A classic Chinese-American dish featuring tender strips of beef, vibrant bell peppers, and sweet onions, all coated in a savory, slightly sweet sauce. Perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight meal.
Ingredients:
- For the Beef:
- 1 lb flank steak or sirloin steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper.
- For the Vegetables:
- 1 large bell pepper (any color), sliced into strips
- 1 large onion, sliced into strips
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch piece of ginger, minced.
- For the Sauce:
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 cup beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (mixed with 2 tbsp cold water, to create a slurry)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil.
- Vegetable oil for cooking.
Instructions:
- Prepare the Beef:
- In a medium bowl, combine the thinly sliced beef with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, and the ground black pepper. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- Prepare the Sauce:
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the 3 tbsp soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and beef broth. Set aside.
- Cook the Beef:
- Heat 1-2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.
- Add the marinated beef and cook quickly, stirring constantly, until browned on all sides (about 2-3 minutes). Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables:
- Add more vegetable oil to the skillet if needed. Add the sliced onions and bell peppers, and cook for 3-5 minutes, until slightly tender-crisp.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger, and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
- Combine and Thicken:
- Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with the vegetables.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, then stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with cold water).
- Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens.
- Finish and Serve:
- Return the cooked beef to the skillet and stir to combine with the sauce and vegetables.
- Cook for another 1-2 minutes, until everything is heated through.
- Stir in the sesame oil.
- Serve immediately over steamed rice.
Tips and Variations:
- For extra spice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- You can use other vegetables like mushrooms, broccoli, or snow peas.
- If you don’t have oyster sauce, you can use hoisin sauce as a substitute.
- To make the beef extra tender, you can tenderize the steak with a meat mallet before slicing it.
- If you like a thicker sauce, add more cornstarch slurry.
- Garnish with sesame seeds, or chopped green onions.
- To get a good sear on the beef, make sure your wok or pan is very hot before adding the beef.