Beef and Egg Stir Fry is one of those dishes that provides both comfort and satisfaction at the end of a busy day. “Easy-to-make” and “easy cleanup” are hallmarks of our simplest, most loved go-to dishes (which we keep in a handy list: Quick and Easy dishes), and this Beef and Egg Stir-fry certainly fits the bill.
A Simple Cantonese Meal Over Rice
You just slice up your beef, lightly beat a couple of eggs, fire up the wok and your handy dandy rice cooker, and these rice bowls are ready faster than it would take for your local delivery guy to make it to your house!
You may be thinking that this Beef and Egg Stir Fry seems like a weird combination. It’s actually a common Cantonese rice plate meal that you can find on the menu at old-school Chinatown restaurants.
You’ll see it right alongside the Beef Tomato Stir Fry, Cantonese Beef, and Curry Beef, all served piping hot and fresh on a big platter of white rice!
I should also mention that if you love our Shrimp and Lobster Sauce, then you will also love this dish, because the concept and cooking method are both very similar. Both dishes may look a little hodgepodge to some, but the taste…well let’s just say there’s a reason these unlikely combos have persisted!
Becoming A Go-To Recipe
So, the next time you are wondering what to do for dinner and don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, try this Beef and Egg Stir Fry! And while you’re eating it, you’ll be thinking:
- Why don’t I do this more often?
- Man, this is a great bowl of food!
- Do I have enough beef to make this again tomorrow???
(In that order. Based on my personal experience.) Enjoy this quick and easy beef and egg stir fry dish folks!
Cantonese Beef and Egg: Recipe Instructions
Prepare the beef. A good tip is to slice it when it’s still slightly frozen, but soft enough to cut. This makes slicing perfectly uniform pieces quick and easy! Toss the beef with 1 teaspoon of oil, the light soy sauce, cornstarch, and baking soda, until the beef is well-coated.
Set aside to marinate for 15 minutes. If you’re starting with slightly frozen beef, it should come down to room temperature. You can also do this step in advance!
For more information on preparing beef, see Bill’s post on How to Slice and Velvet Beef for stir fries.
Heat your wok until just smoking, and spread 1 tablespoon of oil around the perimeter. Immediately add the beef, and spread it in an even layer across the wok. Sear for 30 seconds, and give the beef a stir to ensure it cooks evenly.
Add the garlic and a small handful of the white parts of the scallions. Quickly stir-fry to combine. Next, add the Shaoxing wine, and stir for another 20 seconds.
Add the chicken stock, salt, sugar, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and fresh ground white pepper, and let everything come up to a low boil.
Make the cornstarch slurry, and stir it into the sauce. Let the sauce simmer and thicken until it coats a spoon. If you like your sauce thicker, add more cornstarch and water; if you like your sauce thinner, add more stock. You’re the cook, so make it the way you like it!
Next, pour the lightly beaten eggs over the mixture, and use your spatula to fold it gently into the sauce so the egg cooks in ribbons rather than in large clumps.
After about 10 seconds, add in the rest of the scallions and continue folding the egg into the sauce for another 5 seconds.
Serve this Beef and Egg Stir fry over steamed rice!
Beef and Egg Stir Fry Rice Bowls
Ingredients
For the beef, you’ll need:
- 8 ounces flank steak (225g, thinly sliced)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
For the rest of the dish, you’ll need:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 scallions (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 2½ cups chicken stock or beef stock
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- Freshly ground white pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
Instructions
- Prepare the beef--a good tip is to slice it when it’s still slightly frozen, but soft enough to cut. This makes slicing perfectly uniform pieces quick and easy! Toss the beef with 1 teaspoon of oil, the soy sauce, cornstarch, and baking soda, until the beef is well-coated. Set aside to marinate for 15 minutes. If you’re starting with slightly frozen beef, it should come down to room temperature. You can also do this step in advance!
- Heat your wok until just smoking, and spread 1 tablespoon of oil around the perimeter. Immediately add the beef, and spread it in an even layer across the wok. Sear for 30 seconds, and give the beef a stir to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Add the garlic and a small handful of the white parts of the scallion. Quickly stir-fry to combine. Next, add the Shaoxing wine, and stir for another 20 seconds.
- Add the chicken stock, salt, sugar, soy sauces, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and fresh ground white pepper, and let everything come up to a low boil.
- Make the cornstarch slurry, and stir it into the sauce. Let the sauce simmer and thicken until it coats a spoon. If you like your sauce thicker, add more cornstarch and water; if you like your sauce thinner, add more stock. You’re the cook, so make it the way you like it!
- Next, pour the lightly beaten eggs over the mixture, and use your spatula to fold it gently into the sauce so the egg cooks in ribbons rather than in large clumps. After about 10 seconds, add in the rest of the scallions and continue folding the egg into the sauce for another 5 seconds. Serve over steamed rice!
nutrition facts
Thank you for transporting me back to my childhood when my father made this dish for me after school. I cherish those memories. I made it my son recently and I must say your recipe and method are way better than my dad’s. 😇
Hi Jim, I love seeing traditions passed on from one generation to another. Keep up the great cooking!
Hi, I would love to make this ahead and put it in the fridge to eat for the next few days. Do you think this would be ok? Would it reheat well? Thanks!
Hi Alison, yes, it reheats fine in the microwave or in a steamer, but I wouldn’t recommend keeping it longer than a couple of days in the fridge.
Super Delicious 😋 sent recipe to my sister, she’ll love it. Love, love love this site! Thank you
I bet she will love it, Eula! It’s also one of Sarah’s favorite dishes.
I made this last night and the whole family loved it. I had to more than double the amount of cornstarch slurry because the sauce was still very much liquid, like a soup, but other than that, amazing! I might try this with prawn next time (to make 滑蛋虾仁饭!)
Hi Olivia, glad you enjoyed it!