Pepper Steak Stir Fry
On May 01, 2024
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My Pepper Steak Stir Fry takes tender steak and combines it with hearty peppers for heat. It’s great with rice, and ready in under an hour.
Pepper Steak Stir Fry
Nothing combines tender, juicy flat iron steak with vibrant, spicy peppers quite like stir fry. My Pepper Steak Stir Fry recipe is a symphony of flavors and textures that will have your family raving. It’s the perfect blend of savory beef seasoning, aromatic garlic and ginger, and the subtle heat of red pepper flakes, all wrapped up in a rich sauce.
All you need is a good wok or deep pan, and, of course, the will to resist the tempting aroma filling the air as you cook. If you’ve got what it takes, then you’ll turn out amazing pepper steak your friends and family will love. Let’s get going.
The Best Beef for Stir Fry
For stir fry beef, you want to go with a thin cut that will cook quickly while remaining tender. While pepper steak is traditionally made with flank steak, I’m making this recipe with flat iron steak. It’s a little bit more per pound, but the tenderness is worth it in my opinion. I absolutely love the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and rich, beefy flavor of this cut.
Tenderizing Your Beef
To get the most tender flat iron steak possible, I highly recommend tenderizing your beef. Place the steak between two pieces of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or heavy bottom skillet to gently pound the steak to an even thickness. This process helps to break down the tough fibers in the meat, resulting in a more tender and enjoyable eating experience.
Stir Fry Pepper Sauce
The sauce is the heart and soul of this Pepper Steak Stir Fry, perfectly balancing the savory beef and heart peppers. The beef stock, sweet mirin, and salty soy sauce creates a rich, umami base, while the dark brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness. The red pepper flakes provide a subtle kick of heat that complements the savory flavors, but isn’t overpowering. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 4 Tablespoons cool water
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup mirin
- 1/2 cup beef stock
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your taste preferences. If you enjoy a spicier stir fry, you can increase the amount to 1 or 1 1/2 teaspoons. If you prefer a milder flavor, then you can reduce the red pepper flakes to 1/2 teaspoon or omit them entirely. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s easily customizable to your liking.
How to Make Pepper Steak
You’ll be shocked how simple it is to make this Asian-inspired pepper steak. Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, just follow these easy steps:
- Prep beef. Start by tenderizing your steak with a meat mallet, and then slicing into thin strips. Remember, if you’re using a tougher cut like flat iron steak, be sure to slice against the grain.
- Prep the sauce. Combine your water and cornstarch in a small bowl, and the remainder of your sauce ingredients in a separate mixing bowl, and set both aside.
- Cook beef. In a large skillet or wok, heat your oil over medium-high heat. You want to give your steak for 2-3 minutes, or until browned. Then, set aside on a plate.
- Stir fry vegetables. In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed, then toss in your sliced bell peppers and onion. Stir-fry until the veggies are tender, and slightly charred around the edges. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute or so, until fragrant.
- Add sauce. Pour the sauce mixture into the wok, scraping the bottom and sides to remove all of the flavorful browned on bits into the sauce. You want to allow your sauce to simmer 4-5 minutes until it reduces by about half, then mix in your cornstarch slurry.
- Combine, serve, and enjoy. Let the sauce simmer for a minute or two, until it thickens up nicely. Then add the steak back into the pan and toss everything together until the steak is heated through and coated in that delicious sauce. Serve your pepper steak hot, over a bed of steamed rice or noodles. Garnish with some sliced green onions or sesame seeds for a pop of freshness and crunch.
Serving Suggestions
This spicy pepper steak dish is traditionally served freshly mixed right out of the wok on a bed of noodles or rice. I’m a sucker for rice with beef, so I prepared a simple white rice to go along with by steak. You can go with brown rice if that’s more your style, or your favorite noodle. As you get more confident playing with the recipe, you’ll likely find different combos you love.
More Asian Style BBQ Dishes
If this Pepper Steak Stir Fry leaves your tastebuds craving even more Asian-inspired flavor, then you’re in luck. I’ve perfected a few BBQ recipes inspired by some classic Asian dishes. Here are a few of my favorites to try next:
Beef Pepper Steak Recipe
Pepper you weekly meal plan with this amazing Pepper Steak recipe, and share your results with us. You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, and tag us @heygrillhey. We love seeing all the awesome creations you come up with, and drooling over them while we plan our next meal.
If you want to make feeding the people you love even easier, then make sure you check out the Hey Grill Hey app. Not only can browse all your favorite recipes, but you can build delicious meal plans and shopping lists, all with a tap of your fingers. Why eating boring food when it’s this easy to have tasty BBQ?
Pepper Steak Stir Fry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds flat iron steak sliced against the grain
- 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Beef Seasoning or equal parts salt, pepper, and garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 green onions sliced, this is an optional ingedient
Stir Fry Vegetables
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced, core and seeds removed
- 1 green bell pepper sliced, core and seeds removed
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 knob ginger peeled and grated
Pepper Sauce
- 4 Tablespoons cool water
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup mirin
- 1/2 cup beef stock
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
- teaspoon red pepper flakes adjust up or down for heat preference
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep beef. Place steak between two pieces of plastic wrap and use a meat tenderizer or heavy bottom skillet to pound the steak to even thickness. Slice the steak into thin strips against the grain. Season with Beef Seasoning or your favorite steak seasoning and set aside.2 pounds flat iron steak, 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Beef Seasoning
- Prep the sauce. Combine the water and cornstarch in a small bowl and set aside. Combine all other sauce ingredients in a separate mixing bowl and set aside.4 Tablespoons cool water, 2 Tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 cup mirin, 1/2 cup beef stock, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar, teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Cook beef. Heat a wok or large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add in avocado oil. When the oil starts to shimmer, add in seasoned steak. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned on the outside. Remove to a plate.2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- Stir fry the vegetables. Add sliced onions and peppers to the wok and cook, while stirring, for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and the ginger and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Remove the vegetables to the plate with your steak.1 yellow onion, 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, 4 cloves garlic, 1 knob ginger
- Add the sauce. Pour the sauce mixture into the wok, scraping the bottom and sides to remove all of the flavorful browned on bits into the sauce. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until reduced almost by half. Pour cornstarch slurry into the sauce and stir rapidly while it is distributed. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until it thickens.
- Combine, serve, and enjoy. Turn off the heat and add your steak and vegetables to the wok. Stir to coat the steak and vegetables in the sauce. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and serve with cooked rice or noodles.2 green onions
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
