Sesame Beef Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles

Our Chinese neighbors are constantly cooking something with their door open. Most nights, our hallway...

Sesame Beef Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles

Our Chinese neighbors are constantly cooking something with their door open. Most nights, our hallway smells like sesame oil and some sort of outrageously flavorful steamy seafood soup. Honestly, I have to keep myself from knocking on their door and inviting myself in with a Jell-O mold.

In high school, I worked Friday and Saturday nights at a Japanese sushi restaurant that was owned by a Chinese man and woman. Every Chinese New Year, they would invite the employees to a private after-hours party. I looked forward to this day every year, not because of the giant platters of sushi, but because of the authentic Chinese food they prepared. Think whole heads of fish baked in a soup, juicy dumplings, and dipping sauces you wanted to dunk your face in.

Whether I realize it or not, I’m always craving Chinese food. The best thing about this stir fry is that the flavors are basic and go with any type of vegetable, so add in whatever you have in your fridge (broccoli, mushrooms, kale, celery, carrots.) No vegetable left behind!

Unfortunately, I’m more savvy with Italian/American classics and ingredients, so Asian cooking is always a challenge. After first making this dish for my boyfriend, he thought it was too creamy and ginger-y (or, in his words “soapy“), so I lowered the amount of ginger and adjusted the noodle-to-sauce ratio. Now, it’s just right, like Goldilocks’s porridge.

Maybe I should knock on their door next time and ask for a cooking lesson…… is the Jell-O mold a bad idea?

Sesame Beef Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • For the beef marinade:
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • For the stir fry sauce:
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp cornstarch optional
  • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • For the rest:
  • 2.5-3 medium zucchinis Blade C
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into 3" strips
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 2 tsp serrano chile seeded and minced
  • 1 tsp ginger minced
  • 1/2 onion sliced in 1" thick strips
  • 8 thin-cut pieces of beef bottom round steak
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place the beef strips and ingredients for the marinade into a bowl and place in the refrigerator.
  • Combine all the ingredients for the stir fry sauce and set aside.
  • Spray a medium skillet with cooking spray and place in your onions and peppers. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften.
  • While the veggies are cooking, place a large skillet over medium heat and pour in beef, with marinade. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. When done, set aside without juices.
  • Add the canola oil, diced serrano chiles, garlic and ginger to the skillet with the vegetables. Cook for about 1 minute and then add in sauce mixture, spinach and cook for about 1 minute.
  • Pour in zucchini pasta and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until zucchini pasta is heated through and softens.
  • Plate the zucchini pasta and top with beef, scallions and sesame seeds.

Instructions with Pictures

Place the beef strips and ingredients for the marinade into a bowl and place in the refrigerator.

marinading sesame beef

Combine all the ingredients for the stir fry sauce and set aside.

Spray a medium skillet with cooking spray and place in your onions and peppers. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften.

While the veggies are cooking, place a large skillet over medium heat and pour in beef, with marinade. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. When done, set aside without juices.

cooking sesame beef

cooking onions and peppers

Add the canola oil, diced serrano chiles, garlic and ginger to the skillet with the vegetables. Cook for about 1 minute and then add in sauce mixture, spinach and cook for about 1 minute.

cooking vegetables with garlic, ginger and serrano peppers

Pour in zucchini pasta and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until zucchini pasta is heated through and softens.

Plate the zucchini pasta and top with beef, scallions and sesame seeds.

Sesame Beef Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles

Sesame Beef Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles

Sesame Beef Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles

Sesame Beef Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles

with love, Ali

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comments

  • This is great and tasty! One thing though-you forgot to say in ingredients how much spinach is needed. :) thanks again!
    • Oops - thank you so much for calling me out! I've fixed it now, appreciate the help :)
  • I just made this with chicken and it is absolutely delicious! It has a nice kick to it!! :)
    • I'm glad you liked it - and love that you substituted in chicken! Great idea.
  • Hi! I just found your blog after searching for recipes to make with my new spiralizer... love your recipes and can't wait to try them! Also very inspired by you quitting your day job to pursue your dream :)
  • Wow this was amazing! Third time using my new spiralizer and now completely in love. I stopped eating grains a year ago, lost 40lbs and kept it off without dieting. Recipes like this make me wonder why I ever thought I needed pasta! Thankyou and keep up the good work : )
    • What an inspiring story - congratulations! I'm so happy you'll find helpful recipes here at Inspiralized to help you maintain!
  • Made this for dinner and even my 10-year old, who doesn't normally eat zucchini, loved it! Definitely adding this gem into our dinner rotation!
  • I don’t normally enjoy zucchini but I bought a spiralizer and decided I may as well use it since I’ve stopped eating pasta and this was delicious !! I loved it
    • This is what we love to hear, Emma! Thanks for sharing!