Tender and Flavorful Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe

If your goal is to enjoy more balanced meals, this Chinese pepper steak recipe is a great addition to your weekly menu.

It hits 4 out of the 6 food groups — protein, veggies, grains, and fats — so you’re sure to feel full and stay satisfied until your next meal!

What’s a Pepper Steak?

A pepper steak is a stir-fried dish that’s quite popular in Chinese cuisine. It primarily consists of sliced beef steak, bell peppers, and a mix of seasonings. 

But, that’s just the base of the recipe. You can easily customize this dish to make it your own.

Want to spice things up? Toss in a large green chili pepper. Looking for a touch of sweetness? Add a bit more brown sugar. There are so many ways to get creative with this dish!

Best Beef Cut for This Recipe

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about one crucial element: the steak. If you’re wondering which cut of beef to use, I’ve got three excellent options for you to consider:

• Flank steak: Flank steak is tender and offers a rich, beefy flavor. This lean cut absorbs sauces beautifully, making it a great choice for pepper steak.
• London broil or top round steak: Another option is London broil. Like flank steak, it’s also lean, but it can be slightly tougher, so be sure to cook it carefully.
• Chuck steak or roast: Now, if you’re looking for the most economical option, go with chuck steak. While it’s cheaper than the previous two, it does require more time to prepare.

How To Avoid Tough Steaks

Since you’re working with lean cuts for this recipe, there’s a chance they can become chewy and tough — this is definitely not what you want! So, here’s how to avoid that.

First, pat your steak dry with a paper towel and place it on a cutting board. Slice the beef thinly against the grain, then transfer the slices to a bowl.

Next, sprinkle the sliced steak with baking soda and gently toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the beef rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. 

After that, rinse off any excess baking soda with cold water and dry the beef slices with a paper towel.

This entire process is known as the velveting technique, which helps tenderize the steak so you can enjoy every bite without any chewiness or toughness.

Tender and Flavorful Chinese Pepper Steak

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Make a quick, balanced steak and veggie dish with this Chinese Pepper Steak recipe. It all comes together in one wok and it packs a lot of flavor!

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Ingredients

• 12 ounces of flank steak (or chuck roast or London broil)
• 1 to 1½ teaspoons of baking soda
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

To make the sauce:

• ½ cup of low-sodium chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch (as a thickening agent)
• 1½ tablespoons of oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon EACH of Shaoxing wine and light soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon EACH of brown sugar and sesame oil
• ⅛ teaspoon of white pepper (to taste)

The rest of the ingredients:

• 1 green bell pepper (cut into thin strips)
• ½ red bell pepper (cut into thin strips)
• 1 medium onion (cut into thin strips)
• 2 tablespoons of neutral oil (like canola, grapeseed, or vegetable oil)
• ½ teaspoon of ginger (minced)
• 2 cloves of garlic

Instructions

1. Firstly, pat your steak dry with a paper towel before slicing it into 3”-long strips that are about ⅛” to ¼” thick. (Note: If you’re having a hard time slicing thawed beef, a pro tip is to slice them while they’re still slightly frozen and firm.)
2. Next, velvet your beef: transfer your beef slices to a large bowl and sprinkle your baking soda on top. Toss them around until the beef gets coated, and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. 
3. After 30 minutes, rinse off excess baking soda under cold water and, once again, pat the steak slices dry with a paper towel. 
4. Season your steak with salt and pepper, then set them aside as you make the sauce.
5. Grab a large bowl and mix your sauce ingredients until well combined before setting it aside. 
6. At this point, all the components of your dish are ready, so it’s time to start cooking. Heat your wok on high until it begins to smoke.
7. Then, add a tablespoon of oil and swirl it around to coat the entire surface. 
8. Carefully add your steak slices to the wok and sear them for about 30 seconds on each side. A telltale sign they’re ready is when they turn light brown. 
9. Give the steak strips a final toss until there’s little pinkness left on the surface. Then, transfer them to a separate plate to rest. 
10. Pour the rest of your oil into the wok and add your onion, ginger, and garlic until they caramelize and become fragrant. 
11. When that happens, throw your sliced bell peppers inside and stir-fry all your veggies for 30 seconds.
12. Return your steak back to the wok and stir everything together for 15 to 30 seconds or until your steak strips are fully cooked through. 
13. Turn the heat down to low and pour in your sauce to season the beef and veggies. Stir everything together.
14. Once your sauce becomes thick enough, take the wok off the heat and serve your Chinese pepper steak over a bed of white rice.

Notes

Image credit to @natesmoovemusic.

Featured image credit to @youngmichellelynn.