Description
A quick and flavorful Spicy Beef Noodles recipe featuring tender ground beef, vibrant Fresno peppers, and savory hoisin soy sauce, tossed with delicate wonton wrapper noodles. Ready in just 20 minutes, this stir-fried dish offers a perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and umami for an easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 medium Fresno pepper, thinly sliced (or use red bell pepper)
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 4 green onions, finely chopped
Oils and Sauces
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons Sambal Oelek ground chili paste (or more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Other Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 12 ounces wonton wrappers (cut in half and stretched as noodles)
Instructions
- Prepare the wok and sauté aromatics: Heat a wok over medium-high heat, add the avocado oil and sliced onions, cooking for about 3 minutes until they start to soften.
- Cook the beef: Add the ground beef to the wok, breaking it into smaller pieces with a spatula. Cook until mostly browned, around 3-5 minutes.
- Add peppers and garlic: Stir in the sliced Fresno pepper and garlic, cooking for an additional 1 minute until slightly softened and fragrant.
- Make and add the sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, Sambal Oelek chili paste, and cornstarch. Pour this sauce mixture into the wok, bringing it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 1-2 minutes.
- Cook the noodles: Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil with the sesame oil. Cut the wonton wrappers into four pieces and separate them carefully. Boil the noodles for 1-2 minutes until tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the noodles directly into the wok with the beef and sauce mixture. Reserve ¼ to ½ cup of the starchy cooking water.
- Combine noodles and sauce: Add ¼ cup of the reserved noodle water to the wok and stir to loosen the sauce, then gently toss the noodles into the sauce and beef mixture to coat everything evenly.
- Finish with green onions: Add the chopped green onions, toss again, and serve immediately while hot and flavorful.
Notes
- Wonton wrappers serve as a fast and unique alternative to traditional noodles.
- Adjust the amount of Sambal Oelek according to your preferred spice level.
- Reserving some noodle cooking water helps achieve a silky sauce consistency.
- If Fresno peppers are unavailable, red bell peppers can be used as a milder substitute.
- This recipe can be customized by adding vegetables like bell peppers, snap peas, or carrots for extra nutrition.
