Chinese pepper steak with onions is a savory and flavorful dish that blends the vibrant taste of tender beef with the perfect balance of peppers and onions.
The dish offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors, making it a popular choice among Chinese-American cuisine lovers.
It is quick to prepare and perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
To make Chinese pepper steak with onions, you’ll need the following ingredients:
1 pound of flank steak or sirloin beef, thinly sliced against the grain
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon of sugar
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (for frying)
1 onion, sliced
2 bell peppers (preferably one green and one red), sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-inch piece of ginger, minced
1 tablespoon of cornstarch (for thickening the sauce)
1/2 cup of water
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooked rice or noodles for serving
Instructions
Begin by preparing the beef. Slice it thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness when cooked.
Place the beef in a bowl and add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and sugar.
Mix everything well, ensuring the beef is evenly coated. Let it marinate for about 15-20 minutes to absorb the flavors.
While the beef marinates, prepare the vegetables. Slice the onions and bell peppers into strips, and mince the garlic and ginger.
The vegetables should be uniform in size for even cooking, and the garlic and ginger will provide an aromatic foundation for the dish.
In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 1/2 cup of water to create a slurry. This will help thicken the sauce later. Set it aside for later use.
Next, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated beef in batches.
Stir-fry the beef for 2-3 minutes until it is browned on all sides. Remove the beef from the pan and set it aside to prevent overcooking.
In the same pan, add another tablespoon of oil. Then, add the sliced onions, bell peppers, garlic, and ginger.
Stir-fry the vegetables for 3-4 minutes until they become tender but still crisp. The garlic and ginger will infuse the oil with their flavors, creating a fragrant base for the dish.
Return the cooked beef to the pan with the vegetables. Stir to combine, and add the cornstarch slurry to the pan.
Stir well to coat the ingredients evenly with the sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the beef and vegetables.
Once the sauce has thickened and everything is well combined, taste the dish and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
The dish should have a nice balance of savory, sweet, and slightly tangy flavors.
How to Make
To start, ensure that you have all the ingredients prepped and ready. The key to this dish is the marinade.
which imparts rich flavor to the beef. Marinating the beef allows it to absorb the flavors of the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and other seasonings, which gives it depth and tenderness.
The stir-frying process is critical, as it ensures the beef cooks quickly while retaining its juiciness.
Stir-frying the vegetables until just tender ensures they remain crisp and vibrant, providing a nice contrast to the tender beef.
The garlic and ginger are essential in bringing an aromatic quality to the dish, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
Adding the cornstarch slurry is crucial for thickening the sauce. Without it, the sauce may be too thin, and it may not coat.