This healthy black bean recipe is lower calorie than ordering a takeaway and we enjoy it just as much! Making a low-calorie beef in black bean sauce couldn’t be easier and can even be made with Quorn steak strips if you prefer.
Budget shopping tips
Black beans can be tricky to find for this low-calorie beef in black bean sauce but have a look in a local continental food store they usually have them.
Frozen sweetcorn is just as good in this recipe but I wouldn’t recommend frozen mushrooms as they make the sauce a little runnier.
If you are happy with that then feel free to use frozen mushrooms and just adjust the cooking time slightly to allow for that.
Beef can be expensive but sandwich steak or frying steak is usually cheaper as it is thinner and not usually the sort someone would choose for a steak and chips type meal.
It is definitely best in this recipe to use it as when you have cut it up anyway there is no value in buying a more expensive cut.
Frozen beef would be a great alternative to fresh beef to save money but if cooking from frozen ensure it is fully cooked before moving on to the next step.
Making this recipe with Quorn steak strips
It is really easy to adapt this low-calorie beef in black bean sauce recipe to use Quorn steak strips, as a vegetarian myself I do it often.
It is always worth remembering that Quorn takes less time to cook when substituted for chicken or beef.
Check out my selection of Quorn recipes, all perfect for all the family whether vegetarian or not, some are vegan too.
Step-by-step instructions to follow
Thinly slice two large beef frying steaks (visible fat removed) or for the Quorn use half a bag of Quorn Steak strips.
Fry in a small pan on medium heat using low-calorie cooking spray until cooked and tender.
Add half a pouch of black bean sauce (The one I used was 7 syns a pouch), a tablespoon of boiling water, a tablespoon of black beans (squashed with a fork) and 2 tablespoons of black beans (whole).
Add the quartered mushrooms
Fry for a further 3/4 minutes.
Add 3 spring onions sliced lengthways, and 2 tablespoons of sweetcorn.
Fry for a further couple of minutes.
Serve immediately or allow to cool and warm through thoroughly.
Frequently asked questions about this recipe
Yes, you can, just be sure to allow a little extra time when frying the beef to ensure it is fully cooked.
I have not been trained by Slimming World but to my knowledge, the only thing you need to count as syns in this recipe is the black bean sauce you use.
There is no real reason why you couldn’t however it will be much chewier and the beef will be tough as stewing steak is usually harder to cook and needs to be stewed for a long time to make it melt in the mouth in comparison to frying or sandwich steaks.
It is entirely up to you, this recipe is my idea of perfect but if you prefer all the beans to be crushed or all to be whole that is your choice and would work just as well in terms of flavour.
I have a great egg fried rice recipe which goes well with this, alternatively, why not look at all my other Chinese fakeaway recipes and see what you fancy? If you are following a healthy diet I would also advise adding more vegetables to your meal.
Other healthy recipes you may enjoy
If you like a tasty low-calorie Chinese then why not check out my Chinese fakeaway selection here and create a whole menu full of takeaway alternatives?
If you are looking for more recipes with rice then do check out my list of rice recipes from around the world. If you are not confident at boiling rice or making risotto I have a foolproof guide to boiling rice here and a risotto guide here.
Which meal do you struggle with ideas for healthy meals to make? I have lists of breakfast ideas and lunch ideas if that helps you.
I have a lot of weight loss guides and support if you want to exercise including if you have a condition like fibromyalgia.
Have a good look around and see how I can help you achieve your weight loss goals. Request my free resources to get you started too!
Low-calorie Beef in Black Bean Sauce
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 portions 1x
- Category: Main meals
- Method: Hob top
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
A delicious recipe for low-calorie beef in a black bean sauce (or Quorn if preferred) that is so much healthier than the one from the Chinese Takeaway!
Ingredients
2 large beef frying steaks or half a bag of Quorn Steak Strips
1/2 a 120g Pouch of Blue Dragon black bean sauce
3 tbsp. Black Beans (from a can)
3 spring onions
2 tbsp. Sweetcorn
A handful of quartered mushrooms
Instructions
Thinly slice two large beef frying steaks (visible fat removed) or for the Quorn use half a bag of Quorn Steak strips.
Fry in a small pan on a medium heat using low-calorie cooking spray until cooked and tender.
Add half a pouch of black bean sauce, a tablespoon of boiling water, a tablespoon of black beans (squashed with a fork) and 2 tablespoons of black beans (whole).
Add the quartered mushrooms and fry for a further 3/4 minutes.
Add 3 spring onions sliced lengthways, and 2 tablespoons of sweetcorn.
Fry for a further couple of minutes.
Serve immediately or allow to cool and warm through thoroughly.
Keywords: Slimming World, fakeaway, Chinese, Low Syn
I really like the quorn beef strips, but find it difficult to source them these days. Hubby wasn’t keen. Made a second time using beef and he wolfed it down – proof the recipe is great; he just doesn’t like quorn!!! Thanks so much 🙂
★★★★★