Skip to content

Shapta

Shapta, chǎo máoniú ròu (炒牦牛肉) — Tibetan stir-fried yak or beef with chillies, onion and tomato

Herding families on the Tibetan plateau traditionally cook yak meat this way, and today shapta is a favourite at Tibetan restaurants from Lhasa to Kathmandu and Delhi. Thin slices of meat are seared with onion, green chillies and tomato, and seasoned with ginger, garlic and timur (Sichuan pepper), which gives a gentle tingle. Lean and full of flavour, it comes out savoury, slightly smoky and pleasantly hot. Serve it with tingmo (steamed bread), rice or flatbread, and a simple radish salad. Chef's tip: yak is very lean, so slice it thin and cook it fast; beef sirloin or rump is the easiest substitute.
Total time
25 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
3
One step at a time, big text, timers, read-aloud. Your screen stays on.

Ingredients

Serves3

For the meat

For the stir-fry

To serve

Method

0/6 done
  1. Step 1: On a separate board for raw meat, toss 16 oz yak meat or beef sirloin with 1 tbsp light soy sauce and 1 tsp cornflour. Leave in the fridge for 10 minutes while you prepare the vegetables.

    10 min
  2. Step 2: Heat a wok over a high heat until smoking, add half of 1 tbsp neutral oil and spread the meat in one layer. Sear for 1 minute without moving, then stir-fry for 30–60 seconds until browned outside. Lift out. Thin slices reach medium (145°F / 145 °F) almost at once; take them out at the first sign of no pink if you like them medium-rare (135°F).

    2 min
  3. Step 3: Add the remaining 1 tbsp neutral oil and stir-fry 1 onion over a high heat for 2 minutes until the edges catch.

    2 min
  4. Step 4: Add 3 garlic cloves, ⅓ oz fresh ginger, 3 green chillies, 1 tsp chilli flakes and ½ tsp ground Sichuan pepper (timur) and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.

    1 min
  5. Step 5: Add 1 tomato, ½ tsp salt and 2 tbsp water and cook for 1–2 minutes until the tomato just softens into a light sauce.

    2 min
  6. Step 6: Return the meat with 2 spring onions and toss for 30 seconds to heat through. Don't cook it any longer: overcooking is the common mistake with lean yak or beef, and it turns tough and dry. Scatter with coriander and serve.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
300 kcal
Protein
33 g
Carbs
9 g
Fat
15 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does shapta take?
About 25 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it very spicy?
It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
What can I use instead of light soy sauce?
Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
What can I use instead of cornflour?
Arrowroot or potato starch, same amount.

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.

Rate this recipe

Sign in to rate and review this recipe.

Beef and broccoli stir-fry

A quick coat of cornflour and soy keeps thin slices of beef silky, and a hot wok gives the broccoli char without overcooking it. Faster than ordering in.

25 minMeat
by KrazyBadal 0 views

Sweet & sour chips

Crisp chips tossed with stir-fried peppers, spring onions and chillies in a glossy sweet-and-sour sauce. A pinch of pink colour gives it the classic restaurant look, and pineapple juice makes it fruitier. Serve hot, as soon as the chips are coated.

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Chicken egg fried rice

The best fried rice starts with cold, day-old rice, so the grains stay separate and toast in the wok instead of turning mushy. A great way to use up leftover rice and odds and ends of vegetables.

by KrazyBadal 0 views