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Home > Meal Type > Main Dishes > Takeout Style Cantonese Beef and Tomato

Takeout Style Cantonese Beef and Tomato

Updated: Nov 2nd 2019 • Published: Jan 23rd 2019 • 8 Comments

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a white bowl of beef stir fry with text at the top
close up on the beef stir fry with text at the top

Restaurant style Cantonese beef and tomato stir fry is so easy to make at home and tastes better than takeout. This delicious Chinese recipe is healthy and quick to make. Plus the sauce is delicious over rice or make it even more healthy and serve with stir fried veggies.

This is one of my Dad’s favorite takeaway dishes so making it at home and gluten free is a big plus in our house!

Cantonese beef and tomato stir fry in a white bowl with rice in the background

I know a lot of people have said to me that they just can’t recreate takeout food at home. That the meat ends up tough and the sauce is always missing the special something. Well today I am going to give you a FOOLPROOF way to have super tender beef at home.
Plus we will take about getting that authentic takeout flavor!

Jump Menu

  • How to Tenderize Beef Strips for Stir Fry
  • So which cut should I buy for beef stir fry?
  • How to cut beef for stir fry
  • How to make your stir fry taste like a takeout
  • Which tomatoes should I use?
  • What to serve with beef and tomatoes stir fry
  • Tips for making Cantonese Beef and Tomato Stir Fry
  • Takeout Style Cantonese Beef and Tomato Stir Fry

How to Tenderize Beef Strips for Stir Fry

Have you ever bought the packets of beef strips for stir fry only to have your beef end up tough?

It is because those packets don’t use the expensive cuts of beef. It makes sense they won’t sell beef fillet for the price of chuck.

BUT there is a quick and cheap solution that will give you tender beef strips!

The answer is baking soda! (Also called Bicarb, Bicarbonate of Soda and Sodium Bicarbonate) it will break down the fibres in the meat and leave it so tender. SERIOUSLY WE ARE TALKING THE MOST TENDER BEEF STRIPS YOU HAVE EVER EATEN!

How to tenderise beef with baking soda

Sprinkle just a small amount of baking soda over the beef and then stir to coat.
Then let the meat sit for 15 minutes before washing really well to remove the baking soda.
The meat will change color and will be so tender!
Pat it dry before you fry it to ensure it gets nice and crisp and doesn’t sweat as you cook it.

This will work for the packets of stir fry beef or for any cut of beef you want to buy.

split picture showing beef being sprinkled with baking soda

So which cut should I buy for beef stir fry?

Using the baking soda trick you don’t need to lay out for beef fillet, you can use the more economical cuts and still have melt in the mouth tender beef.
I suggest using:

  • Flank Steak
  • Skirt Steak
  • Stir Fry Strips
  • Rump Steak Strips
  • Round Steak
table view of a white bowl of beef stir fry with tomatoes, a bowl of rice in the back ground with a blue napkin and black chopsticks

How to cut beef for stir fry

If you have bought a whole steak then how you cut the meat can have a big impact on how tender it is!
I KNOW CRAZY RIGHT!

The trick to super tender beef is to find the way the grain of the meat runs and then cut across the grain. This allows the meat to just fall apart in your mouth.
If you cut with the grain you will end up with tougher strips of beef.

Have a look at the picture below for an easy visual, in the first picture you can see the lines running along the meat. This is the grain of the meat. And you want to cut across this as shown in the second photo.

Split picture showing the grain of the flank steak and how to cut against it

How to make your stir fry taste like a takeout

The key to getting that great takeout style flavor is to use the right ingredients.

In some dishes like my Beef and Broccoli that includes a couple of different easily available sauces. But this Takeout Style Cantonese Beef and Tomato really only uses one ingredient that might not usually be in your pantry.

That is Chinese Rice Wine, also known as Chinese Cooking Wine or Chinese Shaoxing Wine.

You can buy it in the grocery store, it will be in the Asian section. BUT if you really can’t find it then dry sherry is a great substitute. Don’t confused Chinese Rice Wine with rice wine vinegar…. your stir fry will be gross if that happens!

Which tomatoes should I use?

The recipe specifies fresh tomatoes unfortunately canned tomatoes don’t work here.
You can use any fresh tomato, but I recommend either standard tomatoes or roma tomatoes. Beefsteak tomatoes tend to be on the large size and don’t soften fully, whilst cherry tomatoes area little small and turn easily to mush.

close up on the onions and beef in this chines beef stir fry

What to serve with beef and tomatoes stir fry

Serve this delicious Takeout Style Cantonese Beef and Tomato with rice for a takeout style dinner.
Or for those cutting back on the carbs it is equally delicious with cauliflower rice.

Alternatively add a bowl of noddles on the side!

Find out why a frying pan is the perfect pan for cooking your stir fry in.

All the information can be found here.

Tips for making Cantonese Beef and Tomato Stir Fry

  • Prepare the beef correctly by cutting across the grain and then marinating in baking soda (see above for detailed pictures)
  • Prepare your onion, garlic and tomato before you start cooking. Chinese stir frying is quick cooking so you need everything prepped and ready.
  • Mix the sauce ingredients together before you start cooking, but ensure you whisk it well before you add it to the pan.
  • Don’t let the beef or tomatoes cook for too long, you want everything to be crisp and just cooked.
  • For the best heat use a flat bottom skillet/fry pan (see above for why)
  • For a truely authentic flavor grab a bottle of in Chinese rice wine also known as Chinese Cooking Wine or Chinese Shaoxing Wine. You can find it in the Asian section of the grocery store or online. It will make ALL the difference.

