**Okra beef cubes - a symphony of taste buds through time**
【Food Story】
Okra, this green miracle from the African continent, first appeared in the ancient lands of Ethiopia. Around the 12th century AD, it was introduced to the Arabian Peninsula with trade sails, which in turn affected the entire Eastern Mediterranean region. Historical records show that in the early 18th century, okra was brought to China by Spain merchants and quickly took root in various parts of China because of its unique form and nutritional value.
Beef, one of the oldest meats in human food culture, has symbolized strength and vitality since ancient times. In ancient China, cattle were regarded as sacred until the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, when they gradually became part of the daily diet. The cooking method of beef is recorded in detail in "Qi Min Yaoshu", and in the Ming and Qing dynasties, beef cuisine reached the height of art.
The birth of okra beef cubes is like an encounter through time and space, combining the essence of the two ingredients, which not only retains the freshness of okra and the mellowness of beef, but also skillfully balances the taste between the two. This dish has gradually emerged in the culinary history of modern China, becoming a dish that is both healthy and delicious.
【Cooking Steps】
**Required Materials**:
- Fresh okra: 200 grams
- Beef: 250 grams (beef tenderloin or beef tenderloin recommended)
- Garlic: 2 cloves, sliced
- Ginger: 10 grams, shredded
- Oyster sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Light soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Cooking wine: 1 tablespoon
- Ground white pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
- Cornstarch: 1 teaspoon
- Olive or vegetable oil: to taste
- Salt: to taste
**Steps**:
1. Cut the beef into 1 cm cubes, add light soy sauce, cooking wine, white pepper and cornstarch, mix well, and marinate for 15 minutes.
2. Wash the okra, remove both ends, cut into oblique slices and set aside.
3. Heat the pan with cold oil, add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry until fragrant.
4. Add the marinated beef cubes, stir-fry quickly until browned, and set aside.
5. Leave the bottom oil in the pan, add the okra and stir-fry a few times.
6. Add the beef cubes again, pour in the oyster sauce and stir-fry quickly.
7. Finally, adjust the amount of salt according to taste, stir-fry evenly and then remove from the pan.
【Explanation Principle】
Okra is rich in mucus, which is released during cooking, creating a unique taste and shine. The marinating of the beef cubes can make the meat more tender, and the rapid stir-frying at high temperature can lock in the juice and maintain the flavor of the meat. The addition of oyster sauce not only enhances the umami of the whole dish, but also plays a role in adding color, making the dish attractive in color.
【Precautions】
- It is not advisable to add too much water when marinating beef, so as not to produce too much juice during the stir-frying process and affect the taste.
- Okra should be cooked as soon as possible after slicing to avoid oxidative discoloration when left for a long time.
- Stir-frying quickly is the key to maintaining the original flavor of the ingredients, and the heat should not be too low, otherwise it will easily cause the ingredients to come out of the water and lose their crisp and tender texture.
【Differences between the North and the South】
In the north, people may prefer to stir-fry the beef until it is fully cooked and has a firm taste; In the south, the tenderness of the beef may be pursued, and the state of semi-cooked beef may be preferred. In terms of the choice of okra, the north may be more inclined to cook with other root vegetables to adapt to the taste needs of winter; The south, on the other hand, retains the original flavor of okra and highlights its unique taste.
【Other dishes】
- **Okra shrimp**: Choose fresh shrimp, stir-fry with okra, add an appropriate amount of salt and garlic to taste, simple but delicious.
- **Scrambled eggs with okra**: Slice okra, stir-fry with beaten eggs, and finally sprinkle with chopped green onions to add fragrance, making it a nutritionally balanced home-cooked dish.
- **Okra stewed chicken**: Chicken pieces are simmered slowly with okra, potatoes and other ingredients, the soup is rich, the chicken is delicious, and it is suitable for autumn and winter.
【Cooking Skills】
- Try to keep the size of the beef as consistent as possible when diced, so that it is heated evenly and cooks better.
- Okra can be blanched in hot water before cooking to remove some of the mucus and maintain its bright green color.
- Taste before you add when seasoning, as oyster sauce has a salty taste and avoid over-seasoning.
Okra beef cubes are not only a delicious dish with good color and flavor, but also a cultural blend and inheritance. In your kitchen, this dish will be more than just a simple combination of ingredients, but a delicious legend that transcends time and space, waiting to be created and tasted.