Sichuan steak tartare recipe by Dan Hong (2024)

This dish is all about the seasoning.

Nov 17, 2014 1:00pm

By Dan Hong

  • 25 mins preparation
  • 10 mins cooking
  • Serves 6
  • Sichuan steak tartare recipe by Dan Hong (1)

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"Steak tartare is all about the seasoning," says Hong. "It has to be almost too tasty to make it the dish it is. Salty, sour, sweet, you can basically use steak tartare as a vehicle for the flavours of any cuisine you like: it's just about applying the elemental flavours of that cuisine and topping them with a raw egg yolk. Sichuan food has lots of chilli oil, Sichuan pepper and dried roasted chillies, while a Vietnamese version might feature plenty of fresh, mixed herbs like coriander, Vietnamese mint, lemongrass and, of course, fish sauce. I've also played with Thai (lime leaf, roasted rice, lime juice, chilli, fish sauce) and Mexican (dried chipotle, coriander, served with tortilla chips) versions of this dish. To make Sichuan steak tartare, it's important you use the best-quality piece of beef you can afford. I use tri-tip (a triangular cut from the bottom of the sirloin) because it has a good texture and chew, rather than using fillet, which is a bit too soft. To appreciate the texture and quality of the beef, it must be chopped by hand, regardless of which cut you use."

Ingredients

  • For frying: vegetable oil
  • 10 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
  • To serve: cassava crackers (see note)
  • 1 small handful baby coriander, to garnish
  • 1 telegraph cucumber, sliced diagonally

Dressing

  • 1¼ tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1¼ tbsp sugar syrup (see note)
  • 2½ tbsp Chinkiang black vinegar (see note)
  • 2½ tbsp mirin
  • 150 ml light soy sauce
  • ½ tsp garlic, finely grated
  • 2 tsp ginger, finely grated

Beef tartare base

  • 400 gm piece of beef tri-tip
  • 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 4 tbsp Lao Gan Ma chilli oil (see note)

Method

Main

  • 1

    For the dressing, whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.

  • 2

    Remove all visible sinew from the beef with a sharp knife, then cut into very small 4mm x 4mm cubes. Put in a bowl and add the spring onions, chilli oil and 160ml of the dressing. Combine everything with clean hands until the ingredients are nicely mixed together. Cover and set aside.

  • 3

    Heat vegetable oil in a heavy-based saucepan to 150C. Gently add garlic and stir continuously until light golden (3-5 minutes), then quickly scoop out with a sieve or slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Cool. Fry the cassava crackers in oil, according to the packet instructions. Divide the tartare mixture among 6 plates. Sprinkle each plate with some fried garlic and top with baby coriander. Serve immediately with the fried cassava crackers and cucumber slices on the side.

Notes

Note Cassava crackers are available at Asian grocers; prawn crackers or deep-fried wonton skins work well, too. For sugar syrup, combine equal parts sugar and water, bring to the boil, then cool. Chinkiang black vinegar, a black rice vinegar, and Lao Gan Ma chilli oil, a blend of oil, chilli flakes and peanuts, are available from Asian grocers. This recipe is from Mr Hong ($49.99, hbk), published by Murdoch Books and has been reproduced with GT style changes.
Drink Suggestion: A juicy, light- to medium-bodied red. My pick: Jean Foillard Fleurie from Beaujolais. Drink suggestion by Franck Moreau

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Sichuan steak tartare recipe by Dan Hong (2024)

FAQs

What is the best meat for steak tartare? ›

While chefs may disagree on which cut of meat makes the best steak tartare, they all agree on one thing: It's essential to start with the freshest meat from a quality source, such as your local butcher shop. According to Martha Stewart, beef tenderloin is the best choice for steak tartare.

Why is steak tartare healthy? ›

As you start to digest that steak tartare, you won't only get a delicious snack, but you can also get a great serving of vitamin B as well. There have even been some studies that have linked the vitamin B in raw beef to better reproductive health.

Is steak tartare a starter or main? ›

A classic recipe, this steak tartare is a celebration of beef. Use the best ingredients, like fillet steak, to let the flavour of the raw meat shine. Serve with golden brown toast for a delicious starter or a showstopping main.

Is the egg in steak tartare raw? ›

It was formerly made of horse meat. It is usually served with french fries. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, steak tartare (tatarský biftek) is found in many restaurants. The meat is ground lean sirloin and has a raw egg yolk in a dimple in the middle.

Can I use grocery store beef for tartare? ›

It's best to get meat directly from a specialized butcher, not a supermarket where the risk of contamination is higher.

Can you make tartare at home? ›

How To Make Beef Tartare At Home
  1. Finely chop the beef. ...
  2. Place the meat in a mixing bowl, then refrigerate. ...
  3. When ready, add everything to the bowl with the chopped beef: melted butter, chopped onion, chopped cornichons, capers, Worcestershire, Dijon, grated garlic, a pinch of Kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Nov 2, 2023

Can you use frozen beef for tartare? ›

The reason why this step is a must, is simple. Placing a filet somewhere cold like the freezer helps the meat become firmer, making it significantly easier to work with. Whether the filet is hand-minced or placed through a grinder, a colder and stiffer cut will maintain its shape better.

What kills the bacteria in steak tartare? ›

What kills the bacteria in steak tartare? If you're making steak tartare the traditional way a chef prepares it there is nothing that kills the bacteria. This is a common misconception and myth.

What is the parasite in steak tartare? ›

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a cellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The cat is the primary host in the parasitic life cycle, and the illness is spread by contact with infected cat feces or ingestion of raw infected meat (such as 'steak tartare') or water.

How do I make sure my steak tartare is safe? ›

Processed meat, such as ground beef, is at a greater risk for bacteria exposure. When meat is processed through a grinder, a larger surface area is then exposed to potentially harmful microbes. So, when choosing the meat for your steak tartare, you should skip that pre-packed ground beef and go with whole cuts instead.

Is beef tartare legal in the US? ›

In order to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that all beef be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that raw beef dishes like beef tartare are not considered safe to eat in the United States.

What is another name for steak tartare? ›

Another name for beef or steak tartare is beefsteak à l'Américaine. This was a reference to the French believing that Americans were so coarse that they would eat their beef raw. This does not explain why the French would consider this dish a delicacy, but the tongue-in-cheek aspect of it is amusing.

Who invented steak tartare? ›

The other theory states that it comes from French Polynesia, where it is common to consume raw meat and was popularized in hotels of French origin in the early twentieth century, a time in which the prestigious chef Auguste Escoffier carries out an update of several sauces, including the tartar sauce.

How is steak tartare prepared? ›

Put the meat into a bowl with the capers, shallots, parsley, oil, gherkin, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Mix together lightly with 2 forks, then spoon into the centre of 2 chilled plates and shape into a neatish round. Make a small indentation in the top and add an egg yolk to each one.

How is meat prepared for steak tartare? ›

Trim the beef, discarding any sinew, then finely chop using a large, heavy knife. Put in a bowl and add the shallot, cornichons, capers and parsley. Add the mustard and hot sauce to taste. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

How to make Gordon Ramsay's tartar sauce? ›

Gordon Ramsay Tartar Sauce
  1. Condiments.
  2. • 1 tbsp Capers.
  3. • 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard.
  4. • 1 Dill pickle, small.
  5. • 1 tbsp Lemon juice, fresh.
  6. • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise.
  7. • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce.

References

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