Enjoy x

For more delicious takeout inspired meals checkout:

  • Beef and Broccoli
  • Happy Family Stir Fry
  • Wandering Dragon Stir Fry
  • Chicken and Snow Peas
  • Ginger Shrimp Stir Fry

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4.29 from 7 votes

Takeout Style Cantonese Beef and Tomato Stir Fry

Restaurant style Cantonese beef and tomato stir fry is so easy to make at home and tastes better than takeout. This delicious Chinese recipe is healthy and quick to make. Plus the sauce is delicious over rice or make it even more healthy and serve with stir fried veggies
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time5 mins
Marinade Time15 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 4
Calories: 282kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)

Ingredients

US Customary – Grams

For the Stir Fry

  • 1 lb beef – steaks or stir fry strips (see Note 1)
  • 2 tsp baking soda (see Note 2)
  • 1 onion – yellow/brown/white
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 lb fresh tomatoes (See Note 3)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil

For the Sauce:

  • 3 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Chinese rice wine (See Note 4)

Instructions

To Tenderise the Beef

  • If using beef steaks, slice beef the beef across the grain, into 1/4″ / 0.5cm thick strips (see bulk of post for detailed pictures).
  • Place the beef strips in a non-metallic bowl and sprinkle with baking soda and gently mix so all the beef is fully coated.
  • Set the beef aside for 15 minutes.
  • Rinse the beef extremely well and then pat it dry with kitchen paper. (See note 5)

Prepare the vegetables.

  • Peel the onion and cut into thick wedges.
  • Peel and finely chop the garlic.
  • Cut each tomato into 6 wedges.

Prepare the sauce:

  • Mix the corn starch, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and Chinese rice wine together in a small measuring cup. Set aside.

To cook the stir fry

  • Place a heavy based fry pan or wok over high heat.
  • Once hot add the 1 tablespoon of oil to it and swirl gently.
  • Add the beef and cook quickly for 2 minutes.
  • Remove the beef from the pan and set to one side.
  • Add the remaining oil to the pan and stir fry the onion until just starting to color. Add the garlic and tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Give the sauce a stir and then add it to the pan along with the cooked beef.
  • Stir well and cook for a further minute until the sauce thickens.

Notes

  1. You can either use a packet of beef stir fry strips or choose a beef steak. Any of the following will work:
    • Flank Steak
    • Skirt Steak
    • Stir Fry Strips
    • Rump Steak
    • Round Steak
  2. Baking soda is also called Bicarb, Bicarbonate of Soda and Sodium Bicarbonate, it will break down the fibres in the meat and leave it so tender.
  3. You can use any fresh tomato, but I recommend either standard tomatoes, plum tomatoes or roma tomatoes. Beefsteak tomatoes tend to be on the large size and don’t soften fully, whilst cherry tomatoes area little small and turn easily to mush.
  4. Chinese Rice Wine, also known as Chinese Cooking Wine or Chinese Shaoxing Wine. You can buy it in the grocery store, it will be in the Asian section. If you can’t find it then dry sherry is a great substitute. Don’t confused Chinese Rice Wine with rice wine vinegar…. your stir fry will be gross if that happens!
  5. Ensure you dry the beef really well so it stir fries rather that sweats when you cook it.

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1339mg | Potassium: 761mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 945IU | Vitamin C: 19.7mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 3.3mg
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Filed Under: All Recipes, Chinese New Year, Main Dishes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sandra says

    Jan 13th 2021 at 2:36 pm

    I prepared this dish & followed recipe … result….delicious!! the family enjoyed it.
    best taste ever

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jan 13th 2021 at 10:17 pm

      I am so pleased you enjoyed it Sandra 🙂 Cx

      Reply
  2. Kaz says

    Jul 11th 2020 at 11:41 pm

    5 stars
    The base is lovely. I add in my own extras for my families likes. A little goes a long way.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Sep 21st 2020 at 12:19 pm

      LOVE that you could adapt it to your families preferences Kaz!
      What did you add? I am sure others might be interested to see how the recipe can be adapted.
      So pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
      Cx

      Reply
  3. Molly says

    Jan 29th 2019 at 1:39 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so tasty! I will definitely need to try it soon…

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Feb 22nd 2019 at 1:12 pm

      I know you’ll love it, the beef is so tender!!!!

      Reply
      • Yao-Hsin Dawes says

        Jul 10th 2019 at 1:22 am

        Can I prepare the beef with baking soda and freeze the meat for later use or will the meat totally fall apart?
        Thank you

        Reply
        • Claire McEwen says

          Jul 10th 2019 at 2:02 pm

          I have prepared the beef ahead of time and then kept it in the fridge for a day and that worked fine. But I have never tried popping it in the freezer afterwards. I’m thinking as long as it was really well dried it should work. But any water left on the meat may cause ice crystals which could affect the meat as it defrosts.

          Sorry I couldn’t give you a more definite answer. I will try it in the coming weeks and update the recipe 😀

          Reply

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Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

I believe cooking for those you love should be stress free and simple.

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