Crispy Mongolian Beef (PF Chang's Hack) | Woo Can Cook

Hello hi everyone! Wesley here. This is a recipe for a Crispy Mongolian Beef from PF Chang's that adds to our series on Chinese American food hacks, where we deconstruct Americanized Chinese classics, identify their American qualities, and reconstruct it with a more authentic and traditional approach to Chinese cooking. This dish is a super simple and delicious approach to a crispy flank steak stir fry that uses a corn starch coating for a crispy wok sear. Hope you try it!
Woo Can Cook is a series where we reproduce fun foods and recipes from my childhood. Some of them are authentically Chinese and/or pan-Asian, but a lot of them are odd Americanized versions that I inherited from my parents and grandparents while growing up in the Bay Area/California. We're live streaming every Tues/Thurs at 6:30PM PST, Weds at 6PM PST, with new recipes out every Friday!
Homebase (Recipes, Livestream Schedule, Music, and More): WooCanCook.com
Music: Feel it Still | Woo Cooks Beats (lofi beats to cook to): / @woocooksbeats
Instagram (random nonsense and Sammy cameos): / woocancook
KZbin Live (Streaming Live Tuesdays/Thursdays at 6:30PM PST, Wednesdays at 6PM PST!): / woocancook
RECIPE (written version):
WooCanCook.com/mongolian-beef...
00:00 Hello Hi Everyone!
00:52 Mise En Place (veggies)
01:39 Mise En Place (sauce)
02:14 Mise En Place (flank steak)
03:10 On The Stove
04:37 Let's Eat (PF Chang's Version)!
05:10 Mise En Place (veggies)
05:57 Mise En Place (sirloin steak)
06:56 Mise En Place (sauce)
07:39 On The Stove
08:33 Let's Eat (Woo Can Cook Version)!
09:22 Thanks For Watching!

[@sttvoyager1727]

Dude! You “have got MAD SKILLS”...Thank you sir!

[@WooCanCook]

thanks! :-D

[@kathigritsgirlzvintage9513]

I made this recipe this past week for my brother since Mongolian Beef is his favorite. I followed the Woo Can Cook alternative recipe with a few modifications since the sauce was way too heavy on certain ingredients for my preference. My Marinade: 2 T. Soy Sauce, reduced sodium 1 T. Sesame Oil 1 T. Rice Cooking Wine 1/2 tsp. White Pepper marinated Angus Top Sirloin slices for 30 minutes and added 3 tsp. cornstarch and mixed. My Sauce: 1.5 T. Dark Soy Sauce 1 T. Black Vinegar 2 T. Brown Sugar 2 T. Soy Sauce, reduced sodium 1 T. Rice Cooking Wine 1/4 c. Chicken Stock (I didn't have any beef stock on hand) Finished with the cornstarch slurry. Plenty flavorful and really good. My brother loved it!

[@WooCanCook]

nice!

[@lumyaibowden5636]

Thank you for teaching I very Appreciate it

[@WooCanCook]

😀 thank you!

[@ssoozee]

New sub. I just found you-you’re amazing! Making edible Asian food has always eluded me, but I feel so encouraged after watching you make my hubby’s favorite meal. Thank you!

[@WooCanCook]

Yayyy thank u!!

[@puffypitty202]

I will try this recipe. It's look is perfect! Can't stop thinking about it and my mouth is watering ☺️

[@WooCanCook]

Nice! Let me know how it goes 🥰🥰

[@MrSobaudon]

This channel is awesome, thanks for starting this series.

[@WooCanCook]

:-D thanks!

[@normlor]

I LOVE THIS RECIPE!

[@WooCanCook]

🥰

[@jesusislord3611]

Looks delicious! Thanks for the helpful tips!

[@WooCanCook]

:-D ya! Let me know if u try this one

[@rondonalves2897]

it is delicious. one of my favourite dishes. when i lived in dubai, this is the only food that tastes like seasoned brazilian food I'm used to eat.

[@ankon212]

Best music! I love it!

[@WooCanCook]

Thanks 🥰🥰

[@doodoobrown3928]

i use a club soda + baking soda + cornstarch marinade that makes the top sirloin super tender and kinda flakey. ill try adding some extra stuff to it to make it better.

[@WooCanCook]

nice!! let me know how it goes :-D

[@illadocious1698]

I came for the recipe but the music kept me hooked!

[@WooCanCook]

haha nice!!

[@luispagan4758]

Looks delicious and love the music. Thanks

[@WooCanCook]

thanks!

