Stir-fried Beef with Flat Rice Noodles

Instructions

Place the beef in a medium bowl with all of the marinade ingredients, mix and set aside for 10 minutes. Bring a medium pot of water to the boil. Add the dried flat rice noodles and cook them for 2-3 minutes or until they are just pliable (note this is generally for 3-4 minutes less than the packet instructions advise - they will finish cooking in the sauce). Rinse under cold running water and drain using a colander. Set aside. Heat a large, heavy-based pan (ideally cast-iron) over high heat. Once hot, add the oil and the beef and any residual marinade in the bowl. Cook in batches for 2-3 minutes until just cooked. If the marinade is sticking to the pan, add a little water to dislodge the sticky bits from the bottom of the pan. Set aside on a plate. Add the onion and spring onion to the same pan and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Toss the noodles into the pan along with the dark soy sauce, oyster sauce and light soy sauce. Toss to combine using tongs. Add the beef (and any juices that have collected on the plate) along with the bean sprouts. Cook for a further 1 minute or until the beef is warmed through. Turn the heat off, drizzle with sesame oil and serve immediately.

• rump Notes: 450 g, 1 lb, sirloin, New York strip, 4 mm/1⁄4 inch thick, see note 1, porterhouse or flank steak, sliced as thinly as possible
• freshly minced garlic Notes: 1 tsp
• Shaoxing wine Notes: 1 tbsp, substitute with mirin or dry sherry
• light soy sauce Notes: 1 tbsp
• cornflour Notes: 1 tbsp, cornstarch
• white sugar Notes: 1 tbsp
• water Notes: 1 tbsp
• 1⁄2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• 1⁄4 tsp bicarbonate of soda Notes: baking soda, not to be confused with baking powder, see note 2
• cooking oil Notes: 1 tbsp, see note 3
• dried flat rice noodles Notes: 400 g, 14 oz
• small brown onion Notes: 1, finely sliced
• spring onions Notes: 6, scallions, 11⁄4 inch, cut into 3 cm batons
• dark soy sauce Notes: 2 tbsp
• oyster sauce Notes: 2 tbsp, you can substitute with extra light soy sauce, but there will be less intensity of flavour
• bean sprouts Notes: 250 g, 9 oz
• sesame oil Notes: 1 tbsp