Katie Chin's Cookbook Tour with Macy's
by Katie Chin, Tastemaker in Residence
Don’t these skewers look like they could melt in your mouth? Well, they are truly that tender and friends and fans in Houston, Chicago, NYC and DC were treated to this delicious appetizer from my new cookbook, “Everyday Chinese Cookbook: 101 Delicious Recipes from My Mother’s Kitchen” as part of my six-city tour cooking demo/tasting and booksigning tour with Macy’s to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Next stops are Los Angeles on May 25th and San Francisco on May 26th. Click here for more info! I’m going to share this delicious recipe with you in a bit, but first let me share some highlights from the Macy’s tour.
And now, the recipe!! The secret lies in the Chinese tenderizing technique I explain in the recipe. When you soak beef in a combo of baking soda and water for 15 minutes it raises the PH on the surface of the meat so the proteins are unable to bind in the same complex way making it super tender. You’ll be amazed!! Try this for any type of cuisine…I tenderize flank steak for fajitas this way!
Ingredients
1 Tbsp baking soda
2 cups (500 ml) water
1½ lbs (750 g) beef flank steak
20 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Marinade
2 Tbsp oil
1 tsp soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tbsp (about 3 cloves) minced garlic
1 Tbsp peeled and minced fresh ginger
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 Tbsp all-purpose cornstarch
4 Tbsp hoisin sauce
Instructions
- In a large flat pan, dissolve the baking soda in the water. Add the beef and soak for 10 minutes. Remove the beef from the water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the beef into thin strips across the grain.
- Whisk together all marinade ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Place beef strips in a large resealable food storage bag and pour the marinade over. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or as long as overnight.
- Thread the beef strips onto the soaked skewers.
- Preheat broiler. Broil the meat about 4 inches (10 cm) from the heat for about 2 minutes. Turn the skewers over and broil for another 2 minutes.