the vinegar, creating a complex flavor profile for the sauce. The salt provides a balanced savory taste, enhancing the overall harmony. The light soy sauce adds freshness and color, bringing a richer flavor to the sauce. By stirring thoroughly, these ingredients blend together to form a thick and syrupy sauce, similar to honey.

3.In another bowl, add an appropriate amount of starch and pour in enough water to stir until well mixed, allowing the starch to fully absorb the water and form a paste-like consistency. Then, let it sit for a moment, allowing any sediment to settle at the bottom of the bowl. Once the sediment has completely settled, gently pour off the excess water on top, leaving behind the thickened starch at the bottom. Next, add a small amount of cooking oil to the starch and mix it together to create a yogurt-like, creamy mixture. Finally, pour the marinated beef tenderloin into the prepared yogurt-like starch mixture, ensuring that each piece of beef is evenly coated with the starch mixture.

4.Heat the wok and add oil. When the oil temperature reaches around 70% hot, add the marinated beef strips one by one into the wok. You can start from the empty spots according to your preference, ensuring that each piece of beef fully contacts the hot oil. Deep-fry all the beef strips until they are firm and the surface turns golden and crispy. Then, use a strainer or a slotted spoon to remove the fried beef strips from the wok, allowing excess oil to drain off. Once the oil temperature in the wok reaches around 80% hot again, re-fry the previously fried beef strips until they turn golden. Use the strainer or slotted spoon once more to remove the beef strips from the wok, ensuring the oil is drained off properly. Set aside for later use.

5.Prepare some green peppers, carrots, dried chili , and green pricklyash for the subsequent stir-frying. Cut the green  peppers and dried chili into thin strips, adjusting the thickness according to personal preference. The spiciness and crisp texture of the green peppers, combined with the fragrant and spicy flavor of the dried chili , add a rich layer of complexity to the dish. Cut the carrots into long strips, choosing a width and length that is suitable for stir-frying and matches well with other ingredients. The sweetness and crunchy texture of the carrots provide a variety of flavors and colors to the dish.

6.Do not add oil to the pan, put in the dried chili and green pricklyash, and stir-fry them for a few seconds to release their fragrance. This will allow the spices to fully disperse their aroma. Next, pour the previously prepared sauce into the pan and simmer until it starts bubbling. This will make the sauce thicker and enhance its flavor. Then, quickly add the fried beef strips,green peppers , and carrots into the pan and stir-fry them evenly. By controlling the heat and using proper stirring techniques, ensure that all ingredients are evenly heated and well combined. This stir-frying method allows the beef to mix thoroughly with the vegetables and absorb the flavors of the sauce, adding rich textures and tastes. Pay attention to heat control to avoid overcooking or burning the ingredients.

7.Once everything is evenly stir-fried, remove the Four Flavors Beef from the pan. Choose a delicate and visually appealing dish, transfer the beef onto the plate, and serve. This delicious Four Flavors Beef emits an enticing aroma and boasts vibrant colors. The golden and crispy beef strips perfectly blend with the tender texture of the green peppers and carrots, while the spiciness and fragrance of the dried chili and green pricklyash  add a special flavor to the dish.

Tips:
1.Buy high-quality beef tenderloin, which should have a bright red or deep red color with some fat on the surface. The fat adds flavor and juiciness to the beef. However, excessive fat can make the beef too greasy. Therefore, it is important to choose lean meat with evenly distributed fat.
2.The fibers of beef have a specific direction. Cutting along the grain helps maintain a tender and smooth texture, preventing the beef from becoming dry due to the severed fibers. Therefore, when cutting beef, carefully observe the texture and cut the meat into slices or strips along the grain. This not only ensures a better texture but also enhances the overall dining experience.

“Four-flavor beef” is a dish full of unique charm. It presents a colorful and vibrant picture with its mix of red, yellow, green, and white. Each piece of beef is meticulously cooked and seasoned, giving it a distinct personality. When chewing, the texture of the beef’s fibers intertwines with the flavors of the seasonings, creating a delightful experience. The four different flavors — sour, sweet, spicy, and salty — take turns stimulating your taste buds, taking you on a culinary adventure.