[@starrwilson6818]

Looks awesome. Thanks.💜🙏🏽

[@WooCanCook]

Thank you!

[@apanda4204]

Love your video, ty!

[@WooCanCook]

thanks! :-D

[@gino423]

Love the PF Chang stops.....Generals chicken my favorite

[@WooCanCook]

ooh nice thanks! we did general chicken a few months back too, actually! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hp3SpYR5h81_rtU

[@ProjectSibanda]

Incredible recipe bro, gonna try this soon

[@WooCanCook]

yayy thanks! let me know how it goes :-)

[@WithLoveAndkindness]

Love this content 👏

[@WooCanCook]

Thanks!

[@zita-lein]

Wonderful!

[@WooCanCook]

thanks!

[@ToobiFoods]

Wow,mouthwatering

[@WooCanCook]

Thanks!

[@CaptainReverendo]

Great vid. Love the music too. I’ve had success with a similar recipe but do use a tsp of baking soda in the marinade.

[@WooCanCook]

nice! thanks :-D

[@mblakr7397]

Wow, looks so delicious. I'm such a phenatick of Oriental Cuisine. Michael

[@WooCanCook]

🥰🥰thanks!

[@Tmidiman]

Looking forward to trying this. After eating real Chinese I can’t eat PF Changs anymore, because it tastes like candy. Gross!! Your version looks like it tastes so much better. Thanks!

[@WooCanCook]

Nice!! Let me know how it goes 🥰

[@dealomarilla1753]

Just subbed on. I enjoyed the content, really nice breakdown of P.F Chang, it's one of my favorite restaurants. I love the CASIO keeping it 80's

[@WooCanCook]

Yayy thanks!

[@hmcpimpslap480]

That background music was on point!!!👍🏾

[@WooCanCook]

Thanks!

[@bensebaugh6017]

I have done that before, the finished beef is gummy when you add to dry starch, if you make the beef in a thin starch slurry with egg white and then flash fry and pull... or use minimum amount to barely coat the beef and flash fry.. oil blanch, whatever you want to call it it will remain in the beef but not overcome the surface. The browning is better at the end and fast rather than the beginning on the edge of the oil but I get that if you are trying to show this to people with a weak burner. A weak burner can still heat oil to blanch though.

[@2Wheels_NYC]

First time here sir! I definitely prefer yours, thanks for the recipe!

[@WooCanCook]

thanks!

[@dampaul13]

Try cutting the white part of your green onions at an angle so they don't roll away. MSG in white pepper?

[@WooCanCook]

nice!

[@toms206]

Just made the second version, wow.

[@WooCanCook]

Nice! 🥰🥰

[@nasgorseleranusantara]

Yummy

[@WooCanCook]

🥰🥰

[@s.o7896]

Hey, recently discovered your channel. You are underrated man!! Keep it up! Also, could you make a video on P.F. Chang’s cashew chicken?

[@WooCanCook]

yayy welcome to the channel! Cashew chicken is on my list! As soon as I remember to finally buy some cashews, haha.

[@step4560]

Just found you and immediateley subbed. Your channel is amazing! Keep doing what you are doing and you will go far - very far. I know because I've been around the youtube block for a while and I can always pedict who will be successful. You'll have your 100 K in no time... ❤🐾

[@WooCanCook]

🥰🥰 thank youu!

[@paynehollis]

What are you using to peel your ginger? I do the spoon thing but I’m always looking for better ways. Thanks for the video!

[@WooCanCook]

ooh yeah! i use the flat side of a spoon, which i find the most effective. for bulk prep, i also try and buy the largest pieces of ginger as possible, cause i find the smaller that the pieces of ginger are, the harder it is to peel. good luck...!

[@simonhawker9277]

there are as many variations on this as there are people who make it, all very good

[@WooCanCook]

Yes!!

[@ThatGuy-ot1gt]

Well done!

[@WooCanCook]

thanks!

[@BUFUNFAEDINDIN]

wow delicious video

[@WooCanCook]

Thanks!

[@aprx1814]

As someone who spent years as a corporate trainer there and is the reason for the sesame chicken recipe change years ago. This isn't even closer

[@aprx1814]

I do want to try his version though, sounds fire

[@catatfeline]

I just realized you're a fellow lefty! No wonder your videos seem so easy to follow! 😍

[@WooCanCook]

Haha yess!! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@youdontcare7]

Some of the better Mongolian beef recipes I've had also have the white onions, and that's my preference too. I don't see it as often as I'd like though! Thanks for making the video.

