Easy to make Asian Steak Bites — ready in 30 minutes or less! Serve with this amazingly delicious dipping sauce that requires only four ingredients!
I’m fairly certain appetizers were invented for people who really, really love food. It’s the perfect way to sample all kinds of dishes with the very clear understanding that you aren’t done eating — you’ve still got the main dish that needs to be taken care of.
As a self-proclaimed snacking fiend and appetizer fanatic, 90% of my diet consists of appetizer-type foods–give or take a few percentage points. So these appetizer steak bites? Yes, they have been a huge hit in my home as of late.
These bites are packed with flavor thanks to just a few key ingredients. They are marinated for 20 minutes, cooked in a hot skillet, and finally dredged into a delicious creamy sriracha-lime sauce. Easy enough right?! Let me show you what I mean….
Since there are so few ingredients in the actual steak bites, the ingredients you use really matter. First off, we use a fair amount of soy sauce in the bites. To keep the saltiness down, I recommend using light or low-salt soy sauce. It’s a primary ingredient for the marinade in this recipe.
Chili paste is the other important ingredient. Chili paste is essentially chilies mixed with spices, oil, garlic, etc. It adds a great flavor and a touch of heat. There isn’t too much in this recipe, but the small amount really pops up the flavor while still keeping the spice levels at a minimum. I wouldn’t say these steak bites are spicy–just flavorful.
If you’ve never bought chili paste, it’s not difficult to find. I’ve always found it right by the soy sauce in the grocery store.
While the steak marinates a little, you can prep the dipping sauce. This sauce perfectly complements the steak bites and it takes just a few minutes to assemble. All you need are fresh lime, a pinch of sugar, mayo, and hot chili sauce! And while it sounds all too simple, just wait ’til you dip one of those tender steak bites into the sauce. It doesn’t get too much better than this!
How to Make Easy Asian Steak Bites
Prep the steak: Use a sharp chef’s knife to remove the fat and then cut the steak into bite-sized pieces.
Marinate: Whisk together the marinade ingredients in a large bowl; add steak bites and combine. Marinate for up to 4 hours.
Prep the dipping sauce: While the steak marinates, prepare the dipping sauce. Just mix the ingredients in a small bowl.
Cook the steak: Turn on the ventilation fan for this, because the kitchen could get smoky! Heat a nonstick pan until it’s very hot. Add the steak pieces and let stand a few minutes to get a nice sear. Then stir and let the other side brown. You want to cook the steak in a single layer, so you may need to cook it in batches. Once cooked, remove to a plate and sprinkle with (optional) sesame seeds.
Serve with dipping sauce: The sriracha-lime sauce makes a delightful contrast to the steak. Serve alongside the steak pieces.
Quick Tip
When cooking at high temperatures, be sure to have the stove’s exhaust fan turned on before you need it! Nobody wants to set off the smoke alarm!
More Appetizer Ideas:
Easy Asian Steak Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds flank steak sirloin steak also works
- 4 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons + 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil divided
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Optional: toasted sesame seeds
Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 large limes
- 3 teaspoons hot chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
Instructions
Steak Bites
- Prepare the steak: Trim excess fat from the meat and then cut strips of the meat against the grain into strips just barely less than 1-inch wide.
- Rotate the strips and cut into bite-sized pieces. (Remove any large chunks of fat or gristle.)
- In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, chili paste, ½ teaspoon sesame oil, and garlic.
- Place the meat pieces into the mixture and toss well to coat. Cover tightly and marinate for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 hours.
- While the steak is marinating, make the sauce by combining the ingredients in a small bowl.
- When ready to cook, turn on your ventilation fan. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high to high heat. As the pan heats, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil.
- Place some of the steak in the pan in a single layer. It should sizzle loudly AS SOON as it hits the pan to get a nice sear. (If it doesn't, the pan isn't hot enough.)
- Don't stir or move the meat for 30 to 45 seconds. You want it to sizzle and brown on one side. Quickly flip the bites over and cook for an additional 30 to 45 seconds-just long enough to sear the outside of the meat but not cook the inside. You want these bites tender so avoid over-cooking.
- Remove the cooked steak bites to a plate. Add the remaining sesame oil to the pan and repeat the cooking process with the next batch.
- Once all the meat is cooked, top with sesame seeds (if desired) and serve with the dipping sauce.
Dipping Sauce
- Zest part of 1 lime to get ½ teaspoon lime zest and then juice 2 limes to get about 3-4 tablespoons lime juice.
- Combine the mayo, lime juice, lime zest, sriracha, and sugar in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and then taste (add additional lime or sriracha to personal preference).
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from Barefeet in the Kitchen
More Easy Appetizers:
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I posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/829073880245485569.
I like using soy sauce with beef tips in stir fry and with rice. I like broccoli, onions, peppers and sesame seeds with my beef.
tweeted – https://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/828495913333108736
I use soy sauce as a marinade. I also have a meatloaf recipe that calls for it 🙂
MY tweet!: https://twitter.com/rebeccathomasrd/status/828257596956086272
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/827992104764899328
We like to make our own Fried rice so that it isn’t too salty.
I absolutely must, must make this!!!
Yes!! It’s so good 🙂 I hope you love it!
Mouthwatering!
I usually make various stir frys with soy sauce, but I definitely need to experiment more!