Easy Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe for Beginners

Introduction

It’s for this reason that Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe has become one of the most popular dishes in Chinese-American food. One of them is tender beef strips stir-fried with colourful red bell peppers and onion in special black pepper gravy. Yummy is never an understatement to define this recipe that is favored by both home-cooking specialists and dining-goers dining in restaurants. It is the tasty, tender and tenderizing beef combined with fresh and colorful vegetables, topped with flavorful sauce.

In this guide, I will explain every basic aspect you need to consider should you wish to prepare a mouth-watering and tasty Chinese Pepper Steak at home.

The Classic Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe

Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe was created as the version of the typical Chinese stir fry dishes mixing the spicy and savory sauces of soy sauce with the spicy grains of black pepper. The Chinese have incorporated it in their Chinese-American cuisine where it is completed with a slightly thick sauce to give it an even better enhanced savory taste.

The dish is easy to prepare and doesn’t require many cooking techniques on some of the ingredients to enhance their taste.

Ingredients for Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe

• 1 lb beef, flank steak, sirloin cuts or round cut sliced thinly
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine (optional)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Beef Selection

To the best result, one must select the right cut of beef that will best suit the intended recipe. These are cuts that are favourite when it comes to tenderness and their capacity to pick up flavours are as follows:

• Flank Steak: Leaner than the Strip steak however, it has that excellent chomping character that is good for grilling or broiling.
• Skirt Steak: Reduced fat, slightly more fat, therefore juicier.
• Hanger Steak: The fat is intramuscular and the musculature is wide with a pinbone running down the spine of the flap so that it is an excellent piece of meat to marinate.
• Flap Meat: This is one of the cheap beef cuts that retain their taste in stir-frying.

Tip: While cutting the beef, do it across the grain in order to get tender pieces and avoid chewy ones.

Vegetables

The vegetables also play an important role in the preparation of Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe appearing in both the presentation, texture and taste.

• Bell Peppers: Red and green bell peppers both are usually added for color and taste difference between the sweetness of the green and slight bitterness that the red bell peppers possess.
• Onions: Red onions give a natural sweetness to the food as they blend well with the spicy black pepper sauce.
• Additional Accessories: Tomatoes are added to the pepper stew so as to make it slightly acidic and juicy or mushrooms that will add some umami taste to the stew.

Marinade and Sauce Components

The beef also is adequately marinated and tender and The sauce which unites all the ingredients has a strong umami taste and spiciness,

• Soy Sauce (light and dark): Because the dark soy sauce has sugar, the dish gains a brownish reddish hue and a savory flavor.
• Using Shaoxing Wine or Dry Sherry: This further complements the flavours of this dish by creating a mild fermented taste.
• Cornstarch: Helps to coat the beef with eggs and then used later to thicken the sauce that wraps the ingredients.
• Black Pepper: The highlight of this particular dish because it contributes the heat and extra layers of flavors to this dish.
• Sugar: Completes the taste profile and helps in Maillard reaction for browning the food.
• Aromatics: Garlic, ginger and scallions chopped up is used here, the aroma they bring in is unique.
• Sesame Oil: Provides a nutty aroma and a smooth finish to the dish.
• Chicken Stock: Used to connect the different shreds of beef and formation of an ideal sauce.

Preparation Steps of Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe

Marinating the Beef

Place in a separate bowl sliced beef, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of Shaoxing wine, 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.

Ideally, it should be left to marinate for at least 20 mins so that the spices are absorbed well and it becomes tender. Cornstarch used to prepare the sauce aids in the making of a smooth sauce texture when it is cooked.

Preparing the Sauce

To prepare the sauce then, use a whisk and prepare the following;

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Keep separate from the sauce so that it will be handy during the cooking process and stir well before application.

Chopping Vegetables and Aromatics

Peppers and onions should be diced into number one size, in order to ensure that they do not become soft after being stir-fried.

Dice the garlic, chop ginger and use scallions white part in order to achieve different levels of flavor depth.

Step-by-Step Cooking Method for Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe

Stir-Frying the Beef

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok pan on a high flame until see through.
2. Arrange the marinated beef in portions so that the pieces do not clump together and the surface of all the pieces get browned well.
3. Saute for approximately 2 minutes until it turns slightly brown and still slightly pink in the middle. Some textures should be carefully cooked; for instance, to retain tenderness in the beef do not overcook it.
4. For this reason, take the beef out of a wok and place it aside or better still put it aside on the side.

Stir-Frying the Vegetables

1. In the same wok add one tablespoon of oil if needed.
2. Next, add the minced garlic, ginger, and scallions in the pot to enhance the dish’s flavor without browning them through poaching by stirring them rapidly.
3. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until spicy but not burned.
4. Add the bell peppers and onions which should be stir fried for a few minutes 2-3 minutes to remain crunchy.

Combining and Saucing

1. Place the cooked beef back into the wok and mix it well.
2. It is then important to pour the pre-mixed sauce and stir it in order to ensure it covers all the ingredients.
3. Stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes or until the sauce becomes slightly thick and coating the ingredients.
4. Finally, take out the chicken from the Bevvie rack and spoon over the curry sauce on top of each piece; taste and adjust seasoning with salt or ground black pepper if needed.

Serving Suggestions

It is recommended to use it with other side dishes and garnishing to complement the food being served in Pepper Steak:

• Suggested Companions: Accompany the dish with steamed jasmine rice or noodles to enjoy the sauce that comes with it.
• Servings: These can also be served together with egg rolls and dumplings or hot and sour soup for a balanced meal.
• Garnishes: sprinkle it with sesame seeds and bring a jullienned green onions to add flavor plus aesthetics.
• Best Served: Serve it with hot green tea, iced jasmine tea, or a glass of mild beer to match the saltiness of its various components.

Tips and Variations of Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe

Achieving Wok Hei

For that real grilling taste that would compliment wok cooking, one must use a charcoal grill with appropriate grilling grates. Grilling helps to acquire the high level of ‘wok hei’ or the breath of a wok, which is characteristic of many Chinese stir fry dishes.

Alternative Cooking Methods

If a wok pan is not available, a large cast iron skillet will also work well as it takes a long time to heat up but once hot, cools rapidly and sears at high temperatures.

Vegetable Variations

To add any variation to your dish, feel free to use any kind of vegetables of your selection.

• Snow peas: Adds sweetness and slight crunch to the dish.
• Broccoli: Works perfectly well when trying to collect the sauce at the bottom of the plate.
• Mushrooms: Boosts umami richness.

Spice Level Adjustment

• To produce the output with more kick and potency, add more black pepper.
• Optional, you could add sliced chili peppers or a few drops of chili oil to enhance its spiciness.

Conclusion

Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe is among the popular and easy Chinese dishes you could try at home. The correct choice of ingredients, good control of the marinade process and the correct techniques in stir-frying will make you eat like in a restaurant. That is why it can be made extra spicy or with crazy amounts of veggies, as well as the perfect complement of fried rice on the side. After preparing this simple yet very scrumptious Chinese Pepper Steak, you will definitely love the taste of organic dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe