Craving your favorite Chinese takeaway but want something healthier and cheaper at home? This Honey Chilli Beef Fakeaway is the perfect solution! Crispy strips of beef are coated in a sweet, sticky honey-chilli sauce, giving you all the flavor of a restaurant-style dish without the heavy price tag or excess oil. Serve it with rice or noodles for a family-friendly dinner that feels like a treat.
Prep & Cook Time
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 4 people
Equipment Needed
To make this fakeaway recipe at home, you’ll need:
- A wok or deep frying pan
- A mixing bowl for coating beef
- A sharp knife and cutting board
- A spatula or tongs
- Kitchen paper (for draining fried beef)
Ingredients
- 400g beef steak (sirloin, flank, or rump), cut into thin strips
- 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- 1 medium egg, beaten
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Oil for shallow frying
For the Honey Chilli Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (light)
- 1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
For Garnish:
- Sesame seeds
- Fresh spring onions (sliced)
Ingredient Notes
Choosing the right ingredients will give your fakeaway that authentic restaurant-style taste:
- Beef: Use lean cuts like flank or sirloin. Slice thinly against the grain for tender bites. If your beef is slightly frozen, it’s easier to cut into thin strips.
- Flour & Cornflour Mix: This combination gives the beef its light, crispy coating. Cornflour alone can be too thin, so plain flour adds crunch.
- Honey: Provides the sweetness that balances out the heat of the chilli. Use runny honey for the best texture in the sauce.
- Chilli: Fresh red chilli adds heat, but you can use chilli flakes if that’s what you have. Adjust the amount to your spice preference.
- Soy Sauce: Light soy gives saltiness without overpowering. If you like a deeper flavor, add a splash of dark soy sauce.
- Vinegar: Rice vinegar is authentic, but white vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used in a pinch.
- Optional Add-ins: Bell peppers, onions, or baby corn can be stir-fried with the sauce for extra nutrition and flavor.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the beef coating
Place the beef strips into a bowl. Add cornflour, plain flour, salt, pepper, and the beaten egg. Mix well until all beef pieces are coated in a light batter.
Step 2: Fry the beef
Heat oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the beef strips in small batches for 3–4 minutes until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
Step 3: Make the honey chilli sauce
In a clean pan, add honey, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, ketchup, and chopped chilli. Stir and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened and sticky.
Step 4: Combine beef with sauce
Add the fried beef strips into the pan and toss well until each piece is coated in the glossy honey chilli sauce.
Step 5: Garnish and serve
Sprinkle sesame seeds and sliced spring onions on top. Serve immediately with steamed rice or noodles.
Nutrition Facts (per serving, 4 servings)
- Calories: ~420
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Sugar: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
Tips & Variations
- For extra crispiness, double-fry the beef: fry once until light golden, remove, then fry again for 1–2 minutes before adding to sauce.
- If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the honey slightly and increase soy sauce for a more savory flavor.
- Add stir-fried vegetables like peppers, onions, or carrots to make it more filling.
- For a spicy kick, add extra fresh chilli or drizzle with hot chilli oil before serving.
- To make it slightly healthier, you can air-fry the beef instead of deep-frying.
