Ingredients
Crispy Beef
- 450 g (1 lb) minute steak (thin steak) cut into thin strips
- 1 egg
- 5 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch in USA)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅛ tsp white pepper
- Spray oil (approx. 15 ml/1 tbsp)
- 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced into thin strips
Sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp chilli flakes (red pepper flakes)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato puree (tomato paste for USA)
- 6 tbsp caster sugar or superfine sugar
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce (Thai-style recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Place the steak strips in a bowl and add the egg. Mix thoroughly to coat all the steak pieces evenly with the egg.
- Coat with Cornflour and Spices: Add the cornflour, salt, black pepper, and white pepper to the bowl. Toss everything together until the steak strips are evenly coated with a sticky batter-like mixture.
- Air Fry the Beef: Preheat the air fryer to 240°C/457°F (using 'max crisp' function if available). Add the steak strips one at a time into the air fryer basket in a single layer to avoid sticking and overcrowding. You may need to cook in two batches. Spray the steak strips with oil to help with crispness.
- Cook Until Crispy: Air fry the steak strips for 8–9 minutes, shaking the basket twice during cooking to ensure even browning and crisping. The beef should be browned and crispy when done.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine garlic powder, ground ginger, chilli flakes, rice vinegar, dark soy sauce, tomato puree, caster sugar, tomato ketchup, and sweet chilli sauce. Stir well until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is smooth.
- Cook the Onion: While the beef is cooking, sauté or lightly fry the sliced onion strips until just soft and slightly caramelized (optional step but recommended for added flavor and texture).
- Toss Beef with Sauce and Onion: Once beef is cooked and crispy, combine it in a bowl with the cooked onions and pour over the prepared sauce. Toss everything together well to coat evenly.
- Serve Immediately: Serve your air fryer crispy chilli beef hot over steamed rice or noodles, garnished with extra chilli flakes or spring onions if desired.
Notes
- Use minute steak or any thin cut of steak for best results as it crisps quickly.
- If your air fryer does not have a ‘max crisp’ function, set it to the highest temperature available close to 240°C (457°F).
- Shooting for a single layer in air fryer basket is important to ensure crispiness and avoid steaming the meat.
- Adjust the level of chilli flakes in the sauce to taste depending on your preferred spice level.
- You can swap sweet chilli sauce with hoisin sauce for a different flavor profile.
- For a lower sugar version, reduce sugar amount or substitute with a sugar alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
