Hoisin Beef

I love hoisin sauce! It is one of my favourite Chinese flavours. We all love noodles in our house, so nobody minded having them twice in one week. The girls would have noodles every day if I let them. You could add whatever vegetables your family like to this dish, especially spring onion, baby corn or spring greens. I went for carrot, chesnut mushrooms and mange tout, as that is what I had in the fridge to use up. The sesame seeds do add a lovely taste, so add them if you can.

1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp dry sherry
2 tsp sesame oil
1 fat garlic clove , crushed
1 tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger (or fresh ginger paste in a jar)
200g frying beef , thinly sliced across the grain
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 large carrot , cut into matchsticks
100g mangetout , halved lengthways
140g mushrooms , sliced
3 tbsp hoisin sauce
Chinese noodles , to serve

1. Mix together the soy sauce, sherry, sesame oil, garlic and ginger in a shallow dish. Add the steak and leave to marinate for about 20 minutes (or longer, if you have time).
2. Heat a large heavy-based frying pan or wok, add the sesame seeds and toast over a high heat, stirring, for a few minutes until golden. Tip on to a plate.
3. When ready to cook, heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan or wok until hot. Add the steak with the marinade and stir fry for 3-4 minutes over a high heat until lightly browned. Remove, using a slotted spoon, on to a plate, leaving the juices in the pan.
4. Toss the carrots in the pan and stir fry for a few minutes, then add the mangetout and cook for a further 2 minutes.
5. Return the steak to the pan, add the mushrooms and toss everything together. Add the hoisin sauce and stir fry for a final minute. Sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately.