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Close-up of Chinese pepper steak stir-fry with tender beef strips, red and green bell peppers, onions, sesame seeds, and green onions in a savory sauce, served in a cast-iron skillet.

Savory Black Pepper Beef Stir-Fry

Tender strips of beef mingle with crisp onions and colorful bell peppers in a rich, garlicky black pepper sauce that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: entree, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Calories: 440
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon Low-Sodium Soy Sauce for marinating beef
  • 1 tablespoon Mirin Japanese rice wine adds subtle sweetness
  • 1 tablespoon Cornstarch for coating beef and thickening sauce
  • 1 lb Sirloin Steak trimmed and thinly sliced ½-inch, partially frozen for easy cutting
  • ½ cup Low-Sodium Beef Broth substitute with chicken or vegetable broth if needed
  • 3 tablespoon Low-Sodium Soy Sauce for stir-fry sauce
  • 3 tablespoon Honey for natural sweetness
  • 2 tablespoon Oyster Sauce provides umami-rich flavor
  • 2 tablespoon Chinese Cooking Wine or dry sherry as substitute
  • 1 tablespoon Cornstarch for sauce thickening
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon Coarsely Ground Black Pepper adjust if using fine-ground pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt to taste
  • 3 tablespoon Peanut Oil or neutral oil like canola, divided
  • 1 Medium White Onion peeled and diced for crunch
  • 2 Small Bell Peppers seeded and diced, mix colors for sweetness and color
  • 2 Cloves Garlic minced for aromatic punch
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Fresh Ginger grated for warm, zesty flavor
  • Optional Garnish: Sliced Scallions & Toasted Sesame Seeds

Equipment

  • 1 medium bowl For marinating beef, allows even coating and easy stirring
  • 1 Small Bowl or Measuring Cup For combining stir-fry sauce ingredients smoothly
  • 1 Wok or Large Heavy-Bottom Skillet A wok is ideal for tossing ingredients easily; a large cast iron or stainless skillet works well too

Method
 

  1. Combine soy sauce, mirin, and cornstarch in a medium bowl.
  2. Pat beef strips dry and add to the marinade, stirring gently to coat.
  3. Set aside for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to infuse.
  4. Whisk together all stir-fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup.
  5. Heat 1 ½ tablespoon oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat.
  6. Add beef in a single layer and sear 30–45 seconds on one side until lightly browned.
  7. Flip and stir-fry for another 30 seconds until almost cooked. Remove to a plate.
  8. Add remaining 1 ½ tablespoon oil to the pan and heat over medium.
  9. Add onions and bell peppers, season lightly with salt and pepper, and stir-fry 3–4 minutes until starting to soften.
  10. Add garlic and ginger, stir-frying 30 seconds until fragrant.
  11. Re-whisk stir-fry sauce to ensure cornstarch is dissolved, then pour into pan.
  12. Simmer 1 minute, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and coats spoon.
  13. Return beef with juices to pan, stir quickly to coat in sauce 30 seconds.
  14. Transfer to serving platter, garnish with scallions and sesame seeds if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 250gCalories: 440kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 25gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 1038mgPotassium: 547mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 1176IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 2mg

Notes

This quick pepper beef stir-fry will make your weeknight feel gourmet. The tender beef and vibrant veggies coated in a silky black pepper sauce create a comforting, restaurant-style meal you can whip up at home.

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