Description
Spicy Beef Noodles is a quick and flavorful stir-fry dish using ground beef, fresh peppers, and wonton wrappers as noodles, all coated in a spicy, tangy sauce made with soy, hoisin, and lime juice. Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe offers a deliciously balanced meal with a satisfying kick, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 medium Fresno pepper, thinly sliced (or substitute red bell pepper)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 4 green onions, finely chopped
Sauce
- 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 teaspoon cornstarch
Noodles
- 12 ounces wonton wrappers (cut in half and stretched as noodles)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Cook Aromatics and Beef: Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Add avocado oil and sliced onions; cook for 3 minutes until onions soften. Add ground beef and break it into smaller pieces while cooking. Continue cooking until the beef is mostly browned, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Peppers and Garlic: Stir in the sliced Fresno pepper and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until they soften slightly and release their aroma.
- Prepare and Add Sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, Sambal Oelek, and cornstarch until smooth. Pour the sauce into the wok and bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Let the sauce thicken slightly, about 1-2 minutes.
- Cook Noodles: While the meat cooks, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add sesame oil. Cut wonton wrappers into quarters to form noodle-like pieces. Separate the pieces and add them to boiling water. Cook for 1-2 minutes until tender but not mushy. Remove noodles with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the wok with the beef. Reserve ¼ to ½ cup of the starchy cooking water.
- Combine Sauce and Noodles: Add ¼ cup of the reserved starchy water into the wok and stir to combine. Gently toss the noodles in the sauce and beef mixture to coat evenly.
- Finish and Serve: Add the chopped green onions, toss everything together one final time to mix, and serve immediately while hot and flavorful. Enjoy your spicy beef noodles!
Notes
- You can substitute Fresno pepper with red bell pepper if you prefer milder spice.
- Sambal Oelek quantity can be adjusted to increase or decrease the spiciness.
- Wonton wrappers cook quickly; avoid overcooking to maintain a good texture.
- Reserving starchy water helps to achieve a glossy, slightly thickened sauce.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce and gluten-free hoisin sauce.
