Salt and Scallion Beef Bowl

A popular, internet-famous comfort meal featuring tender, pan-seared beef strips tossed in a fragrant, aromatic salt and scallion oil served over fluffy rice.

Ingredients

• 300 g beef, thinly sliced
• 1 bunch scallions
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• to taste black pepper
• to taste sea salt
• 2 servings steamed white rice

Instructions

1. 1Make the scallion oil

   

   Place the chopped scallions and minced garlic into a heat-proof container. Carefully pour smoking hot oil over the mixture to release the essential aromatics.

   Tip: The oil should be hot enough to sizzle immediately upon contact with the aromatics, cooking off their raw bite.
2. 2Season the aromatics

   

   Add black pepper, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and dark soy sauce to the hot scallion oil. Stir vigorously with chopsticks until all the ingredients are fully combined into a savory sauce.

   Tip: Apple cider vinegar adds a bright, tangy note that perfectly balances the richness of the hot oil and beef.
3. 3Prepare the beef marinade

   

   Place the thinly sliced raw beef into a mixing bowl. Add a single fresh egg yolk and a small pinch of baking soda to the meat.

   Tip: Using baking soda and an egg yolk is a classic technique to intensely tenderize the beef, keeping it silky and juicy when pan-fried.
4. 4Massage the meat

   

   Put on a clear plastic glove and vigorously massage the egg yolk and baking soda into the beef by hand. Ensure every strip of meat is evenly coated and the liquid is absorbed.

   Tip: Mixing by hand ensures the marinade fully penetrates the meat fibers without breaking the slices apart.
5. 5Season and marinate

   

   Add black pepper, sea salt, and a splash of olive or corn oil to the beef. Mix everything thoroughly until the beef is evenly coated and the marinade is absorbed.

   Tip: The addition of oil helps lock in moisture, keeping the beef tender while it cooks.
6. 6Pan-fry the beef

   

   Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the marinated beef strips in a single layer and fry them until they develop a beautifully browned crust on the surface.

   Tip: Do not overcrowd the cast-iron pan or stir too frequently. Let the meat sear undisturbed for a moment to achieve a proper browning.
7. 7Add butter for richness

   

   Once the meat develops a nice crust drop a small piece of butter into the pan and let it melt over the slices to enrich the overall flavor.

   Tip: Adding butter towards the end of frying prevents it from burning while imparting a rich nutty taste.
8. 8Add the scallion sauce

   

   Pour the previously prepared salt and scallion oil mixture directly over the browned beef in the skillet. The hot pan will immediately release the aromatic oils of the scallions and garlic.

   Tip: Lower the heat slightly when adding the sauce so the garlic and scallions dont burn and turn bitter.
9. 9Toss and finish

   

   Use chopsticks to quickly toss the beef and the scallion sauce together. Stir-fry until the sauce becomes fragrant and coats every piece of beef evenly, then turn off the heat.

   Tip: Keep the stirring quick and brief; the goal is just to warm the sauce and coat the meat without overcooking the beef.
10. 10Serve over rice

    

    Spoon the hot, savory beef and scallion mixture out of the pan and serve it generously over a bed of steamed white rice. Make sure to drizzle any remaining aromatic oil from the pan over the rice for extra flavor.

    Tip: The scallion oil and meat juices will soak into the rice, making every bite incredibly delicious.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions