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Chinese-Style Pepper Steak Recipe

Chinese-Style Pepper Steak Recipe


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4.9 from 29 reviews

  • Total Time: 20-23 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Pepper Steak brings tender strips of beef sizzling with colorful bell peppers right to your dinner table. Slicing thin meat and quickly stir-frying creates a restaurant-quality meal that makes weeknight cooking feel like a delicious adventure.


Ingredients

Scale

Proteins:

  • 1.5 lbs beef sirloin

Vegetables:

  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 2 green bell peppers
  • 3 cloves garlic

Seasonings and Liquids:

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions

  1. Slice your sirloin into thin ¼-inch diagonal strips, cutting against the meat’s grain to ensure maximum tenderness.
  2. Whisk together ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp cornstarch, ¼ cup water, 1 tsp black pepper, ½ tsp salt, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes in a small bowl to create a flavorful sauce.
  3. Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the surface becomes shimmery and hot.
  4. Carefully place beef strips in a single layer, allowing them to sear for 2-3 minutes without moving to develop a beautiful golden-brown crust.
  5. Gently stir the beef and continue cooking for another 2 minutes until pieces are evenly browned and just cooked through.
  6. Transfer beef to a clean plate, keeping it warm for later.
  7. In the same skillet, add sliced onions and green peppers, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until they become slightly tender and start to soften.
  8. Finely mince 3 cloves of garlic and sprinkle into the skillet, cooking for 30 seconds until their aromatic fragrance fills your kitchen.
  9. Return the seared beef strips to the skillet and pour the prepared sauce over the meat and vegetables.
  10. Stir everything together and cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats each piece beautifully.
  11. Remove from heat and serve your pepper steak immediately over a bed of steamed white rice.

Notes

  • Cutting beef against the grain ensures each bite stays tender and prevents chewy, stringy meat.
  • Use a wok or cast-iron skillet for better heat distribution and faster caramelization of meat and vegetables.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap traditional soy sauce with tamari and confirm all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
  • Slicing vegetables and meat uniformly helps them cook evenly and creates a more professional-looking final dish.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10-13 minutes
  • Category: Stir-Fried
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 320 kcal
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 650 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 75 mg