Crispy Beef Ninja Air Fryer Recipe

A close-up shot of a savory, glossy brown meat dish Crispy chilli beef with glazed sauce and fresh peppers, green onions, and cilantro, served in a dark speckled bowl.

Crispy beef, sticky five-spice glaze, no wok required.

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Prep time: 15 mins, plus 10 mins marinating
Cook time: 21 mins
Serves: 4
Dietary: NF (contains gluten, soy, sesame)

All the crunch of a takeaway crispy beef, without a pan of hot oil or the clean-up that follows it.

The cornflour coating is what does the work, and a Kitchen Curated silicone liner stops the sticky five-spice glaze welding itself to the basket. Serve it with rice or noodles and it feeds four.


Ingredients

For the beef

  • 4 x 150g minute beef steaks, very thinly sliced into strips
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 peppers, red or yellow, seeds removed and cut into chunks
  • 2 onions, cut into 2cm chunks
  • 1 red chilli, seeds removed, sliced
  • 1½ tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp cornflour
  • 2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
  • 2 spring onions, sliced on an angle, to serve
  • Freshly cooked rice or noodles, to serve (optional)

For the glaze

  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds, black and white or whatever you have
  • 5 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp tomato ketchup


Steps

  1. Marinate the beef: Combine the beef strips with the soy sauce in a bowl and set aside for 10 minutes.

  2. Cook the vegetables: Preheat your air fryer to 190°C (375°F). Toss the peppers, onions and chilli in ½ tablespoon of the vegetable oil, then cook on your Kitchen Curated silicone liner for 10 minutes.

  3. Prepare the glaze: Set aside about a teaspoon of sesame seeds for sprinkling. Combine the rest with all the glaze ingredients, pour over the cooked vegetables and return to the air fryer for 2 minutes. Remove and set aside in a bowl.

  4. Cook the beef: Preheat to 200°C (390°F). Mix the cornflour, five-spice and remaining oil with the marinated beef until evenly coated. Cook in a single layer with space to circulate, in batches if needed, for 7 minutes, shaking halfway.

  5. Combine: Return the vegetables to the air fryer for 2 minutes to heat through, then toss with the crispy beef.

  6. Serve: Top with the spring onions and reserved sesame seeds. Serve with rice or noodles.


Recipe tips

  • Works just as well with chicken.
  • The beef can marinate up to 3 hours ahead, and the vegetables can be cooked the day before.
  • For the crispiest result, eat it straight away.


Crispy chilli beef in a glossy five-spice glaze with red peppers, spring onions and sesame seeds, served in a dark speckled bowl.


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