[@WooCanCook]

Thanks!

[@thomascool1335]

I love your Sabatier knife

[@WooCanCook]

Haha thanks! It’s actually a vintage pernot knife, which is a close copy of the sabatier (the main difference being the bevel at the handle is slightly different). I also thought it was a sabatier when I found it at an estate sale too, until I took a REALLY close look at the inscription. Either way, still a really cool find 🥰🥰

[@patriciakudzia3086]

Looks yummy, but I am having trouble finding the print recipe on your site. Is it there?

[@patriciakudzia3086]

Found it!!!

[@WooCanCook]

yeah! the recipes are all up on the website. www.woocancook.com/mongolian-beef-pfchangs

[@jimboshelplesscafe4079]

How could white pepper contain MSG if it does not contain glutamic acid in the first place. Or are you using a specific product where it is added? White pepper comes from the same plant as black pepper I think?

[@WooCanCook]

hey jimbo! totally! I find MSG added in white pepper as part of blends in a lot of chinese grocery stores (you can even see it on the ingredients list if you look closely). on further review though, ive actually been fairly successful in finding white pepper without msg in it, which has been my preference in more recent dishes. Let me know if u try this one!

[@StrongStyleNinja]

If WOO can cook, so can YOO!!

[@WooCanCook]

🥰🥰🥰

[@claytongross5657]

Stuff looks fantastic. My biggest problem is that I can't do spicy food 😕

[@WooCanCook]

Yayy thanks! This one is fairly mild, actually. Let me know if u give it a try!

[@claytongross5657]

@@WooCanCook I definitely will 😊

[@TheNizoubizou]

i'm definitely trying your recipe and thank god you made a youtube video, reddit media player is so laggy

[@WooCanCook]

haha nice! let me know how it goes :-)

[@kwanies1638]

How was the recipe?

[@ericagrneyez1839]

Making this as we speak...I added a little more yum for the sauce..including ginger..but turns out so good

[@WooCanCook]

ooh yay awesome! glad it came out well :-)

[@clintwestwood2731]

What about the mushrooms?

[@mattolika]

I let you down Woo I am sorry, I made this but ended up with mulch :( too much corn flour I think. On to the next one!

[@WooCanCook]

oh noooo! haha yeah, that's exactly what happened to me the first time, though. It's all in the way that you sear the beef. If it's not seared thoroughly, it'll shed off the corn starch, and you'll end up with a hot hot mess, and sad times will be had :-(. let me know what you try next!

[@andreafelgemacher7436]

What does Long Yao mean?

[@WooCanCook]

Yeah totally! A “long yao” is a process that comes from Chinese wok cooking where we add room temperature oil to a ripping hot wok. This process plays a critical role in developing a non-stick surface in your wok (as opposed to adding cold oil to a cold wok, then heating it up). Some restaurant chefs do this process with very large amounts of oil (half a cup or more) to maximize the non-stick surface, then pour off all but 4 tbsp, since they will eventually use up that oil during their normal day of cooking. Home cooking in smaller volumes works just as well with 3-4 tbsp of oil, though. Let me know if u try it!

[@_MythicalWolf]

I would probably mix the first and second. 99% of the first with just a couple ingredients of the second like the peppers. The second one is like 80% of ingredients I don’t like or can’t get lol

[@WooCanCook]

nice! Let me know how it goes 😀

[@jorad4887]

He looks like he's cooking and studying for his exam at the same time.

[@gstri5800]

Is it my speakers or is the background music overpowering the narration

[@WooCanCook]

little of column A, little of B. unbiased mix/mastering is hard, lol :-|.

[@mariaswanda4759]

Music is too loud, distracts from narration. Otherwise good video & recipe

[@ricxander85]

It's probably just snowflakes ❄️

[@tonytsiknas6262]

Sidney

[@WooCanCook]

:-o

[@SamSamthereal]

I wonder what makes this "Mongolian"

[@WooCanCook]

haha yeah, I wondered this as well. Turns out...nothing at all. Mongolian beef 100% comes from taiwan (and then popularized in america). As far as I can tell, the word "mongolian" was attached at some point, without any real connection to mongolian cuisine, haha.

