What is Sesame Beef? A Look at This Classic Chinese Takeout Dish

Sesame beef is a beloved Chinese-American dish that has become a menu staple at restaurants across the U.S. With its crisp fried beef coated in a sweet, savory sesame sauce and showered with toasted sesame seeds, it’s not hard to see why sesame beef is such a hit. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the origins, ingredients, and flavors that make this dish so crave-worthy.

A Brief History

While it may seem like sesame beef has been on Chinese takeout menus forever, its origins are much more recent. Sesame beef was invented in the 1950s or 1960s in Chinese restaurants in New York City. During this time, many Chinese eateries were creating new dishes like sesame chicken to appeal to American tastes. The combination of crispy beef strips bathed in a sticky sesame sauce proved to be a winning formula. Over the decades, sesame beef grew in popularity across the country and became a staple takeout order.

So while sesame beef isn’t an authentic Chinese dish, it does take inspiration from Chinese cooking methods like velveting beef and using aromatic ingredients like ginger, garlic, and sesame. The crispy texture also mirrors popular Cantonese crispy beef dishes. So even though sesame beef was invented in America, you can see the roots of Chinese cuisine in this recipe.

The Anatomy of Sesame Beef

While there are some variations, sesame beef has some standard ingredients and preparation steps:

Beef

Flank steak or sirloin are usually used, sliced very thin across the grain This ensures tenderness The beef is often marinated briefly to impart flavor.

Batter & Frying

The beef slices are tossed in a cornstarch batter then fried briefly at high heat to create a crispy coating

Sauce

A sauce is made by combining broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and aromatics like garlic and ginger. The balanced sweet, salty, tangy sauce clings to the crispy beef.

Toasted Sesame Seeds

An abundant garnish of toasted sesame seeds provides nutty crunch and sesame aroma. Scallions are also a common garnish.

Getting the right crispy fried texture and properly reduced sauce is key to great sesame beef. But when done right, the components come together into the perfect bite!

Regional Variations

Like many Chinese-American dishes, sesame beef can vary from restaurant to restaurant:

• Some versions are sweeter while others are more savory. Spice is sometimes added as well.

• Batters range from velveted beef to dredges of cornstarch, flour, or egg.

• Frying methods include pan frying, deep frying, or baking for a lighter option.

• Flank steak is most common but sirloin, ribeye or other cuts can be used too.

• Onions, broccoli, bell peppers or other veggies are sometimes cooked with the beef.

• Chicken can be substituted for a lighter take on sesame beef.

Part of the appeal of sesame beef is getting to sample the different renditions restaurants put their own spin on!

Tips for Making Restaurant-Worthy Sesame Beef at Home

Recreating the perfect takeout-style sesame beef might sound intimidating. But follow these tips and you’ll be sinking your teeth into tender, crispy sesame beef in no time:

• Cut beef thinly against the grain for tenderness
• Marinate briefly to impart flavor
• Use high heat for crispy fried texture
• Fry in batches to avoid steaming beef
• Let beef rest after frying to maintain crispness
• Reduce the sauce until thick and glossy
• Toast plenty of sesame seeds for strong aroma and crunch
• Don’t skimp on the seed garnish! They make the dish

Serving Suggestions

There are many tasty ways to enjoy sesame beef:

• Serve over a bed of steamed jasmine rice to soak up the sauce
• Pair with stir-fried veggies like broccoli or bok choy
• Stuff into lettuce wraps for a low carb option
• Mix with chow mein noodles for fun crispy textures
• Top fried rice or lo mein noodles for a complete meal
• Enjoy with an ice-cold beer like Tsingtao to cut the richness

Get creative with your sides and sesame beef transforms into a different dish every time!

Healthier Sesame Beef

While traditionally made with steak and deep-fried, some simple substitutions can lighten up sesame beef:

• Use flank steak or sirloin tip for leaner cuts
• Bake, broil or pan fry instead of deep fry
• Chicken breast has less fat than beef
• Coat in cornstarch rather than batter
• Cauliflower rice instead of white rice
• Sautéed veggies like spinach or zucchini

With just a few tweaks, you can still get all that irresistible sesame flavor in a healthier homemade version.

Top Takeout Joints for Sesame Beef

If you don’t feel like cooking, hit up one of these spots known for serving up excellent sesame beef:

• P.F. Chang’s – Chain restaurant offering tender crispy beef in savory sauce

• Hunan Taste – NYC & LA eateries with spicy renditions of the classic dish

• Lucky Dragon – Long-standing Portland, OR restaurant with perfectly fried sesame beef

• Café Asia – Beloved Bay Area spot with huge portions of addictive sesame beef

• Hing Kee Restaurant – San Francisco Chinatown joint with rave reviews of their sesame beef

Seek out sesame beef from restaurants doing it just right. After all, part of the joy is finding your personal favorite version!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common sesame beef questions:

What cut of beef is best? Flank steak is the most popular but sirloin or ribeye also work well. Go for uniform thin slices.

Does it freeze well? Yes, just store cooled sesame beef in airtight containers or bags. Thaw overnight before reheating.

Can you bake instead of fry? Absolutely, baking at high heat works too. Just watch it closely so beef doesn’t dry out.

What’s the difference between General Tso’s chicken and sesame beef? While both saucy fried dishes, General Tso’s has a sweet, sour and spicier flavor profile. Sesame beef is more savory and sesame focused.

Is sesame beef spicy? Most versions are mildly spicy at most. Some restaurants kick up the heat by adding chili paste or Sichuan peppercorns.

Savor the Savory Sweetness

From its crispy yet tender beef coated in an irresistible sesame glaze to the satisfying crunch of toasted seeds, it’s easy to understand the enduring popularity of sesame beef. This Chinese-American classic offers a harmony of flavors and textures that will have you going back bite after bite.

So the next time a sesame beef craving hits, grab the takeout menu or your wok and enjoy this flavorful dish. Just one taste and you’ll see why sesame beef has earned its place as a beloved menu item at Chinese restaurants across the country.