Gan Chao Niu He – Hong Kong Stir Fry Beef Noodle

The primary ingredients of Gan Chao Niu He (干炒牛河), aka Beef Chow Fun and Beef Noodle Stir Fry, are flat rice noodles, in other words, hor fun, which is otherwise called “shahe fen”, as this dish invented in the town of Shahe in Guangzhou. As the name speaks for itself – flat rice noodle – is a wide and flat rice noodle that is cut into a long elongated shape, think “Cheong Fun“.

Components to a Plate of Beef Noodle Stir Fry

Beef chow fun is produced using sautéing beef slices, hor fun (flat rice noodles), and bean sprouts. It is a staple Cantonese dish and regularly found in cafes eateries in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and abroad, especially Hong Kong style cafe aka Char Chan Teng.

The Legend of Stir-Fry Noodle – Chow Fun

It was said to take place during World War II, a Cantonese man, Mr. Hui was about to be killed by a Japanese commander as the commander was hungry. Since it is a curfew, he was unable to purchase the necessary ingredient to make the usual gravy hor fun, so he went ahead and cook a stir fry noodle instead. Since then stir-frying noodles became a common noodle dish.

Key Elements of Hong Kong Stir Fry Beef Noodle

A good plate of Gan Chao Niu He is where the noodles and beef slices are full of “Wok Hei” (charred and smoky flavor) of the wok. It is done by cooking over a high flame and stir continuously but not breaking hor fun apart.

The entire plates of noodles have to be dry with right amount of oil, aromatic and well balance with the portion of beef and noodles.

My Version of Beef Noodle Stir-Fry

Since I love a plate of well stir-fried beef with ginger and spring onion, I combine both the elements from Beef Chow Fun and Stir-Fried Beef Ginger and Spring Onion.

This brings the entire dish to new heights, check it out below and watch how did I do it.

Author have a say…

Gan chao niu he, literally translated as “dry fry beef flat rice noodle”, the proper term for dry fry is stir-frying. This dish rose to frame in Hong Kong, a must have comfort food whenever you visit Hong Kong. Succulent slices of beef pair with silky smooth flat rice noodle that are fried over high heat gives this dish the charred smokey flavor! I had all the parts break down so you too can cook a Hong Kong standard “Gan Chao Niu He” at home!

Source : Wiki

Authentic Hong Kong Stir Fry Beef Hor Fun Recipe - Gan Chao Niu He

Be sure to get the beef tenderloin for this dish for succulent slices of beef, and oh yes! Make sure the flat rice noodle that you get is suitable for stir-frying, not the soup type. *wink*

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Diet Halal

Keyword beef noodle, chao niu he, gan chao niu he, Hong Kong Stir Fry Beef, stir fry beef noodle

Difficulty Easy

Allergy Eggs, Meat

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Servings people

Calories 677kcal

Author Ethan Wong

Equipment

Ingredients

Beef Slice & Marinate

300 g Beef Tenderloin
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Corn Starch optional potato starch

Sauce Mixture

3 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 tbsp Thick Soy Sauce

Other Ingredients

500 g Flat Rice Noodle
1/4 pcs Onion Sliced
2 stalk Spring Onion
1 handful Beansprout
2 nos Egg
As Needed Cooking Oil
To taste Salt if needed

Metric - Imperial

Instructions

Marinate Beef

Thinly sliced the beef to about 2-3 mm thickness.
Add salt and sugar, as you begin mixing them, add water a little at a time.
Continue mixing and gradually add water until the slime begin to thickened, stop adding water at this point.
There should not be any excessive water leaking from the meat.
Add corn starch and mix.
Let it marinate as you prepare the other ingredients.

Stir Frying

Preheat pan/wok with 2 tbsp of cooking oil to high heat.
Add marinated beef slices and spread it open.
Sear beef to medium well and set aside.
Without cleaning the pan/wok, add 2 tbsp of cooking oil and bring it to high heat.
Add eggs and scramble.
Add sliced onion and thoroughly stir fry.
Add flat rice noodle and thoroughly stir fry.
Add flavoring mixture and stir fry to mix well.
Add spring onion and beansprout and stir fry to mix well.
Taste the dish to check if it is salty enough, otherwise season with some salt at this point.
Add seared beef back in and stir fry to mix.
Remove from pan/wok and serve.