Stir-fried beef with snake beans

This is a simple beef stir-fry, using mince, which is fast and tasty. The spice paste is delicious and you can use it with any meat, vegetables or noodles in a stir-fry.

Swap the beef for chicken or pork mince or some chopped prawns, or simply add more vegetables if that’s what you like. Just add steamed rice and greens to make a full meal. You can find the extra-long snake beans in most supermarkets, but you can also use regular green beans.

Stir-fried beef with snake beans.Credit:William Meppem. Styling by Hannah Meppem

SERVES 4

150g snake beans
2 tsp dried shrimp
6 tbsp vegetable oil
300g beef mince
2 tbsp palm sugar
2 tbsp fish sauce
½ cup coriander leaves, to serve

FOR THE SPICE PASTE

1 tsp Thai shrimp paste, wrapped in foil and grilled until fragrant
3 dried red chillies, chopped
5 red eschalots [French shallots], chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp chopped lemongrass heart
1 tsp washed, scraped and chopped coriander root
1 tsp chopped galangal
½ tsp white peppercorns
1 tsp grated kaffir lime zest
1 tsp salt

1. For the spice paste, put the Thai shrimp paste in foil and pop it under the grill or over a flame until it becomes fragrant. Place in a mortar and, with all the other ingredients, pound with a pestle until paste is as fine as possible.

2. Wash the beans and cut into 3cm lengths. Boil them until just cooked (about 5 minutes), then drain and refresh immediately in iced water and drain again.

3. Soak the shrimp in warm water for 15 minutes, then drain.

4. Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a wok, add the beef and stir-fry until just cooked. Remove and set aside.
5. Fry the spice paste in the wok with the remaining 3 tbsp of oil until fragrant, then add the beef, beans, shrimp, sugar, and fish sauce. Stir-fry for 1 minute.

6. To serve, pile onto a large platter with coriander leaves on the side.

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