Copycat PF Chang's Mongolian Beef tastes just like PF Chang's version, but is made much healthier, and cheaper, at home!
A couple weeks ago during girl’s weekend, my Mom and I decided to pop into PF Changs for a delectable dinner out.
Right away we agreed to split an entree, as they’re usually plenty big enough for two. One order of my Mom’s favorite Chinese dish of all time – Mongolian Beef – comin’ right up!
The first bite was simply sensational. The thinly sliced beef melted in our mouths, while the consistency and taste of the subtly-sweet sauce was spot on.
It was nearly, dare I say, perfect.
Only nearly perfect though, because the teeny-tiny plate sitting on our table was hardly enough for one, AND it was overflowing with 5 times as many green onions as pieces of beef!
“Where’s the BEEF?!” we wanted to shout!
“I’m going to write a letter.” my Mom declared, in between bites of delectable but hard-to-find meat unearthed from an endless supply of green onions.
My Mom’s a letter writer. If you mess with her, she will totally tell someone about it.
“Mom, don’t write a letter.” I tried to reason with her. “This is clearly a travesty, but nobody at PFC’s really cares what we think,” knowing she’d write one anyways.
Which, obviously, she did. And, obviously, got a $25 gift certificate in the mail because of it!! “Uh-HUH!” she exclaimed when she ripped open the letter.
This recipe’s for you, Mom.
May you never have to write another Mongolian Beef related letter ever again.
Why buy overpriced, undersized, nearly non-existent Mongolian Beef (chicken, or salmon!) at a restaurant, when you can easily make it at home?!
Ingredients
- 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2-1/2 Tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1/2 bunch asparagus, trimmed then cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 garlic cloves, grated or finely minced
- 1 inch knob of ginger, peeled then grated or finely minced
- 1/2 cup gluten free reduced-sodium Tamari, or soy sauce if not gluten free
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3 green onions, cut into thirds
- cooked rice, for serving
Directions
- Toss the flank steak with cornstarch in a plastic bag until all the pieces are coated. Empty the beef into a colander then shake off excess cornstarch. Set aside.
- Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add asparagus then saute for 1 minute. Add garlic and ginger then saute until extremely fragrant, 30 seconds, being careful not to let the garlic burn. Add Tamari, water and brown sugar then turn heat down to medium and let the sauce simmer for 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into a bowl then set aside.
- Heat remaining 1-1/2 Tablespoons oil in the same skillet over high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring every so often, until it is just barely cooked. Some pink still showing is ok. Add the sauce with asparagus back into the skillet, turn the heat down to medium-low, then simmer until sauce reaches your desired thickness.
- Stir in green onions then serve over cooked rice.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
For your next Fakeout Takeout, you should try this: http://rasamalaysia.com/chinese-food-recipe-cashew-chicken/
I promise you will not be sorry. It’s the best cashew chicken I’ve ever had, and the baking soda trick alone is worth my weight in gold.
Made this tonight for hubby and I – used a bit less soy sauce because I ran out, but it was delish! Definitely a repeat recipe for us…thanks!!
Kristin, I know you made Asian-inspired meals often, and they look fabulous! I am adding this one to our menu this month. I was curious what brand of soy sauce you usually buy? They all seem to taste a bit different and I am looking for a good one. TIA!
I use Kikkoman. It’s the absolute BEST!
Oh my gosh!
Your BPWW posts crack me up. It is the exact same in our house and because my boy is off work for the month, he has been ‘helping’ around the house. What a mess!
I don’t take pictures though because they would just fraustrate me. I am a virgo…we are OCD by nature!
Just made this….and though my hubs isnt home yet I have already tried two bites….so good!
My sauce isn’t as “rich” looking as yours. I think I put too much cornstarch which makes it look more cloudy. Oh well…it still tastes amazing!
Do you ever have trouble finding flank steak? I have a hard time finding it in the Twin Cities.
My weird quirk is that I absolutely cannot get into an unmade bed. I will make it just before I climb in, if need be. Drives the hubs nuts.
Yay, Morgan! I do the same thing. Yeah, my OCD has the husband scratching his head often!
Wowwww this looks so good and legit!! Great job :)
What’s the name of your business, Joe?
Yum, I love this dish but I agree, the portion size was sad! You always give us the best recipes <3
WOW
that looks amazing! such beautiful presentation! :)
Thanks for posting!
I cracked up when I read your weird quirk. Guilty as charged here! I will scrub my floors with a toothbrush, but my car looks like a homeless person resides in it. I could not care less, either. Double love the post as I have been trying (desperately) to re-create PF Chang’s Mongolian Beef for my main squeeze who is also guilty of the random assault on my cabinets after emptying the dishwasher. My kitchen shears (which have their own slot in the knife block) have been MIA for 3 weeks. Oh, well. They will turn up eventually. :)
That’s so funny about the spoon! If my husband cannot find what he is looking for in .02 seconds he asks me where it is. God forbid he open a drawer or a cabinet to poke around for something! Gotta love living with a man!
That dinner looks so yum! It’s going on my recipe to-do list!
I know what you mean – I’ve got my DH and 3 DSs……all I hear all day is…”Mom, where’s the…..” and it’s always right where it’s supposed to be….GRRR!! It’s lonely being the only girl (OK, so not true – I’ve got 4 men to spoil mom rotten! just waiting for them all to realize it!
I think I’ve bookmarked about 10 of your recipes in the last week alone.
I refuse to leave the house in the morning unless the bed is made… and I can’t go to sleep at night (most nights) unless the dishes are clean (SF apartments rarely have dishwashers!)