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This 10-minute hoi sin beef and noodles dish is so easy it’s really more of an idea than a recipe. You can cut a few corners and still end up with a healthy, freshly-prepared home-cooked meal.
I’ve probably (OK then, definitely) become a little lazier lately when it comes to cooking meals for myself and Mr. Scrummy. For instance, this was me the other day when shopping for this hoi sin beef and noodles recipe: “Hmm, I need some stir-fry veggies – is that a packet of ready-prepared on special offer? Oh and it’s got water chestnuts and beansprouts in it – bonus!” Into the shopping basket they went along with a bag of straight-to-wok noodles for two.
Until fairly recently, I used to feel a little like I SHOULD or even HAD TO chop, whisk, wash or whatever absolutely every element of a dinner myself to feel like it was a good one. It probably came from my time living in Greece where convenience foods aren’t so much of an option.
But really, Helen … why? Seriously, get over yourself. I’ve come to realise that there’s no shame at all in grabbing a couple of ready-chopped or portioned this or that to help yourself out on a busy day.
So if you cut a few corners by buying ready prepared veggies and/or noodles (heck, even ready chopped steak if you like, although personally I stopped short at that!) this meal seriously takes ten minutes to get on the table. The sauce is just plain old hoi sin sauce with a little water, so you whisk that up then prepare your noodles and stir-fry your veggies and put them aside. You stir-fry your beef in a hot wok for, literally, 1 minute (any more and you’ll end up with tough meat), then add your sauce and bubble for barely half a minute more.
And … done. Just layer your noodles and veg in your dishes and top with the beef and sauce and a sprinkling of sesame seeds if you have them.
Now you might remember how saucy Mr. Scrummy is from this sticky banana and caramel pancakes post, so I made double the amount of sauce that most similar recipes seem to call for. That was about right for us as hoi sin is a pretty strong flavour, but you might even want to serve up a bit more sauce (just microwave for 20 or 30 seconds and serve alongside in a little dish) for drizzling just in case you end up with a few dry noodles at the bottom of the dish (horror of horrors).
This is just a really basic recipe, obviously, but you can ‘jazz it up’ a bit if you like by frying a bit of grated ginger with a small finely chopped chili before you add the beef. But with or without the extra heat and spice, I really hope you try this idea soon!
And of course you don’t have to be as lazy as me – it’s totally fine to chop your own veggies and cook your noodles if you prefer. You will still amaze your family/friends/dog by how fast you get that mighty tasty plate of food on the table! 🙂
Serves: 2
- rice or egg noodles (I used 225 grams/8 ounces fresh rice noodles)
- roughly 300 gram/10.5 ounce packet of stir-fry vegetables (see note below)
- roughly 225 gram/8 ounce rump steak (or any steak of your choice), sliced into about 1cm-wide strips
- 4 good tablespoons hoisin sauce, mixed with 60ml/2 fluid ounces water (see note below)
- sesame seeds for sprinking
- Prepare your noodles according to the packet instructions, then tip into a large bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Meanwhile, heat a large drizzle of oil in a wok or deep frying pan and stir-fry your vegetables for 3 to 5 minutes until tender. Toss them with the noodles.
- Add another large drizzle of oil to the pan and stir-fry the beef on a high heat for 1 minute. Add the sauce and let bubble with the beef for 20 to 30 seconds longer (no more or the beef will overcook).
- Serve the noodles and veggies out into bowls, then top with the beef and sauce. Sprinkle the beef generously with sesame seeds and serve a little more sauce on the side if you like (see note below).
My packet of vegetables included onion, cabbage, peppers, carrot strips, water chestnuts, beansprouts and a Chinese vegetable that I don’t know the name of 😉 But, of course, chop your own veggies if you prefer!
Make a little extra sauce for drizzling if you like. Just mix together a bit more hoi sin sauce and water, microwave for 20 to 30 seconds and serve in a little pot with a spoon.
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Hehe the vegetable that I hate chopping or grating most is carrot so I understand if you don’t want to do your own chopping! This is still made in your kitchen 😀
Exactly! (I hate chopping carrots, too!)
This is my kind of dinner, Helen! I’ve definitely “given in” to convenient foods like frozen stir-fry vegetable mixes. My vegetable chopping skills are the wooooorst. It probably takes me four times as long as the normal cook as I go super slow trying to make sure all the pieces are evenly-sized. This sauce is so easy, and I love the flavor of hoisin. Definitely an ideal weeknight dinner!
Oh, I get so bored chopping veggies, too! Really hope you give this a go some time, Alyssa.
After a long and stressful workday, I like to get a little help with dinner whenever I can get it too! This 10-minute is prefect for a weekday. And so yummy too!
Totally agree, Thao! Glad you like this!
Well you had me at 10 mins.. 😉 love love love we meals that can be prepared in a jiffy especially something so delicious like this.. so yumm!!
Hi Arpita! Really happy you like this meal! 🙂
That is what I love about stir-frys – they can be made really quickly, and better than ordering Chinese.
