Description
A quick and easy beef stir fry that combines tender strips of beef with colorful bell peppers and onions in a tangy, savory, and slightly sweet sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights and served best over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Marinade
- 20 oz beef steak
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Sauce
- 3 Tbsp hoisin sauce (or oyster sauce)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar/Shaoxing wine)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (or honey/maple syrup/a sugar alternative)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch (or arrowroot flour/tapioca starch)
- 1 Tbsp water
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 11 oz bell peppers (mixed colors)
- 4 oz onion (1 small)
- 1.4 oz green onions
- 0.3 oz garlic (2 cloves)
- 0.2 oz ginger (1/2 Tbsp minced)
Oils and Garnish
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- sesame seeds (to taste, raw or toasted)
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Slice the beef steak into thin strips. In a bowl, combine the beef with 1 tsp cornstarch, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp sea salt. Mix well and let it marinate for about 10 minutes to tenderize.
- Make the sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, and 1 Tbsp water until smooth. Set aside.
- Prepare the vegetables: Slice the bell peppers into strips, chop the onion, thinly slice the green onions, mince the garlic, and ginger.
- Cook the beef: Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add the marinated beef in batches to avoid overcrowding and stir-fry quickly until just browned and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the vegetables: In the same pan, add 1 Tbsp sesame oil, then add garlic, ginger, onion, and bell peppers. Stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Combine and finish: Return the cooked beef to the pan with the vegetables. Pour in the prepared sauce and stir well to coat everything. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and glazes the beef and veggies.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure hoisin sauce is gluten-free.
- You can substitute bell peppers with broccoli, snap peas, or mushrooms for variety.
- Marinating beef with baking soda helps tenderize the meat quickly.
- Use high heat during stir-frying to keep vegetables crisp and beef tender.
- Adjust sweetness and acidity in the sauce by varying brown sugar and rice vinegar to taste.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 541 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 1222 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 87 mg
