Ingredients:
For the beef:
1 pound (450g) flank steak or sirloin steak, thinly sliced against the grain
1/4 cup cornstarch
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the sauce:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
1 teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to taste)
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions:
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
In a bowl, season the sliced beef with salt and pepper, then toss it with cornstarch until evenly coated.
Once the air fryer is preheated, lightly coat the air fryer basket with vegetable oil or use a non-stick cooking spray.
Place the coated beef slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Air fry the beef slices at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. The beef should be crispy and golden brown.
While the beef is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and chili flakes.
In a separate small bowl, dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in 1 tablespoon of water to create a slurry.
Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced bell pepper and onion, and sauté until they are slightly softened.
Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet with the bell pepper and onion. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
Once the beef is crispy and cooked, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
In a large bowl, toss the crispy beef with the sauce until evenly coated.
Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
Enjoy your homemade crispy chili beef made in the air fryer! Serve it with steamed rice or noodles for a delicious Chinese-inspired meal.