Yes, definitely better than ordering a takeaway … and quicker, actually! 🙂
You had me at 10 minutes. What a delicious quick dish, I’m loving it.
Thanks, Janette! 🙂
Hi Helen, there is nothing wrong with a little help, love dishes like this as you can add most anything you want. take care!!
Yeah, that’s true! I love basic recipes that you can add to and change easily. Hope you’re having a good week, Cheri!
I’m totally with you, Helen! I started out feeling like everything needed to be homemade… and I mean everything! I’d make my own damn bread for sandwich for goodness sakes! Then I finally realized, this is ridiculous! All of that is great on occasion, but on a day-to-day basis it just isn’t practical. So a meal like this is PERFECT! Great flavors and a fantastic meal in just 10 minutes… sign me up!
Totally agreed … it’s OK to go all out sometimes, but also OK to cheat on busy days i.e. nearly every day! 🙂
Sometimes, I find myself cutting corners too – and for those times – this is perfect! Can’t beat a dish that’s ready in 10 minutes and jam packed with flavor!
Glad you agree with me, Shashi! 🙂
Of COURSE there is no shame. Helen, life is busy enough as it is! I get ready shredded coleslaw, pre sliced meat etc all the time. And anyway, arguable, hoisin and oyster and all those aother common Asian sauces are no different – they are “ready made”, right? Is that cheating? No! So neither is this!
I love that this is more of an “idea” than a recipe. A formula! That’s what I call it 🙂 Pinning!
Totally agree. It’s just a mindset I got into at some point, that I had to make everything myself … so silly (and unnecessary!!) You’re right that this is more of a formula, Nagi, because exactly the same meal could be made with different kinds of ‘premade’ asian sauces. Love it!
You know what, I completely relate. I mean a little help in the form of precut veggies or bottled sauce is hardly the McDonald’s drive through. And this little beauty that you’ve come up with looks delicious and like you slaved over it! Can’t wait to try it…hooray for easy, yummy meals!
Ha! Good way to put it, Marissa! At least it’s still a home cooked meal … and a pretty tasty one at that!
Love how convenient this dish is Helen! There is not enough time for everything! Pinning to try it! Looks yummy!
Thanks for the encouragement and pin as always, Mira! 🙂
You had me at 10 mins Madam H. Fab recipe as usual and I am pinning to revisit.
Ha! Thanks so much for the kind words, Lovely Bintu! 🙂
Ha! Helen I went through that too…. So hard sometimes to get motivated! Sometimes I get myself excited just so I can take the gorgeous photos 🙂 This looks really delish though…and easy 🙂
Glad I’m not the only one, Mila! Glad you like this … it’s certainly easy!
You sold me with 10 minutes, Helen! I had a dish somewhat similar to this years ago, so I’m excited to see this recipe! Sounds so flavorful! I must try your version out!
Ooh, please do try it, Gayle! 🙂
Helen, we have a saying here in America “beef” it’s what’s for dinner! This looks divine. I just want to down it…for breakfast. Is that weird? I love beef. And I’ve been lazy about cooking lately too, I guess it’s just the wind down of end of summer. I laugh when I see the phrase “rump roast” every time. Hehe.
Haha … so what do you call rump steak in the US? It’s funny how we use different terms for things so much, isn’t it? I feel pretty honoured that you wanted to eat this for brekky! 🙂
I would gladly come and chop everything for you if I can leave with a big delicious bowl home! Seriously, it looks so good. Have to make it next week 🙂
Oooh, yes please! That sounds like a perfect swap! 🙂
It really depends on my mood, but I’ve totally used those pre-chopped veggies before. Some days you gotta do what you gotta do! And hey, this stir fry looks awesome…so good life choices all around.
Thanks for the validation, Joanne, and for saying this looks good, because I know you’re a vegetarian and would probably rather stick your head in a hot oven than eat it!!
Hope you have a great week! 🙂
These 10 minutes noodles look so delicious. So flavorful and full of yum!
Thank you, Anu … and thanks so much for passing by!
Love these beef noodles, Helen! I’m all for quick + easy dinner ideas, this looks fab! Definitely another recipe of yours I will try! 😀
Thank you, Jess! I feel really honoured that you want to try this (as usual!)
When I’m feeling lazy I just throw the frozen dumplings into the skillet, or I order pizza.lol So, this is not lazy at all! I use some short cut ways to fix lunch almost on a daily basis, and this is definitely a must-try! Your photos are so gorgeous!
Thank you so much for saying you like my photos, Maggie! (blush blush!)
We all need some easy and delicious meals and if I can get one on the table in less than 10 minutes like your beauty, I am all about cutting corners. Heck, even in China they cut corners and they have like a bizillion pre-made different sauces, so why not give them a try. Loving your gorgeous photos! Just pinned!
Thanks so much for the approval of my laziness and for the pin, Bam! 🙂
your right up my alley with this dish, quick, tasty, lots of color.
Glad you like it, Steve!