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beef jerky on tray with lemons and spices
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Spicy Sweet Beef Jerky

This spicy beef jerky recipe is a great one that has an amazing sweet flavor followed by a spicy zing at the end. Rave reviews were received when I passed this jerky around at home and work. Everyone loved it!
Course Beef Jerky
Cuisine American
Type Beef Jerky
Flavor Sweet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 267kcal
Author Will

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Beef Top Round
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ginger ground
  • 2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
  • ¼ cup water cold

Instructions

  • Trim all visible fat from the beef and place in freezer for an hour or two to partially freeze.
  • While the meat is in the freezer, combine marinade ingredients in a bowl or ziplock bag. 
  • Remove the meat from the freezer and slice ¼" strips against the grain for an easy chew. Cut with the grain for a more chewy jerky. (I did not freeze the jerky since I bought already thinly sliced meat. I sliced the thin meat into 1" wide strips)
  • Add sliced beef to the mixture in the ziplock bag or bowl and marinate for 6-24 hours in the refrigerator.
  • After the meat has finished marinating, remove from refrigerator and strain excess marinade in a colander and pat dry with paper towels. 
  • Dry with your Dehydrator, Smoker, or Oven. I used my Excalibur Dehydrator and dried for 4 hours at 165F.
  • The jerky is finished when it bends and cracks, but does not break in half.
  • Store jerky in air tight containers in a cool, dark, and dry place such as a fridge or cabinet.

Notes

  • Marinate for 24 hours for full flavor.
  • Sprinkle on extra red pepper for more spice!
  • Don't leave out the sesame oil, it really adds a great flavor to this recipe.
  • Allow jerky to cool for 5 minutes before checking to see if it is finished drying.

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 884mg | Potassium: 301mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 3.3mg