Toothpick Beef Recipe

step 1

• STEP 1.Soak toothpicks in clean water for 30 minutes.

step 2

• STEP 2.-1)to make the spice mix, in a cast iron skillet add ½ tsp pepper corns, ½ tsp white peppercorn, 1 tsp sichuan peppercorn, ½ tsp cumin seeds, 1 star anise, broken, 1 cinnamon stick broken to toast easily. Toast on low heat for a few minutes till fragrant . Do not burn else it will be bitter in taste.

step 3

• STEP 3.-2)transfer to a grinding jar and blend to a fine powder. Pass it through a sieve to get rid of any stubborn pieces.

step 4

• STEP 4.-3)store this spice mix in an airtight container to be used as meat seasoning.

step 5

• STEP 5.-4)cut 500 gms beef rib eye or sirloin, against the grain into small thin slices. Place the sliced meat in a bowl and add ¾ tsp salt, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tsp chinese rice wine, ⅜ tsp baking soda, 2 tsp of prepared spice mix. Mix till wellcombinedand all the pieces of meat are well coated.

step 6

• STEP 6.-5)cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

step 7

• STEP 7.-6)after 1 hour, skewer the pieces of meat on each toothpick. Skewer 1 piece on each toothpick folding like a wave.

step 8

• STEP 8.-7)put a wok on the heat and add 2 cups of oil. Heat till 380 degree fahrenheit.

step 9

• STEP 9.-8)add the toothpick beef to the hot oil. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the wok and for the beef to cook faster.

step 10

• STEP 10.-9)when the beef begins to turn brown along the edge, take it out of the oil. Do not over cook the beef or it will turn chewy.

step 11

• STEP 11.-10)using a sieve take the toothpick beef out of the wok to drain off the excess oil.

step 12

• STEP 12.-11)leaving 2 tbsp of oil in the wok, pour off most of the oil into a bowl for reuse later in other recipes.

step 13

• STEP 13.-12)on low heat saute ⅓ cup dry red chilies slit in half lengthwise and 1 ½ tbsp sichuan peppercorn for 2 minutes till they sizzle lightly but do not burn them.

step 14

• STEP 14.-13)add 3 tbsp finely diced garlic, 1 tsp sugar and mix well.

step 15

• STEP 15.-14)add the beef back to the wok and toss to combine well.

step 16

• STEP 16.-15)serve hot garnished with sesame seeds and diced scallions.