Sliced Beef with Tomato (番茄肥牛卷)
Tian
What is Sliced Beef with Tomato
The "Sliced Beef with Tomato" dish is reminiscent of the everyday culinary pleasures found in Chinese households. It's one of those comfort dishes that parents whip up for a quick weekday dinner or when craving something nourishing and familiar. While it might not have the historical depth or ritual significance of dishes like Peking duck or dumplings, its charm lies in its simplicity and universal appeal.
Tomatoes, while now a staple in many Chinese dishes, were a relatively late introduction to Chinese cuisine. They came from the Americas and were incorporated into Asian cuisines only a few centuries ago. Over time, they have been adapted to suit local palates and culinary traditions. In China, they're often paired with eggs, but in this dish, they meet thinly sliced beef, marrying the tangy juiciness of tomatoes with the rich umami of meat.
The combination of beef and tomatoes isn't exclusive to Chinese cuisine. Variations of it can be found in Italian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern cuisines, to name a few. But this particular preparation, with its delicate balance of saltiness from the soy sauce and a touch of heat from the chili, is unmistakably Chinese. The dish speaks to the heart of what Chinese home cooking is all about: fresh ingredients, uncomplicated methods, and flavors that are greater than the sum of their parts.
Adding this dish to your repertoire not only provides a tasty meal option but also connects you to countless kitchens across China, where families gather around the table to share stories, laughter, and plates of sliced beef with tomato.
How to Make Sliced Beef with Tomato
Ingredients
- Sliced beef (you can find this in Asian supermarkets)
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- ¼ onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 chili, chopped (leave it out if you don't want it spicy)
- Some tomato sauce
- A bit of soy sauce
- A pinch of salt
Cooking Instructions
- Cooking the Beef: First, boil some water in a pan. When it's boiling, add the beef slices.
- Take out Beef: After about 30 seconds, take them out and put them aside. They should be mostly cooked but a little red inside is okay.
- Frying the Basics: Use the same pan to heat some oil. Put in the garlic and chili (if you're using it).
- Adding Unions: Then add the onions. Cook the onions until they soften, which takes about three minutes.
- Adding Tomatoes: Now, put in the tomatoes. Stir them around with everything else and cook for about two minutes.
- Flavor Time: Sprinkle in your pinch of salt and stir.
- Adding Tomato Sauce: When the tomatoes look softer and juicy, add some tomato sauce.
- Mixing in the Beef: Pour a little water into the pan, give it a quick stir, and then add your beef slices.
- Final Touch: Stir everything together so the beef gets a nice coating of the tomato mix. Last step, pour in a bit of soy sauce and mix.
There you go! Serve it with some rice or noodles, and you've got yourself a tasty meal. Enjoy!
