My Family’s Pepper Steak Recipe: A Sizzling Homemade Classic

Pepper steak revolutionizes ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience that dances between robust and delicate flavor profiles.

Family recipes often carry secret techniques passed through generations, revealing more than just cooking methods.

Each tender beef strip tells a story of carefully balanced seasonings and quick-fire cooking techniques.

Vibrant bell peppers bring unexpected brightness to this classic Asian-inspired dish, creating visual and gustatory excitement.

The marriage of tender meat and crisp vegetables produces a harmonious meal that feels simultaneously comforting and adventurous.

Skillful preparation turns simple components into something truly remarkable, elevating weeknight dinners from mundane to memorable.

You’ll find this recipe offers a perfect balance of protein, vegetables, and bold seasonings.

Why My Family’s Pepper Steak Recipe Stays on Repeat

• Savor Quick Protein Powerhouse: This pepper steak recipe delivers a protein-packed meal in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy families craving delicious, nutritious dining.
• Experience Restaurant-Style Stir-Fry Magic: Master professional wok techniques that create restaurant-quality flavor with tender meat, crisp vegetables, and a silky sauce right in your kitchen.
• Customize Nutrient-Rich Dinner: Packed with 38g protein, colorful bell peppers, and lean steak, this recipe offers a balanced meal that satisfies hunger while supporting healthy eating goals without sacrificing taste.

The Ingredients That Made It a Household Staple

• Steak: Tender beef cut perfect for quick stir-frying with rich, meaty flavor. Best when sliced thinly against the grain.
• Black Soybeans: Adds nutty texture and helps tenderize meat with natural enzymes.

• Bell Peppers: Crisp and sweet vegetable that adds vibrant color and fresh crunch to the dish.
• Scallions: Mild onion flavor that provides bright garnish and aromatic finish.
• Garlic: Provides deep, pungent base flavor and enhances overall dish complexity.

• Cornstarch: Creates smooth coating for meat and helps thicken sauce with silky texture.
• Chicken Stock: Provides rich liquid base that adds depth and helps cook steak evenly.

How to Sauté Steak and Peppers Like Mom

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

Soak black soybeans in water for 10 minutes. Chop bell peppers, scallions, and garlic into small, uniform pieces.

• Black soybeans
• Cornstarch
• Minced garlic

Step 2: Coat and Sear Steak

Mix soybeans, cornstarch, and garlic. Thoroughly coat steak slices with the mixture. Heat a wok over high heat with a splash of oil. Sear steak quickly until edges are browned but center remains slightly pink.

Step 3: Cook and Finish Dish

Add chopped bell peppers to the wok. Stir-fry for 1 minute. Pour in chicken stock gradually, stirring constantly until sauce thickens and steak is fully cooked. The sauce should cling to the meat and vegetables.

Step 4: Serve and Garnish

Transfer pepper steak to a serving plate. Sprinkle freshly chopped scallions on top. Serve hot over steamed white rice for a delicious family-style meal.

Tips Passed Down for the Perfect Texture

• Maximize Tenderness: Slice steak against the grain to ensure each bite remains incredibly soft and easy to chew.
• Control Searing Heat: Ensure your wok is blazing hot before adding steak to create a perfect golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside juicy.
• Cornstarch Coating Trick: Use a light, even cornstarch coating to help seal in moisture and create a delicate crispy texture on the steak.
• Sauce Consistency Magic: Stir chicken stock slowly and continuously to achieve a silky, restaurant-quality sauce that perfectly coats each ingredient.
• Fresh Ingredient Power: Chop scallions and bell peppers just before cooking to preserve maximum flavor and vibrant color in your pepper steak.

Store It the Way We Always Did

• Refrigeration: Store leftover pepper steak in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep the steak and rice separate to maintain their individual textures and prevent soggy rice. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating: Warm the steak gently in a skillet over medium-low heat to prevent overcooking. Add a splash of chicken stock to restore moisture and prevent dryness. Stir occasionally and heat until the meat reaches 165°F for food safety.
• Freezing: Wrap pepper steak portions in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best quality and taste.

The Best Sides for This Nostalgic Meal

• Enhance Flavor with Bold Red Wine: Choose a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah to complement the rich, savory pepper steak, cutting through the meat's intensity while highlighting its smoky char.
• Balance Plate with Crisp Side Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to provide a fresh, tangy contrast against the hearty steak, cleansing the palate between bites.
• Create Texture Harmony with Jasmine Rice: Select fragrant jasmine rice as the base, its delicate floral notes and soft texture perfectly absorbing the steak's flavorful sauce and providing a smooth counterpoint to the dish's robust elements.
• Complement with Herbal Green Tea: Brew a hot green tea to help digest the protein-rich meal, its subtle grassy notes and slight bitterness cutting through the steak's richness while offering a refreshing finish.

Fresh Additions to Make It Your Own

• Protein Powerhouse: Swap steak with tender chicken breast or lean turkey strips for a lighter protein option that maintains the recipe's vibrant flavors.
• Vegetarian Transformation: Replace meat with firm tofu or tempeh, pressing out excess moisture before coating with soybean and cornstarch mixture for a plant-based alternative.
• Spicy Southwest Spin: Incorporate jalapeños or chipotle peppers into the sauce, adding a smoky heat that complements the original pepper steak's profile while creating a zesty Mexican-inspired version.
• Low-Carb Adaptation: Skip rice and serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles, reducing carbohydrates while keeping the dish's core taste and nutritional balance intact.

My Familys Pepper Steak Recipe Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sizzling pepper steak brings Chinese-American comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen. Juicy beef strips mingle with bell peppers in a rich, glossy sauce that promises warmth and nostalgia with each savory bite you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 pound flank steak

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 2 medium yellow, red, or orange bell peppers
• 1 medium scallion
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped or microplaned garlic
• 2 tablespoons fermented black soybeans

Cooking and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ¾ to 1 cup chicken broth or stock
• Cooked white rice, for serving

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Instructions

1. Submerge black soybeans in room temperature water for 10 minutes, allowing them to soften and release their subtle flavors.
2. Finely mince bell peppers into uniform strips, dice scallions with precision, and crush garlic cloves to release their aromatic essence.
3. Create a robust coating for the steak slices by thoroughly mixing crushed black soybeans, cornstarch, and minced garlic into a textured marinade.
4. Preheat a wok or large skillet over high heat until surface shimmers with intense thermal energy, ensuring a perfect searing environment.
5. Carefully place marinated steak slices into the hot wok, allowing each piece to develop a rich caramelized exterior while maintaining a tender interior.
6. Introduce colorful bell pepper strips into the wok, quickly tossing them with the partially cooked steak to preserve their crisp texture and vibrant color.
7. Gradually pour chicken stock into the wok, creating a luxurious sauce that will simultaneously cook the steak and bind the dish’s flavors.
8. Continuously stir the mixture, allowing the sauce to reduce and thicken until the steak reaches perfect doneness and the sauce coats the ingredients with a glossy sheen.
9. Garnish with freshly chopped scallions and serve immediately over steamed white rice, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Notes

• Homemade dish passed down through generations, capturing authentic family flavors and culinary traditions.
• Soaking black soybeans helps tenderize meat and infuse deeper umami notes into the steak’s texture.
• Quick high-heat cooking method ensures meat remains juicy while developing beautiful caramelized exterior.
• Select tender cuts like sirloin or flank steak for optimal tenderness and robust beef flavor profile.
• Balanced seasoning blend creates harmonious taste combining savory, slightly sweet, and rich undertones.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stir-Frying
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 410 kcal
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 780mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 38g
• Cholesterol: 95mg