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Garlic Cumin Beef Bites — finished dish, ready to serve.

Garlic Cumin Beef Bites (Better Than the BBQ Stand)

我做的蒜香孜然牛肉粒完爆烧烤店！！ · pan chinese cuisine

4 · 4 reviews
35 min total10 min cooking3 steps spice level 1/5savorycumingarlicky

A home-style take on street-stall cumin beef: tender beef tips are marinated, shallow-fried, then tossed with garlic, oyster sauce, and a bold mix of cumin, chili, and toasted sesame.

Marisol Vega's profile photoMarisol VegaFirst-gen Mexican American mom of three trying to finally write down my abuela's recipes before I forget them. Slow-cooked pozole Sunday regular here. Ask me about mole shortcuts!

Nutrition & allergens

Contains:EggSesameSoyWheat

Some ingredients are not yet allergen-surveyed; this label is not exhaustive.

Per serving (4 servings)

Energy (kcal)
Unknown
Protein (g)
Unknown
Fat (g)
Unknown
Carbs (g)
Unknown
Sodium (mg)
Unknown

Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.

  • beef tenderloin牛里脊肉

    17.64 oz — cut into bite-size cubes

  • Egg ingredient identification photo

    egg鸡蛋

    1.0 piece — half of the egg white used for the marinade

  • Fine salt ingredient identification photo

    salt盐

    to taste

  • white pepper白胡椒

    to taste

  • Ground cumin ingredient identification photo

    Cumin孜然

    0.74 oz — divided: 15 g ground cumin (in marinade and finishing) and 6 g whole seeds (finishing toss)

  • Ciba chile paste ingredient identification photo

    Chili pepper糍粑辣椒

    0.53 oz — finely ground into chili powder; divided: for marinade and for finishing

  • Light soy sauce ingredient identification photo

    light soy sauce生抽

    0.6 oz

  • Potato starch ingredient identification photo

    Potato starch土豆淀粉

    0.32 oz

  • Garlic ingredient identification photo

    garlic大蒜

    5.0 clove — minced

  • Oyster sauce ingredient identification photo

    oyster sauce蚝油

    0.74 oz

  • Toasted sesame seeds ingredient identification photo

    Toasted sesame seeds熟芝麻

    0.32 oz

  • vegetable oil, scallions (finely chopped), light soy sauce, salt, sugar, MSG植物油、小葱末、生抽、盐、糖、味精

    as needed — for deep-frying

Techniques you'll use

  • Marinating ↗

    Season protein ahead with soy, wine, and starch for flavor and texture.

  • Starch-coating chicken ↗

    Prepare a thin coating before cooking chicken for a stir-fry.

  • Deep-frying ↗

    Cook food fully submerged in hot oil for crisp crust and moist interior.

  • Stir-frying ↗

    Cook small pieces in stages, then bring them together while their textures are distinct.

Steps

  1. 1

    Step 120 min

    Off heatMarinating ↗Starch-coating chicken ↗
    Garlic Cumin Beef Bites — step 1 visual checkpoint.

    Cut the beef into bite-size cubes. Add salt and ground pepper to taste, 1 spoon of ground cumin, 1 spoon of fine chili powder, 1 spoon of light soy sauce, 1 spoon of cornstarch, and half an egg white. Mix well by hand and marinate for 20 minutes so the flavor soaks in.

    ✅ Done when: The cubes are evenly coated in the marinade and have rested for a full 20 minutes.

  2. 2

    Step 25 min

    Medium heatDeep-frying ↗
    Garlic Cumin Beef Bites — step 2 visual checkpoint.

    Heat oil to about 60% heat (160-170 C) — when a chopstick inserted forms dense bubbles, add the beef cubes. Deep-fry over medium heat for about 5 minutes; test with a chopstick, and once it slides in easily, remove the beef. Tip: do not use too high a heat when frying the beef.

    ✅ Done when: A chopstick pierces a beef cube easily after about 5 minutes of frying.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Medium heatStir-frying ↗
    Garlic Cumin Beef Bites (Better Than the BBQ Stand) — step 3 visual checkpoint.

    In a clean pan, saute minced garlic with oyster sauce until fragrant. Add the beef cubes, then 1 spoon of ground cumin, 1 spoon of cumin seeds, 1 spoon of toasted sesame seeds, and 1 spoon of chili powder. Toss and stir until evenly coated.

    ✅ Done when: The garlic is fragrant and every beef cube is evenly coated with the spice mix.