Here’s a classic, flavorful recipe for Chinese Pepper Steak with Onions—tender beef, crisp peppers, and a savory sauce.
🥩🥢 Chinese Pepper Steak with Onions
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 3–4)
For the beef:
- 1 pound (450 g) flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
For the stir-fry:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1–2 bell peppers (green, red, or yellow), sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
For the sauce:
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
🔪 Instructions
1. Marinate the Beef
- Toss beef slices with soy sauce, cornstarch, and 1 tsp oil.
- Let marinate 15–20 minutes.
2. Cook the Beef
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.
- Stir-fry beef in batches until browned but not fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
3. Stir-Fry Vegetables
- Add remaining oil to the skillet.
- Stir-fry onions, bell peppers, garlic, and ginger 2–3 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
4. Combine & Sauce
- Return beef to the pan.
- Mix in soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and black pepper.
- Pour in cornstarch slurry to thicken.
- Cook 1–2 minutes until sauce coats beef and vegetables.
5. Serve
- Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
- Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
💡 Tips
- Slice beef thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness
- Keep the heat high for a true stir-fry texture
- For extra flavor, marinate beef 1 hour in the fridge instead of 15 minutes
If you want, I can give a one-pan version with fewer ingredients that’s ready in 20 minutes without sacrificing flavor.
