Hao You Niu Rou in a pan

Beef with oyster sauce is one of my favorite dishes for its simplicity. It’s got excellent flavor, beautiful texture, and is one of those dishes you can throw together any night. It impresses guests but is perfect for a dinner for two, too.

Everyone always asks me how Chinese restaurants get beef to have such a tender texture. It’s a valid question since many times, the meat is of a tougher cut (such as flank or skirt steak). I’m going to show you exactly how to make beef with oyster sauce just like the restaurants do, and the simple ingredients that can help you achieve that sublime texture.

Beef stir fried with asparagus and onion in a brown sauce

Beef with oyster sauce ingredients

Secret ingredient

And now, on to my secret! I use baking soda. Yes, that’s right. Simple baking soda, which can do millions of amazing things so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. 

But why does it make the beef extra juicy and tender? When you mix it in with the other marinade ingredients, it helps raise the pH on the surface of the meat. This makes it harder for the proteins to bond excessively and elicits the perfect texture once you cook it.

Now you can try it out when you make beef with oyster sauce or any other beef stir fry such as Mongolian Beef and Beef with Broccoli. 

Vegetables 

And while this beef is just divine, it really needs a little green to make it more colorful and balanced. With asparagus in season, I couldn’t think of a more perfect partner. However, I encourage you to use whatever fresh veggies you have on hand, particularly whatever is seasonal for you. Other vegetables, such as broccoli (need to blanch this before adding it to the stir fry), bell peppers, chili peppers, baby bok choy, and snow peas are all great options. 

Mise en place

When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:

  • Marinated beef
  • Chopped veggies (onion and asparagus)
  • Aromatics (ginger and garlic)
  • Mixed sauce

When you get the prep work done and organized, the cooking part is super easy!

Ingredients for making beef with oyster sauce

How to make beef with oyster sauce

  • Sear the beef
  • Cook the ginger, garlic and onion
  • Stir fry with the asparagus 
  • Pour in the sauce
  • Add back the cooked beef
  • Stir everything together
Beef with oyster sauce cooking step-by-step

Beef with oyster sauce is just dreamy over steamed white rice, making for the perfect meal that comes together in minutes!

Beef with oyster sauce close up

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Beef with oyster sauce features extra tender and juicy beef stir fried with crisp asparagus brought together with a savory and sweet brown sauce. It is a quick and healthy dish to make for your weekday dinner! {Gluten-Free Adaptable}

Beef with Oyster Sauce (蚝油牛肉)

By Maggie Zhu
4.89 from 9 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Beef with oyster sauce features extra tender and juicy beef stir fried with crisp asparagus brought together with a savory and sweet brown sauce. It is a quick and healthy dish to make for your weekday dinner! {Gluten-Free Adaptable} To make the dish gluten free, use tamari to replace the light and dark soy sauce. And make sure to use a gluten-free oyster sauce.

Ingredients 

Marinating

  • 1 lb beef flank steak (or skirt steak)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon peanut oil
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Sauce

Stir fry

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1/2 white onion , sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic , sliced
  • 1 thumb ginger , sliced
  • 1 lb asparagus , tough ends removed and cut to bite size pieces (or 1 bell pepper)

Instructions

  • Add the beef and the rest of the marinating ingredients into a medium-sized bowl. Mix well and allow marinate while you prepare the other ingredients.
  • Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the beef and spread out into a single layer without overlapping. Cook until the bottom turns golden, 1 minute or so. Flip to cook the other side until just cooked, 1 minute or so. Transfer the beef to a large plate.
  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, onion, garlic and ginger. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
  • Add the asparagus. Cook until just starting to soften, 1 minute or so.
  • Stir the sauce again to fully dissolve the cornstarch and pour it into the pan. Stir a few times until it thickens.
  • Return the beef to the pan and stir to coat everything well. Transfer everything to a big plate and serve hot as a main dish.

Video

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 269kcal, Carbohydrates: 10.3g, Protein: 27.2g, Fat: 13.1g, Saturated Fat: 3.3g, Cholesterol: 71mg, Sodium: 656mg, Potassium: 546mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4.3g, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 17mg

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