Beef Noodles With Spicy Xo Sauce Recipes

BEEF CHOW FUN

Steps:

• Combine the beef and marinade ingredients and marinate for about 1 hour.
• Some fresh rice noodles come as large sheets, while others are already cut. If you have the sheets, slice the rice noodles so they're about 1 inch wide. If the noodles are very stiff and stuck together, bring a wok full of water to a boil, and add the noodles. Blanch them for 30 seconds to loosen. Transfer to an ice bath and drain thoroughly.
• Heat your wok over high heat until smoking, and add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to coat the wok. Add the beef and sear until browned. As long as your wok is hot enough, the meat shouldn't stick. Set aside. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons more vegetable oil to the wok. Add the ginger to infuse the oil with its rich flavor for about 15 seconds. Add the scallions.
• Spread the noodles evenly in the wok and stir-fry on high for about 15 seconds. Add the Shaoxing wine around the perimeter of the wok.
• Next, add the sesame oil, soy sauces, pinch of sugar and the seared beef. Stir-fry, making sure your metal wok spatula scrapes the bottom of the wok. Lift the noodles in an upward motion to mix well and coat them evenly with the sauce.
• Add a bit of salt and white pepper to taste (taste the noodles before adding salt). Add the bean sprouts and stir-fry until they are just tender. Serve!

BEEF AND SNOW PEAS WITH XO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Cover dried shrimp with boiling-hot water in a small bowl and soak 1 hour.
• Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan and add dried scallops (scallops should be completely submerged). Remove from heat and soak 15 minutes. Return pan to heat and simmer over low heat until scallops are soft and pale, about 15 minutes, then remove from heat and cool in cooking liquid. Transfer scallops to a bowl with a slotted spoon, reserving cooking liquid. Shred scallops into "threads" with a fork or your fingers, discarding abductor muscle (abductor will remain solid but scallop meat shreds easily).
• Drain shrimp, discarding any blemished or dark pieces, and chop very finely.
• Heat wok over moderate heat, then add oil, swirling to coat, and heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion, garlic, and chile and cook, stirring gently, until mixture stops steaming, about 3 minutes.
• Add shrimp, scallops, ham, and black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add reserved scallop cooking liquid and simmer over low heat until slightly darkened and most of liquid is evaporated (leaving only oil), 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer sauce to a bowl and cool. Wipe wok clean.
• Make beef and snow peas:
• Toss beef with rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and pepper in a bowl until well coated, then marinate 15 minutes.
• Heat wok over high heat until smoking, then add 1/2 tablespoon oil, swirling to coat, and heat until smoking. Add half of beef and cook, turning over once, until browned, about 1 minute total, then transfer to a clean bowl. Add another 1/2 tablespoon oil and repeat with remaining beef.
• Pat snow peas dry if necessary. Wipe wok clean and heat until hot but not smoking, then add remaining tablespoon oil, swirling to coat. Add snow peas carefully (oil may splatter) and stir-fry until bright green, about 1 minute. Add XO sauce and stir-fry until snow peas are coated. If mixture seems dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons water. Cover wok and cook snow peas until crisp-tender, about 1 minute.
• Add beef with any juices accumulated in bowl and stir-fry until beef is heated through and sauce is thickened, about 1 minute.
• *Available at Kam Man Food Products (212-571-0330).