Are you craving a flavorful Chinese food dish that's quick and easy to prepare? Try ground beef stir fry with celery. This Ground Beef Stir Fry with Celery combines savory ground beef, crunchy celery, and a rich sauce that will be set and ready in 30 minutes.
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Ingredients
- Sliced fresh celery stalks
- Ground beef: You may use any other type of ground meat.
- Cooking oil
- Garlic slices
- Ginger slices
- Green onions
- Shaoxing cooking wine
- Light soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fermented black bean sauce: It is optional. It adds that bold, salty, and fermented umami kick to the dish.
- Brown sugar: optional
- Red chili pepper: for garnish and a spicier kick.
Step-by-step cooking instructions
Prepare your ingredients: Start by slicing the celery into thick slices or bite-sized pieces, slicing the garlic and ginger, and chopping the green onions into 2-inch pieces. Gather everything and make sure everything is ready before you start cooking.
Sauté the aromatics: Heat the cooking oil in a wok or skillet. Add the garlic,gigner slices, and green onion, and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spatula. Cook for approximately 3-5 minutes or until the meat is browned and cooked.
Add celery and sauce: Add the chopped celery to the skillet and stir everything together. Add the Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, a pinch of brown sugar, and black bean sauce(optional). Continue to stir fry for about an additional 1-2 minutes and mix all ingredients well, ensuring the sauce coats the beef and celery evenly.
Serve and enjoy: Add salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish the dish with red chili pepper slices. Serve your ground beef stir-fry hot over steamed or fried rice.
Pro tips and variations
Here are some pro tips for making the perfect ground beef stir fry with celery:
Healthy twist: To reduce saturated fat, opt for lean ground beef or substitute with chicken for a lighter version.
Add more veggies: Mix other vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or carrots to boost the nutritional value and add more flavor.
Choose the right ground beef: Use lean ground beef (85% lean or higher) to reduce excess grease and achieve a cleaner flavor. For extra richness, blend a small amount of fattier ground beef for balance.
Prep ingredients before cooking: Stir-frying happens quickly, so make sure all your ingredients—chopped celery, garlic, and sauce components—are ready to go before turning on the stove.
Cut the celery uniformly: Slice the celery into even pieces to ensure consistent cooking. Slightly thicker slices retain their crunch better.
Use high heat: While stir-frying traditionally uses high heat, start with medium heat to brown the beef evenly. Increase the heat when adding celery and sauce to create a quick sear and lock-in flavor.
Keep the celery crisp: Add it toward the end of cooking and stir-fry briefly to retain its bright green color and crisp texture.
Experiment with add-ons: For extra texture and color, toss in roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, or a handful of sliced scallions right before serving.
Serve fresh and hot: Serve the stir fry immediately over steamed or fried rice to enjoy it at its best. Letting it sit too long can cause the celery to lose its crunch.
With these tips, your ground beef stir fry with celery will be flavorful, perfectly textured, and packed with authentic stir-fry flavor.
Serving suggestions for ground beef stir fry with celery
Ground beef stir fry with celery is a versatile dish that pairs beautifully with a variety of sides:
- Over rice: A classic choice, serving the stir fry over steamed white or brown rice helps soak up the flavorful sauce and makes for a hearty, filling meal.
- With noodles: Toss the stir fry with cooked noodles, such as lo mein or rice noodles, for a comforting, carb-rich dish.
- Low-carb lettuce wraps: For a lighter option, stir fry into crisp leaves like romaine or butter lettuce. This keeps the dish low in carbs and adds a refreshing crunch.
- Cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles: If you're looking for carbs, cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles are excellent substitutes for traditional grains.
- As-is for a light meal: Enjoy the stir fry as a simple, protein-packed dish for those looking to keep things lean.
Meal Prep
This stir fry is an excellent option for meal prep, making weekday meals effortless. Use the leftover stir fry creatively by adding it to rice and soups, tossing it with salads, or stuffing it into wraps or tortillas for a quick and easy meal makeover.
Storage and reheat
To store ground beef, stir fry with celery, and allow the stir fry to cool to room temperature before storing. Transfer the dish into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
You can also place the ground beef stir fry in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag for extended storage, label it with the date, and freeze for up to 2 months.
Feel free to reheat the leftovers in a skillet over medium heat or the microwave. Remember to add a splash of water or broth to restore moisture.
Final thoughts
Ground Beef Stir Fry with Celery is a quick, flavorful, and versatile dish perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re craving a taste of classic Chinese-inspired cooking. The tender ground beef pairs beautifully with the crisp, refreshing crunch of celery, all tied together by a rich, umami-packed sauce.
It's an easy and delicious meal with minimal prep and cooking time. Give it a try, and let this simple stir-fry become a staple in your kitchen!
FAQs
Absolutely! You can substitute ground beef with ground chicken, turkey, pork, or even tofu for a vegetarian option. Adjust the seasonings slightly to suit your chosen protein.
To keep the celery crisp, add it toward the end of the cooking process and stir-fry it for only 2–3 minutes. Avoid overcooking, as the residual heat will continue to soften it.
Use light soy sauce for seasoning and flavor. You can add a dash of dark soy sauce if you want a deeper color and richer flavor for the dish.
Yes! Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari, and ensure that other ingredients like Fermented black bean sauce are also gluten-free.
Enhance the flavor with a drizzle of sesame oil, a sprinkle of chili flakes for heat, or a handful of toasted sesame seeds. You can also add vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or mushrooms for extra variety.
Ground Beef Stir Fry With Celery: Quick And Easy
Ingredients
- 4 fresh celery stalks, sliced
- 1 pound ground beef or any other type of ground meat
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 3 slices ginger
- 2 green onions
- 2 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1.5 tablespoon Fermented black bean sauce optional
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
- salt and black pepper to taste
- a few slices red chili pepper for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients: Start by slicing the celery into thick slices or bite-sized pieces, slicing the garlic and ginger, and chopping the green onions into 2-inch pieces. Gather everything and make sure everything is ready before you start cooking.
- Sauté the aromatics: Heat the cooking oil in a wok or skillet. Add the garlic,gigner slices, and green onion, and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spatula. Cook for approximately 3-5 minutes or until the meat is browned and cooked.
- Add celery and sauce: Add the chopped celery to the skillet and stir everything together. Add the Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, a pinch of brown sugar, and black bean sauce(optional). Continue to stir fry for about an additional 1-2 minutes and mix all ingredients well, ensuring the sauce coats the beef and celery evenly.
- Serve and enjoy: Add salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish the dish with red chili pepper slices. Serve your ground beef stir-fry hot over steamed or fried rice.
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