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savory beef stir fry

Aromatic Beef Stir Fry

This aromatic beef stir fry combines a homemade blend of whole spices with tender beef strips and colorful vegetables for a restaurant-quality meal. The fragrant mixture of cumin, star anise, and cardamom creates complex layers of flavor that elevate this quick one-pan dinner beyond ordinary weeknight fare.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Calories: 485

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g rice
  • 2 star anise for cooking rice
  • 5 cardamom pods for cooking rice
  • 1 vegetable bouillon cube
Spice Blend
  • 3 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 3 star anise
  • 1 teaspoon green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt or sea salt
Stir Fry
  • 30 ml olive oil
  • 200 g onions finely sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic finely sliced
  • 1 chili finely diced
  • 100 g red peppers finely sliced
  • 100 g carrots finely sliced
  • 100 g green beans chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 400 g beef cut into thin strips
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce

Equipment

  • Wok or large pan
  • Spice grinder
  • Microwave-safe bowl

Method
 

  1. Start by preparing the rice. Place rice in a microwave-safe bowl with 2 star anise, 5 cardamom pods, and 1 vegetable bouillon cube. Add hot water about an inch above the rice level and cook according to your microwave's instructions (approximately 15 minutes).
  2. While the rice cooks, prepare your spice blend. Grind together the cumin seeds, fennel seeds, star anise, green cardamom pods, ground fenugreek, ginger powder, turmeric, black peppercorns, smoked paprika, and celery salt until they form a fragrant powder.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, chili, red peppers, carrots, and green beans. Sauté until vegetables are soft and slightly caramelized, about 5-10 minutes.
  4. Transfer the cooked vegetables to a plate and return the pan to high heat. Add a touch more oil if needed.
  5. Add the beef strips to the hot pan and cook until they've developed a nice color with caramelized edges.
  6. Sprinkle the freshly ground spice mix over the beef, stirring to coat each piece thoroughly.
  7. Return the cooked vegetables to the pan with the beef and stir to combine.
  8. Remove the whole spices from the cooked rice and add the rice to your beef and vegetable mixture.
  9. Add soy sauce and stir everything together until well combined and heated through.
  10. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with fresh herbs like cilantro or sliced green onions.

Notes

This stir fry is incredibly versatile. Feel free to substitute chicken (with reduced cooking time) or tofu for the beef. The vegetable mix can be customized based on what you have available—broccoli, snow peas, or bell peppers all work wonderfully.
For a lighter version, serve over cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. The spice blend is what makes this dish special, but you can adjust the heat level by changing the amount of chili used.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and actually develop even more flavor overnight.