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Cumin beef and cucumber salad

These crispy cumin beef and smashed cucumber rice bowls come together in 20 minutes, making the perfect weeknight dinner!

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp sichuan peppercorns
  • 600g/1lb 5oz flank, hangar or bavette steak, sliced into thin strips
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp shaoxing rice wine (optional)
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • � tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 5 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 piece ginger (approx. 5cm/2in), peeled and grated
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 red peppers, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp dried chilli flakes
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • rice, to serve
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 1 tsp chilli oil or chilli flakes
  • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted

Directions:

  • To make the beef, add the cumin seeds and Sichuan peppercorn to a pestle and mortar and grind to a coarse powder.
  • Add the steak to a bowl with the bicarbonate of soda, 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (if using), 1 teaspoon of the ground cumin and Sichuan peppercorns, brown sugar and salt and mix well.
  • To make the cucumber salad, bash the cucumber with a rolling pin then chop it into random sized chunks.
  • Add to a bowl with the garlic, chilli oil and rice wine vinegar and mix well. Top with the toasted sesame seeds.
  • Heat a wok on a high heat and add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Fry the marinated steak until nicely seared and a little charred � about 4�5 minutes, remove to a plate and set aside.
  • Return the wok to a high heat, add the remaining oil and once hot, add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1�2 minutes until fragrant. Add the onion, peppers, remaining ground cumin and Sichuan peppercorns and chilli flakes and stir fry until browned.
  • Return the steak to the pan along with the remaining soy sauce and honey. Toss together and cook for 3�5 minutes.
  • Serve on steaming hot rice with the cucumber salad.