[@bensebaugh6017]

The green onions are unusual to most take out places, but definitely not a PF creation. I swear I had a version of this back in the early 80's as a kid that I strive to replicate to this day. The beef was light and velveted soft, not too much soy and really tender. The sauce was spicy with a chili blast of heat and numbing. The spring onions were the only vegetable and were cut about two inches and added at the very end just to incorporate and it was about a 50/50 meat to onion ratio. It was served on a bed of fried mung bean noodles and to this day remains my absolute favorite Chinese food that I have ever had. That spicy numbing blast of heat and slippery half raw onions with super tender beef changed my palette forever. Trying to remember since I wasn't old enough to drive... I think the place was in Wasilla, AK in the 80's and was a right turn off the main street. Anyway, I never order it anymore here in TN because it's just a sweet beef and white onion thing. I have made it at home and I think the Szechuan peppercorns, chilli, and a good amount of shaoxing reduced get somewhat close but I am still chasing to be honest.... And yes, I have a wok and a wok burner but that hei is something to be considered for sure. They were experts and just did it right, old school, hot tea, soup, appetizer, and more white rice in a basket than anyone could eat. God I miss that sort of thing, the service, the timing, the expertise. ETA: I didn't mean to sound condescending but this was god tier Chinese food and I haven't been to places where I can get that very often. The chicken broth was, if I would have to guess made with big bags of feet... best gelatin laden stuff on earth, egg rolls were stuffed to the brim and burn your mouth hot, everything was served burn your mouth hot with no warning other than steam coming off when they set the plate down. My wife jokes about me wanting Asian food all the time but I think I just got a really good thing in my formative years and it tweaked my buds that way. LoL

[@WooCanCook]

nice!

[@samman4602]

Not too salty?

[@WooCanCook]

Yeah totally! I always recommend (esp with dishes involving dark soy sauce) to add the sauce elements gradually and in small quantities, then adjust to taste. This is definitely important with this dish, since the sauce element is so concentrated. Let me know if u try it!

[@davidebeling4711]

I tried this recipe, your modified version. Followed it exactly. It was WAY too salty. Ended up throwing it out. I love this dish at PF Chang’s. I’ll try it again using low sodium ingredients.

[@WooCanCook]

@@davidebeling4711 oh no! This often comes up with many of the recipes involving dark soy sauce, actually. I always recommend adding the sauce element gradually and in small quantities, and don't add all of it, if the dish seems like it doesn't need all of it. I often don't end up using all of the sauce base, depending on how much steak is actually cooked, how large the onion I used is, how much fat renders from the steak, and a number of other variables that are pretty tough to plan for. You'll notice around 8:24 or so, I add the sauce in small portions (and I believe I ended up only using about 80% of it all together). Let me know how your second attempt goes! This one is definitely tricky for sure...!

[@RayRay-rk5bd]

Too much sauce. Put ginger. Garlic. Green onions and chilies to fry for a minute or so . Add sauce and cook for 30 seconds. Add onion, fry for 15 sec ( thicken in sauce if needed). Add CRISPY beef into sauce, turn over twice and take out immediately. Enjoy. Beef will remain CRISPY. And that is why it is called CRISPY Mongolian beef.

[@mobility63]

My stir frys always come out EXTREMELY salty. I use the best ingredients. So makes me not want to cook this anymore

[@WooCanCook]

Ooh totally, that has definitely happened to me a lot with dark soy sauce. I’d recommend mixing ur sauce elements prior to cooking, then adding it to the stir fry to taste at the end. This generally helps avoid over seasoning, especially with really concentrated ingredients like dark soy sauce 👍🏽👍🏽

[@xKrawnikFilled]

pop smoke can cook

[@WooCanCook]

:-D :-D

[@LadySythe]

I didn't lke PF Changs frozen mongolian beef. it was too sweet. too much sauce.. .

[@WooCanCook]

Ooh yeah! Definitely give the second version a try!

[@blackened144]

I need to get to remember to buy dark soy sauce at the store to try this. On a side node, your left handed knife skills are weirding me out.

[@WooCanCook]

Nice! Let me know how it goes 🥰

[@somedude8807]

You are left handed, which confused my viewing preference.

[@WooCanCook]

Haha this is how I feel when I watch right handed people chop stuff 😑😑

[@jarrgeez]

*Mongolian Beef soup 🤣🤣🤣

[@WooCanCook]

hahaha still ate it tho...!

[@christophermiller9624]

I don't like P.F Chang frozen meals. They taste like dog food.

[@IslenoGutierrez]

Woo, can you make a moo goo gai pan video?

[@WooCanCook]

ooh fun i'll add it to the list!

[@IslenoGutierrez]

@@WooCanCook Thanks, Woo!

[@karenhargis9824]

Yummy

[@WooCanCook]

🥰🥰 thanks!