What is Rainbow Beef? A Guide to This Colorful Chinese Takeout Favorite

With its eye-catching mix of ingredients and sticky sweet glaze, rainbow beef has become a popular menu item at Chinese restaurants across America. But what exactly is this colorful beef dish? Let’s take a closer look at the origins, ingredients, and best cooking methods for rainbow beef.

A Brief History of Rainbow Beef

Despite its fanciful name, rainbow beef is not an ancient Chinese dish. It was likely created in the 1950s or 1960s in Cantonese restaurants in America as cooks adapted their menus to appeal to local tastes.

The name “rainbow beef” refers to the multi-colored array of vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and onions that are fried separately then combined with the beef and sauce This mélange of colors evokes a rainbow, hence the descriptive name

While not an authentic Chinese recipe, rainbow beef captures the wok-frying cooking techniques and balance of flavors that characterize Cantonese cuisine. Its sweet, salty, and slightly tangy glazed beef paired with crisp-tender vegetables has made it a menu favorite across North America.

Typical Ingredients in Rainbow Beef

While recipes can vary slightly, here are some standard ingredients found in rainbow beef:

• Beef – Flank, sirloin, or tenderloin, cut into thin strips

• Vegetables – Carrots, bell peppers, onions, sometimes broccoli

• Sauce – Sweet & savory sauce with soy sauce vinegar tomato sauce or paste, sugar

• Coating – Cornstarch, potato starch, flour, or batter

• Oil – For velveting, frying, and glazing

• Garnish – Toasted sesame seeds green onions

The thin slices of beef are usually coated in starch then fried separately from the vegetables. The ingredients are then combined in the sticky glaze-like sauce and finished with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Preparation Methods for Rainbow Beef

There are a few key steps involved in making the best rainbow beef:

• Velvet the beef – Marinate briefly in oil, soy sauce, cornstarch to tenderize.

• Coat beef – Dredge strips in cornstarch, potato starch, or batter.

• Deep fry beef – Fry in batches until crispy and golden brown.

• Stir fry vegetables – Carrots, onions, peppers are fried separately.

• Make sauce – Combine soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, tomato paste/sauce.

• Toss beef & veggies in sauce – Gently mix to coat without softening crunch.

• Garnish – Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and green onions.

Getting the beef ultra crispy and the sauce thick enough to cling to the ingredients is vital for the characteristic textures and flavors.

Regional Variations of Rainbow Beef

Like many Chinese-American dishes, rainbow beef can vary from restaurant to restaurant:

• Some versions have a thicker, gloppier sauce while others are more like a glaze.

• Certain recipes call for broccoli or water chestnuts in addition to the classic carrot, onion, pepper mix.

• Fried rice or lo mein noodles may be served topped with or mixed into the rainbow beef.

• Pork, chicken, shrimp, or even tofu sometimes stand in for the beef.

• The classic sesame seed garnish may be replaced with chopped peanuts or cashews.

• Spicy Sichuan preparations feature chili oil or red chilies in the sauce.

Part of the appeal of rainbow beef is sampling the different renditions chefs create by adjusting ingredients and flavors.

Typical Cooking Methods for Rainbow Beef

To achieve the characteristic crispy-tender texture and sticky glazed sauce, rainbow beef is prepared through the following cooking techniques:

• Velveting – Coating meat in oil, soy, cornstarch tenderizes through a marinade process.

• Deep frying – Individual quick deep frying in very hot oil gives the crispy exterior to the beef.

• Stir frying – The vegetables are stir fried separately at high heat to retain crunch.

• Sauce reduction – The liquid sauce ingredients are rapidly reduced to a thick, glossy glaze.

• Tossing – Beef and veggies are gently tossed in the sauce to evenly coat without softening textures.

Wok cooking techniques like stir frying, deep frying, and reduction help create the beloved contrast of crispy beef with tender-crisp vegetables bound together by the savory-sweet sauce.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions for Rainbow Beef

Here are some tasty ways to serve and pair rainbow beef:

• Pile on top of steamed jasmine rice. The rice soaks up the yummy sauce.

