Description
Sweet and Sour Beef features tender, savory beef cubes coated in a sticky sweet‑tangy glaze, served as standalone bites or wrapped in golden puff pastry for a playful finger-food twist.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb beef chuck or stew meat, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white or rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)
- Puff pastry squares or biscuit dough (optional)
- 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash, optional)
- Sesame seeds or powdered sugar for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Marinate beef: Combine soy sauce, garlic, and ginger; toss with beef cubes and let rest ≥30 minutes.
- Make sauce: Simmer brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and water in a saucepan until sugar dissolves; whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook until glossy; remove from heat.
- Cook beef: Toss marinated beef in a little cornstarch, pat off excess, and sear in a hot skillet until browned and cooked; drain if needed.
- Glaze beef: Return beef to skillet, pour in sauce, and simmer briefly to coat and thicken.
- Optional pastry wrap: If using, let beef cool 5 min; wrap each cube in puff pastry or biscuit dough, place on baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and bake 375 °F (190 °C) for 15–18 minutes until golden.
- To serve: Garnish glazed beef bites or pastry cups with sesame seeds or a light dusting of powdered sugar; serve warm with rice, noodles, or as party bites.
Notes
- For extra depth, add chili flakes or sriracha for heat.
- Brighten with a touch of orange juice or zest in the sauce.
- Bulk up as a stir-fry by tossing in bell peppers, pineapple chunks, or carrots during glazing.
- Avoid soggy pastry by cooling beef slightly before wrapping to prevent steam.
- Make ahead: Sauce can be prepped 4 days in advance; beef can be marinated and cooked ahead and reheated before assembly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6th recipe
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg