✅ Step 1: Ingredient List
Here are the main ingredients needed to make Pineapple Beef Dices.
| Category | Ingredient | Quantity | Notes (Emoji & Description) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | Beef (Tenderloin or Round) | 200g | 🐄 Choose beef tenderloin for more tenderness; cut against the grain into dices |
| Pineapple | 150g | 🍍 Peeled and cut into dices; soak in light salt water for 5 mins to reduce astringency and enhance sweetness | |
| Accessories | Bell Pepper (Red, Yellow) | 1/2 each (approx. 100g) | Diced, to enrich color and texture |
| Onion | 1/4 (approx. 50g) | Diced (optional) | |
| Aromatics | Garlic | 2 cloves (approx. 10g) | Sliced |
| Ginger | 1 small piece (approx. 5g) | Sliced | |
| Other | Cooking Oil | 20ml | For stir-frying |
👨🍳 Step 2: Instructions
Making Pineapple Beef Dices emphasizes marinating the beef and controlling the heat; it requires high-heat quick frying to maintain the texture of the ingredients.
- 🐄 Prepare & Marinate the Beef (Key Step):
- Cut the beef against the grain into 1.5-2 cm cubes.
- Place the beef dices in a bowl. Add light soy sauce (10g), oyster sauce (5g), cooking wine (10g), starch (10g), cooking oil (10g), and black pepper (1g). Mix well and marinate for 10-15 minutes.
- 🍍 Prepare Pineapple & Ingredients:
- Peel the pineapple and cut into dices similar in size to the beef. Soak in light salt water for 5 minutes, then remove and drain.
- Dice the bell peppers and onion (if using). Slice the garlic and ginger.
- 🔥 Velvet Stir-fry the Beef:
- Heat the wok, then add an appropriate amount of cooking oil. Heat until 50% hot.
- Add the marinated beef dices and quickly stir-fry until the surface changes color (about 80% cooked). Remove and set aside. Avoid over-stir-frying to prevent the beef from becoming tough.
- 🍳 Stir-fry Aromatics & Pineapple:
- Leave some base oil in the wok. Add the ginger slices and garlic slices and sauté until fragrant.
- Add the bell pepper dices and onion dices (if using). Stir-fry until they begin to soften.
- Add the pineapple dices and quickly stir-fry evenly.
- 🧂 Combine & Final Seasoning:
- Return the cooked beef dices to the wok. Quickly stir-fry evenly with the other ingredients.
- Season with salt (2g) and sugar (5g) to taste, and stir-fry evenly.
- Optionally, thicken with a little slurry (water + starch).
- ✨ Plate and Serve:
- Stir everything evenly and then serve immediately.
🌟 Step 3: Seasoning Ratio & Nutrition Info
Precise seasoning ratios are key to the flavor of Pineapple Beef Dices, especially the balance of salty, sweet, and sour notes.
| Seasoning | Precise Amount (g) | Notes (Emoji & Description) |
|---|---|---|
| Light Soy Sauce | 10g | Provides savory umami flavor |
| Oyster Sauce | 5g | Enhances freshness |
| Cooking Wine | 10g | 🍶 Removes gaminess, adds aroma |
| Starch | 10g | Tenderizes beef, locks in moisture |
| White Sugar | 5g | Balances sourness, enhances freshness |
| Table Salt | 2g | Provides base saltiness; adjust to taste at the end |
| Black Pepper | 1g | Removes gaminess, adds aroma |
| Cooking Oil | 20g | For marinating (10g) and stir-frying (10g) |
💡 Chef’s Tips (TIPS)
- Choosing Ingredients is Key: Choose beef tenderloin (beef fillet) for more tender meat. Choose ripe pineapples for better sweetness and stronger aroma.
- Slice Against the Grain: Cutting dices against the beef’s grain is the crucial first step to ensuring tenderness.
- Marinate Thoroughly: After marinating the beef with starch and seasonings, add a layer of cooking oil at the end to seal in the moisture, making the beef more tender and preventing sticking during cooking.
- High Heat, Quick Stir-fry: Use high heat for quick stir-frying for both the beef and when combining ingredients. Especially for the beef, remove it as soon as it changes color to avoid overcooking.
- Soak Pineapple in Salt Water: Soaking pineapple in light salt water can reduce its astringency and make it taste sweeter.
- Adjustable Sourness & Spiciness: The amount of black pepper can be flexibly adjusted according to personal taste. If you prefer sourness, you can drizzle a little lemon juice or white vinegar before serving.
