Paleo Mongolian Beef
Paleo Mongolian Beef with juicy sizzling tender steak stir-fried in a savory and naturally sweet sauce. Better than PF Chang’s and much healthier, lower in carbs, and with no added sugar. Guarantee everyone will love in the family!
If you love authentic Taiwanese cuisine, you’ll also love my Mongolian chicken and Mongolian shrimp!
What is Mongolian Beef?
Mongolian Beef is the western translation for 葱爆牛肉 Cōng bào niúròu in Mandarin. It literally means beef with scallion and ginger stir fry. Originally Mongolian beef was a BBQ dish, created by chef Wu Zhaonan in Taiwan. The dish features sizzling hot and tender beef, stir-fried with garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and scallions in a light and sweet soy sauce.
Is Mongolian beef spicy
Mongolian beef is not a spicy dish. Although chili peppers are often included in the recipe, it’s mainly used to fragrant the oil and to add color contrast. You can use fresh or Chinese dry red chilies. If use fresh chilies, remove the seeds will make the dish less spicy. If use whole dry red chilies, leave them in whole and don’t slice or dice them open or otherwise it will be too spicy.
Is Mongolian beef healthy
In Chinese-American style cooking, Mongolian beef is often made with hoisin and soy sauce, and it’s often thickened with cornstarch. The starch in the sauce adds extra calorie and carbs to the dish. Store bought hoisin sauce often contains added sugar. If you want to lose weight or maintain your blood sugar level, you’ll need to pay closer attention.
Be that as it may, there are many healthy version of Mongolian beef stir-fries has no added sugar and no cornstarch, and is gluten-free. The dish tastes super flavorful because of the aromatics (ginger, scallions, and chili peppers) and I guarantee you’ll love it the first bite!
Is Mongolian beef gluten-free
Mongolian beef can be made gluten-free with special seasonings such as gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos (gluten-free and soy-free soy sauce substitute). Although it’s not difficult to find gluten-free hoisin sauce – an ingredient often found in Chinese-American style dish – it’s often made with high content of sugar, cornstarch, and other additives. You can try adding my homemade gluten free hoisin sauce.
Pairing suggestions
Mongolian beef is often served with steamed or fried rice. For a lighter and lower in carb version, serve with cauliflower or broccoli fried rice. It also goes well with creamy mashed sweet potatoes.
To add more vegetables, I recommend serving them on the side. Here are some great recommendations – Chinese broccoli stir-fry in garlic sauce, Sauteed snow pea leaves, lemon garlic broccoli, baby bok choy dim sum, and Chinese cabbage stir-fry.
If you give this dish a try, be sure to rate the recipe and leave a comment below.
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Paleo Mongolian Beef (Whole30, Keto, Gluten-Free)
Video
Ingredients
Beef Marinade:
- 1 lb skirt steak, beef flap, or sirloin , thinly sliced against the grain
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp Red Boat fish sauce
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3-4 tbsp avocado or olive oil
Aromatics:
- 3 large cloves garlic, , finely minced
- 3-inch length thinly sliced ginger, , from index through ring finger quantity
- 2 whole red chili peppers (fresno or serrano), , remove seeds, slice to thin strips
- 3 bulbs scallions, , cut into 3-inch length. Separate white and green parts.
Instructions
- Thin slice beef against the grain. Add ingredients from coconut aminos to baking soda. Mix well and set aside in the fridge.
- In the meantime, prepare garlic, ginger, scallions, separate white and green parts, and remove the chili pepper seeds and slice them to thin strips
- In a well-heated stainless steel skillet or cast iron, add 2 tbsp cooking fat. Pan fry the beef in one layer without disturbing over medium-high heat until crisp brown, about 2 minutes then quickly sear the flip side, about 30 seconds. Set the beef and the pan juice aside.
