Asparagus Beef Stir Fry Recipe, Nut-Free & Delicious

Asparagus stir fried with beef in a white serving plate.
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Learn how to make this Asparagus Beef Stir Fry as well as some general stir frying techniques to make your stir fries taste amazing. This post was updated on 3/23/2023 for minor readability edits and with a new photo.

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3/29/2023 updated with a new photo: In this photo I used Trader Joe’s thinly shaved beef steak for super fast prep. The thinly shaved pieces are one big blob and I roughly cut the blob into 2 inch by 2 inch pieces and then separate the thinly sliced layers. It cooks very quickly and the thinly shaved beef pieces brown beautifully. Also note that these asparagus pieces were pencil thin.

Easy Asparagus Beef Stir Fry

One of my first cooking lessons is how to marinate meat and stir-fry. Learn how to make Asparagus Beef and be sure to read some of the stir-fry tips I share below. I happen to love asparagus but it’s also high in fiber, vitamin C, and iron and has other nutritional benefits.

Asparagus is usually in season during the early spring months. When I shop for them I look for bunches that are heavier than they look, squeak when I give them a squeeze, and have intact asparagus tips. Also look for tender shoots that are all green, if the bottoms are more white than green, then the asparagus will be tough and you will need to peel or discard the ends.

Asparagus is also easy to wash and prep. Notice that I cut the asparagus diagonally, this is so that the thin tapered ends will cook quickly and the asparagus pieces will be tender crisp due to the short cooking time.

Asparagus beef stir fry served over udon noodles.
Asparagus with beef, served over udon noodles.

Tips for Stir Fry Success:

  1.  Don’t crowd your pan. Cook too much at once or in a pan that’s too small and you will end up with a stir-braise. No need to look that up, it’s just my made up phrase for what happens when stir fry ingredients are too crowded, the juices run out and the food ends up being braised in their own juices. Don’t double stir-fry recipes unless you cook with two pans on two burners or cook in batches.
  2. Cut the meat into even bite-size pieces so they will cook evenly. Cut the harder to cook veggies (carrots, green beans, etc.) into smaller pieces and add delicate, quick to cook vegetables later (spinach, celery, etc.).
  3. Always heat up your frying pan or wok. Otherwise, you won’t be able to sear the meat and the yummy juices will leak out and you’ll end up with a stir-braise.
  4.  Make sure your pan or wok is a dry otherwise the oil will splatter on you, your stove top, your floor, your counter, etc.. Shake or spin dry your veggies.

Troubleshooting tips:

  1. Some recipes direct you to clean out your frying pan or wok before stir frying vegetables. I think that is a tremendous loss of flavor. The additional time spent washing and reheating the pan will also slow you down.
  2. Oops, you ended up with a stir-braise? You can thicken up the sauce after you combine the meat and veggeis by adding 1 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir the cornstarch mixture in and the sauce will thicken up nicely. Be sure to use cold water otherwise you’ll end up with lumps of cornstarch.
  3. Oops, you added your final cornstarch mixture and it immediately congealed into a shiny sauce glob? No problem, add a tablespoon or two of water, give it a stir, and the sauce will loosen up.

Asparagus Beef Stir Fry Recipe!

I started thinking about this post at the beginning of spring when asparagus first arrived in stores. In fact, I started on March 22, which is when I wrote a little post on how to buy and slice beef!

How to slice beef for a stir fry

I was able to buy some super squeaky asparagus with compact heads this week, so it’s still not too late to share my recipe for Asparagus Beef Stir Fry. Asparagus Beef is so delicious over rice or noodles. You can enjoy the pure beef and asparagus flavors simply or with a touch of black bean sauce OR sesame oil.

You could also substitute chicken or pork instead of beef but I think chicken or pork will taste better with a little more flavor such as a flavorful cornstarch slurry at the end (1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon water/chicken broth), black bean sauce, or sesame oil.

If you need help figuring out which stir fry ingredients to use, be sure to check out what’s in Nut Free Wok’s cupboard for more information.

Cutting the asparagus diagonally helps it cook faster and easier to pick up with chopsticks.
Cutting the asparagus diagonally allows it to cook faster because it’s not as thick throughout and the pieces are easier to pick up with chopsticks and eat.

This recipe as written is free of peanuts, tree nuts, egg, dairy, fish, shellfish, and sesame.

If you like to stir fry, check out these recipes:

Asparagus stir fried with beef in a white serving plate.
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Asparagus Beef Stir Fry Recipe

Asparagus is in season during the spring, make this easy stir-fry using some of the stir-fry success tips that I share in the blog post. 

Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 280 kcal
Author Sharon Wong

Ingredients

  • 12 oz beef flap steak (or shaved beef steak or flat iron steak)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce or alternative
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine or mirin
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 1/2 garlic powder or 1 minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of asparagus 1 1/2 pounds if the bottoms are pale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or canola
  • 1 teaspoon black bean sauce optional

Instructions

  1. Slice beef along the grain into strips (approximately 1.5-2 inches wide), and then slice the strips into bite size pieces about 1/4 inch thickness.

  2. Mix the beef with the soy sauce, rice wine, cornstarch, garlic powder (or minced garlic), and sugar and set aside to marinate at least 15 minutes.

  3. Snap off any tough, woody (pale white sections at the bottom) ends of the asparagus and wash. Cut the asparagus into 1 1/2 inch long pieces diagonally and set aside until ready to start cooking.

  4. Heat up frying pan or wok on medium high heat until it is very hot and a drop of water sizzles. Add olive oil to pan and swirl to coat.

  5. Add beef and spread out into a thin layer, allow to sear for 30 seconds to 1 minute and then stir fry until all sides are browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beef to a clean serving dish.

  6. Add the asparagus to the frying pan and stir fry for 1 minute. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water (you should hear a sizzle) and immediately cover with a lid for 2 minutes. Uncover, if the asparagus still looks dull green, cover again for another minute.

  7. If the asparagus looks bright green add the beef back in with black bean sauce (optional) and stir fry until the mixture is hot and the beef is cooked.

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About Sharon Wong 270 Articles
Welcome to Nut Free Wok, a blog about Allergy Aware Asian Fare. I hope that you will find my food allergy mom experiences helpful and enjoyable to read as I write about recipes, cooking techniques, Asian ingredients, and food allergy related awareness and advocacy issues. My professional experiences include education, teaching, and a little bit of science and computers. Thank you for visiting! ~Sharon Wong, M.Ed.

8 Comments

  1. I, too, quickly learned that there are “no measuring spoons” in Chinese cooking! That might be why I didn’t learn to cook from my parents until I was old enough to be okay with my own jotted-down notes that included lines like “a lot of soy sauce” and “a bit of corn starch”. I totally agree that Chinese cooking is less about specific recipes and more about a method, which you laid out nicely in this post!

    • Irene, I agree! There is some freedom to pour and stir without measuring but without a recipe and some basic measurements, it can very challenging to teach anyone, such as my own children! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. 🙂

  2. I can’t believe how easy and simple this recipe looks. I have beef and asparagus just waiting for this delish dish.

  3. 5 stars
    I love these tips! I’m an old stir ‘braiser’ from way back. Nice to know the difference! This stir fry looks like a great way to get my feet wet in the stir fry method. This recipe looks healthy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!

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