Chinese Cumin Lamb Stir Fry 🥢🔥

Description

Chinese Cumin Lamb Stir Fry is bold, aromatic, smoky, and deeply savory, inspired by the lamb dishes of Northwest China and Xinjiang-style street food. Thin slices of lamb are quickly seared with cumin, chili, garlic, onion, and spring onion until tender, fragrant, and slightly charred at the edges, creating a main dish with strong search potential, premium visual impact, and serious restaurant energy. ✨

Hook ✨

Tender lamb, toasted cumin, hot chili, and smoky wok aroma make this Chinese main dish powerful, fragrant, and unforgettable from the first bite. 🥢

Ingredients

• Lamb 🍖
• 🍖 600 g lamb shoulder or leg, thinly sliced (1.3 lb)
• 🥢 20 ml light soy sauce (1 tbsp + 1 tsp / 0.7 fl oz)
• 🍶 15 ml Shaoxing wine (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz)
• 🌽 10 g cornstarch (1 tbsp / 0.35 oz)
• 🌻 15 ml neutral oil (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz)
• 🧂 3 g fine salt (½ tsp / 0.1 oz)
• Spice mix 🌶️
• 🌿 12 g cumin seeds, lightly crushed (1½ tbsp / 0.42 oz)
• 🌶️ 6 g chili flakes (1 tbsp / 0.21 oz)
• ⚪ 3 g white pepper (¾ tsp / 0.1 oz)
• ⭐ 2 g five-spice powder, optional (½ tsp / 0.07 oz)
• 🧂 2 g fine salt (⅓ tsp / 0.07 oz)
• 🍬 3 g sugar (½ tsp / 0.1 oz)
• Aromatics 🧄
• 🧅 180 g onion, sliced into wedges (1 large / 6.3 oz)
• 🧄 18 g garlic, finely chopped (4 cloves / 0.63 oz)
• 🫚 12 g fresh ginger, finely minced (1 tbsp / 0.42 oz)
• 🌶️ 30 g red chili, sliced (2–3 chilies / 1 oz)
• 🧅 60 g spring onion, cut into 4 cm pieces (¾ cup / 2.1 oz)
• For finishing ✨
• 🌿 10 g cilantro, roughly chopped (⅓ cup / 0.35 oz)
• ⚪ 5 g toasted sesame seeds, optional (1 tsp / 0.18 oz)
• 🍚 steamed jasmine rice or flatbread, for serving

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Slice and marinate the lamb 🍖
2. Slice the lamb thinly across the grain, then mix it with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, neutral oil, and salt. Let it rest for 15 min so the meat stays tender during the fast stir fry. ✨
3. 2️⃣ Prepare the spice mix 🌶️
4. Lightly crush the cumin seeds, then mix them with chili flakes, white pepper, five-spice powder if using, salt, and sugar. Keep the spice mix close to the stove because the cooking moves quickly. 🥢
5. 3️⃣ Sear the lamb 🔥
6. Heat a wok or large skillet until very hot. Add 15 ml neutral oil (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz), then spread the lamb in a single layer. Sear for 2–3 min until browned at the edges, then remove to a plate. 🍖
7. 4️⃣ Char the onion 🧅
8. Add the onion wedges to the same hot wok and stir-fry for 2 min until lightly charred but still slightly crisp. This gives the dish sweetness, smoke, and better texture. ✨
9. 5️⃣ Cook the aromatics 🧄
10. Add garlic, ginger, red chili, and spring onion to the wok. Stir-fry for 45–60 sec until fragrant, sharp, and glossy, making sure the garlic does not burn. 🌶️
11. 6️⃣ Toss with spices 🥢
12. Return the lamb to the wok, sprinkle over the cumin spice mix, and toss hard for 1–2 min until the lamb is coated, smoky, and deeply aromatic. The cumin should smell toasted and warm. 🔥
13. 7️⃣ Finish and serve 🌿
14. Turn off the heat, fold in cilantro and sesame seeds if using, then serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice or warm flatbread. The lamb should be juicy, peppery, and fragrant, with lightly charred edges. 🍚

Total Time

⏱ Prep: 20 min
🔥 Cook/Bake: 10 min
🛋 Rest: 15 min
⏰ Total: 45 min

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