• Add a side of fried rice or lo mein noodles to complement the dish.

• Serve with wonton or egg drop soup for a nice balance of flavors and textures.

• Pair it with crab rangoon, egg rolls, or dumplings for a well-rounded Chinese meal.

• Enjoy it with a cold beer like Tsingtao, Asahi, or Corona to cut the sweetness.

With its mix of flavors and components, rainbow beef is a versatile main dish option but pairs well with sides to create a satisfying Chinese-inspired feast.

What’s the Appeal of Rainbow Beef?

What has made rainbow beef so beloved on restaurant menus? Here are some of its winning qualities:

• Colorful – The mix of carrot, pepper, onion is visually appealing.

• Crispy and saucy – The juxtaposition of the crispy fried beef with the sticky glaze is irresistible.

• Sweet and savory – The sauce strikes a crave-worthy balance of sweet and salty.

• Beefy flavor – The tender beef provides rich, meaty flavor.

• Textural variety – Crunchy veggies, tender beef, and sticky sauce makes every bite dynamic.

• Customizable – Easy to modify with different meats, veggies, and spice preferences.

From its delightfully crunchy, almost candied texture to the finger-licking sauce coating each morsel, it’s easy to understand rainbow beef’s appeal.

Tips for Making Rainbow Beef at Home

Recreating the irresistible flavors and textures of rainbow beef takes some finesse. Here are some tips:

• Use very hot oil and fry beef in small batches for crispiest results.

• Let beef drain after frying to ensure the exterior stays ultra crispy.

• Fry vegetables separately in very hot oil to retain crunch.

• Reduce sauce to a glossy, clinging consistency.

• Gently mix sauce with beef and veggies to avoid softening textures pre-serving.

• Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions before eating for brightness.

Getting the textures just right is key. Follow these tips and you’ll have restaurant-worthy rainbow beef in your own kitchen.

Is Rainbow Beef Easy to Make?

While not the simplest dish, rainbow beef is very approachable for the home cook. Here’s why:

• There aren’t a ton of ingredients required.

• The sauce only takes a few minutes to prepare.

• The vegetables just need a quick stir fry.

• Frying beef in small batches is manageable.

• The components all come together quickly at the end.

• The dish can be modified easily based on preferences.

With some basic Chinese cooking skills like stir frying, frying, and sauce making, rainbow beef is an achievable dish for weeknight dinners or Chinese takeout cravings.

Healthier Versions of Rainbow Beef

For those looking to enjoy the flavors of rainbow beef in a healthier way, consider these adjustments:

• Use lean beef like sirloin or tenderloin.

• Skip battering and just coat beef with cornstarch for frying.

• Substitute vegetable oil for a portion of peanut oil.

• Use reduced sodium soy sauce.

• Serve over riced cauliflower instead of white rice.

• Load up on veggie portions – carrots, bell pepper, bok choy.

• Swap in chicken or tofu if looking to cut down on red meat.

With a few simple tweaks, you can still savor sesame beef without overdoing calories, carbs, sodium, etc. Moderation and balance is key.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What cut of beef is traditionally used? Flank steak or sirloin are most common, but any lean cut works.

• Does the beef need to be marinated first? Not required, but briefly “velveting” in oil, soy, & cornstarch helps tenderize.

• Can you use chicken instead? Yes, chicken breast or thigh would work well as a lighter substitution.

• What oil should you use for frying? Peanut oil is classic but vegetable or canola oil also work.

• Is rainbow beef spicy? Most versions aren’t spicy, but some recipes add chili or chili oil optionally.

Satisfy that Chinese Takeout Craving

With its crispy beef, colorful medley of stir-fried vegetables, and irresistible sweet-savory sauce, rainbow beef is a go-to favorite for a reason. This Chinese restaurant classic brings together an array of textures and flavors that cater to our cravings. While not an authentic dish, it encapsulates the wok cooking spirit of Cantonese cuisine. With some simple tips and quality ingredients, you can recreate this beloved menu item at home when the takeout cravings strike. So sit back, dig those chopsticks in, and savor the rainbow of flavors in every tasty, sticky bite.