How to make beef stir fry that actually tastes of something?

[SheWoreYellow]

I follow recipes but every time it’s so, so bland.

What am I doing wrong?

Maybe the wrong recipes. There are so many online and even in books. Many are shit. I cooked something in the cookbook from a famous chef/cook and it was very bland. Though I'd done it wrong. Googled. Everyone said the same.

I would use hello fresh

beef stir fry - could add all of: beef stock, worcester sauce, BBQ sauce. Should make it good??

Are you marinading the beef? This recipe is the closest I could find to the one I cobble together at home www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/mains/korean-barbecue-beef-stir-fry-with-noodles

I use a combo of Oyster and soy sauce for all of my stir fries. Maybe a touch of chilli if you like a bit of spice.

Garlic, ginger, and chilis. The trifecta of Szechwan cooking. Also a bit (not too much) of Shaoxing rice wine. A bit of soy sauce (low salt).

I use this combination with good results for stir fries and even Moo Shu mushrooms or pork.

Is it the beef that is bland? Are you using the right cut.

www.recipetineats.com/easy-classic-chinese-beef-stir-fry/

This is the recipe you need - all of her stir fry recipes are excellent.

We make up her all purpose sauce and keep it in the fridge. It genuinely tastes like a good takeaway.

I often used to cook Ching He Huang's Beef in Oyster Sauce a few years ago. That was very tasty if you can find it online

I second LoveFall. I get my Shaoxing rice wine from an Asian supermarket. Use red vinegar if you can't get it for a bit of sour to add to your sweetness.

I make a sort of version of this (without the star anise) www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chinese-braised-beef-ginger

Not a stir fry. But it’s far from bland

When I do stir fry I marinade the beef overnight in teriyaki sauce.

Brilliant everyone. I have gone through all the suggestions. I started with the hello fresh idea and have basically used that and added a few other bits. I’ve also marinaded, which I’ve not been doing recently.

I’m interested in the braised beef recipe though, might try that another time.

I’m not sure about the cut of beef, it’s just Sainsbury’s beef escalope.