Panda Express Beijing Beef Copycat (Best Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Mongolian beef and Beijing beef? ›

Beijing beef is lightly coated in egg and cornstarch for a crispier texture, while Mongolian beef is tender when cooked. Mongolian beef is typically milder in flavor, but in some recipes you'll find dried chili peppers which add to the heat level.

Panda Express' Mongolian Beef typically consists of tender strips of marinated beef, wok-tossed with scallions and garlic, and glazed in a rich and savory sauce. The key ingredients that contribute to the dish's distinctive flavor profile include soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, hoisin sauce, and cooking wine.

Less tantalizing is the nutrition content of Beijing Beef, making it a dish to avoid at Panda Express. A 5.6-ounce serving contains 470 calories. Not terrible, but more than half of those (240) are from fat (via Panda Express).

Slice steak against the grain and marinate with baking soda, white pepper, soy sauce, cornstarch and egg white for 30 minutes in the fridge. Cut pepper and onions into 2” pieces. Chop 2 cloves of garlic and set aside. Mix together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, sriracha, and ketchup to form your sauce.

This is a common Chinese cooking technique called velveting the meat. Basically, the meat is marinated in egg whites and cornstarch (other optional seasonings may be added, depending upon what flavor you wish to achieve), then refrigerated for about an hour before cooking.

That's because restaurants use baking soda or cornstarch to tenderize the meat. It's a process called velveting beef. While the beef is tender (artificially so), it's lacking true beefy flavor. I gave up ordering Mongolian Beef years ago once I figured out how to make it better at home.

Velveting is a Chinese method of marinating which keeps delicate meat and seafood moist and tender during cooking.

Here's the short version of Szechuan beef and Mongolian beef: Szechuan beef has a sweet and spicy flavor, and Mongolian beef has a mild taste.

Mongolian beef vs Szechuan beef

Both of these beef dishes are popular Chinese takeout items. Mongolian beef a sweet and savory dish with lots of yellow and green onions. On the other hand, Szechuan beef is usually stir fried with more variety of vegetables and tastes savory and spicy with a hint of sweetness.

Does Panda Express serve authentic Chinese food? A lot of the Chinese dishes sold in Panda Express are not really that authentic because most of them are altered for the American taste. Some dishes are authentic but there are still traces of alteration within the dishes.

What cut of beef is Mongolian beef made from? ›

What's the best cut of beef for making Mongolian Beef? Restaurants often slice up flank steak for this type of stir-fry. It's also a great choice for beginner cooks, because the grain on flank steak is really, really obvious, which makes it easy to make sure that you're slicing against the grain.

Unfortunately, if it's a nutritious meal you're on the hunt for, this one isn't it. "Panda Express's Orange Chicken and Chow Mein are considered unhealthy due to their high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats," says Young.

No MSG added except for that naturally occurring in certain ingredients.

Heads Up! The Beijing Beef at Panda Express does contain milk.

From world-famous orange chicken to delicious chow mein, Panda Express defines American-Chinese cuisine with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food.