Spicy Beef Pepper Stir Fry (Printable Version)
Quickly prepare tender beef and colorful bell peppers tossed in a bold, spicy sauce for a vibrant, satisfying weeknight dish.
# What You Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1 pound flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
→ Marinade
02 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
03 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
06 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
07 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into strips
08 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
→ Sauce
11 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (adjust to taste)
15 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
16 - 1 teaspoon sugar
→ For Cooking
17 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
→ Garnish (optional)
18 - Sliced green onions
19 - Toasted sesame seeds
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a bowl, toss the beef with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and black pepper. Allow to marinate for 10 minutes while preparing other ingredients.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients: soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Set aside.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat. Add the marinated beef and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until just browned. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
04 - Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the wok. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and sliced onion; stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Add the sliced bell peppers to the wok and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until they are tender-crisp.
06 - Return the seared beef to the pan. Pour in the prepared stir-fry sauce and continue to stir-fry everything together for an additional 1–2 minutes, until the sauce thickens and evenly coats all ingredients.
07 - Remove from heat. Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, if desired. Serve immediately, ideally with steamed rice or noodles.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- You'll adore how quickly this comes together, making even the busiest weeknight feel like a culinary win.
- The vibrant colors and explosive flavors are a genuine mood booster, turning dinner into a celebration.
02 -
- The biggest game-changer for stir-fries is having everything prepped and ready before you even turn on the heat – once that wok is hot, things move lightning-fast!
- Never overcrowd your pan when searing the beef; giving it space allows for a beautiful browning rather than steaming, which keeps it wonderfully tender.
03 -
- Achieving truly tender beef is all about slicing it uniformly thin and directly against the grain; freezing it for 15-20 minutes beforehand makes this task incredibly easy.
- To keep your bell peppers vibrant and perfectly crisp-tender, make sure your wok is screaming hot and avoid overloading it, giving them just a minute or two of furious stir-frying.