Ginger beef facts for kids
Ginger beef served on a plate
|
|
| Course | Main dishes |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Canada |
| Region or state | Alberta |
| Main ingredients | Beef, ginger, sweet sauce |
| Ingredients generally used | Garlic, hot peppers, sugar, soy sauce, cooking oil, cornstarch |
| Variations | carrot, onion |
Ginger beef is a Canadian Chinese dish dish made from beef, ginger, and a distinctive sweet sauce.
The ingredients of ginger beef can depend on where it is featured, but the Albertan version generally consists of deep fried strips of beef coated in a dark sweet sauce that is reminiscent of other Asian sauces based on vinegar and sugar. It also contains flavors of ginger, garlic, and hot peppers, and is commonly served with a small amount of julienned carrots and onions in the sauce. Ginger beef is derived from the original Geung Ngao Yuk (Chinese: 薑牛肉) dish.
As with many dishes, the invention of ginger beef is claimed by several restaurants and chefs. However, the most widely accepted origin attributes the dish's development during the mid-1970s by chef George Wong at the Silver Inn in Calgary, Alberta. The dish is now a very common offering in Canadian Chinese restaurants. A radio segment featuring ginger beef was aired on CBC Radio One programme The Main Ingredient.