- Start the skillet dry and add 1 more tbsp cooking oil, saute aromatics with a pinch of salt until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add beef back to the skillet and green scallion parts. Quickly toss to coat the flavor for another 30 seconds. Serve hot and immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Want to learn how to make beef stir-fry tender? check out this blog post on beef stir-fry technique 101!
You really nailed it on this one! This was my first recipe to make of yours, and it most definitely won’t be the last. I’m so stoked that I found your website-Thank you!
So lovely to meet you here too, Erin ! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate it !
So DELICIOUS!! My husband and I made it tonight and will definitely be adding this to our rotation. Loved the flavor and better than take out! Whole30 for the win ?
That’s so awesome. Thank you Laura !!
What veggie do you usually pair with this delicious dish? Thanks for great recipes. You’re one of my most used and favorite blogs!
Mixed green salad ! :))
I made this for my husband and I while doing a whole 30. We both agreed that this was spicy and delicious! I used steak tips(flap meat). Thank you so much for the recipe!
I just made this dish today and wow, it’s amazing! I used a red bell pepper and low sodium soy sauce in place of the chili pepper and coconut aminos. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe–I’ll certainly be making this again very soon. 🙂
That sounds lovely ! I’m hungry just thinking about this super uber delicious Paleo Mongolian Beef. Thanks for sharing with us here, Jenae ! :))
what is the serving size? I cook for 2 so that i can have leftovers
Hi Laura, it’s for 4 people. But to be honest with you this dish is ridiculously yum ! My husband finished them in one setting. :))
omg that looks good
Thank you, Stacey ! Really really love this Paleo Mongolian Beef dish !
I just made this for dinner and it’s delicious! I’m not a fan of chilli so used a red bell pepper (extra veggie woo) and served it with cauliflower ‘rice’. Thank you for sharing!
That sounds fantastic, Kirby ! Thank you for sharing with us ! 🙂
What can I use instead of fish sauce?
Hi there, you could try the following method to substitute fish sauce.
1. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in room temperature water overnight. Check out this tutorial for more info – https://iheartumami.com/shiitake-mushrooms-baby-bok-choy/
2. Use the mushrooms and the mushroom water and add 2 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 cup of water, and 1 tsp sea salt. Bring it to boil over medium heat until reduced by half. Let it cool and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
This method will give you a similar umami flavor but it still will taste different from the real fish sauce.
Wow! I had no idea you just posted this until after I made it. I was lucky to be in the mood for Mongolian beef after January7th, lol. It was the tastiest dinner I have made in a long time. That sauce is the best thing ever. It was the first meal I made in the wok I got for Christmas, and I cannot think of a better first meal. I couldn’t find a red chili pepper, so I used 1/4t red pepper flake, which worked out well. Keep up the good work!
You are so very welcome ! My family loves this Paleo Mongolian Beef as well ! It has become one of our regular meals on a bi-weekly if not weekly rotation ! :))
ButcherBox has the BEST meat! This Mongolian beef looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it with my next box.
This looks like such an easy dish with amazing flavors! Another easy dinner to add to the dinner rotation!
Wow this looks amazing and I’m totally craving it now! I can’t wait to make some!
This looks so delicious and flavorful! I’m adding it to the menu next week- my husband will love it!
I’m so in love with your photos for this one. This looks delicious – so hearty and meaty – full of nutritious veggies with robust colors and flavors. Nice one!
I’ve never heard of Butcher Box but I would love to give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion.
I love the flavors in this this and the ease of preparation! You explain all the details so well. I will be making this often 🙂 Thanks
Thanks so much Stacey ! We love this dish very much too !
Tried this recipe. Absolutely love it. Simple and delicious !
Thanks so much !
I love the background about the Mongolian beef and what it actually means! This looks amazing! One of my kiddos is a huge beef lover – she would love this! Thank you for the detailed instructions to make it as authentic as possible!
That’s awesome. Thanks, Renee !
This looks perfect! Going to make it this week. Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome, Katja !