Sichuan Water-Cooked Beef (Shui Zhu Niu Rou)
Silky beef slices poached in a fiery, numbing chilli broth over crisp greens, finished with a splash of sizzling hot oil.
- Time40 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.38 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 604kcal
- 22.9gcarbs
- 7.9gof which sugars
- 43.6gfat
- 14.9gsaturates
- 28.6gprotein
- 6.4gfibre
- 1.4gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Mix the beef with 1 tbsp soy sauce, the Shaoxing wine and cornflour and leave for 15 minutes.
15 min - 2
Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a wok over a medium high heat. Fry the chilli bean paste for 1 minute until the oil turns red, then add the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds.
1 min 30 s - 3
Pour in the hot water, the second 1 tbsp soy sauce and the sugar and bring to a boil. Add the Chinese leaf and beansprouts, simmer for 2 minutes, then lift the vegetables out with a slotted spoon into a large deep serving bowl.
2 min - 4
Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer. Slide the beef in slice by slice, separating it, and poach for 1 to 2 minutes until just cooked and pale. Tip the beef and all the broth over the vegetables.
2 min - 5
Scatter the dried chillies, Sichuan peppercorns and spring onions over the top.
- 6
Heat the last 6 tbsp oil in a small pan until it shimmers and just begins to smoke. Pour it over the chillies so they sizzle and release their smell. Stand back as it spits. Serve at once with rice.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
