Description
This Easy Pepper Steak Stir Fry is a weeknight dinner dream, bringing together tender strips of steak, crisp-tender bell peppers, and a perfectly balanced savory-sweet sauce. It’s the kind of dish that feels both incredibly satisfying and wonderfully wholesome, and it comes together so quickly you’ll wonder why you haven’t made it sooner.
Ingredients
16 oz flank steak (or other thinly sliced steak)
2 tablespoons sesame oil (divided)
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1 green bell pepper (chopped)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger ((1 teaspoon ground ginger))
1 teaspoon sriracha (optional)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and sriracha in a small bowl. In a separate small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water, then whisk into the stir fry sauce.
Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Trim excess fat from flank steak and slice thinly against the grain.
Add steak to the hot pan in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes without stirring, then stir and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove steak from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining sesame oil to the pan. Add the chopped bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-6 minutes until tender.
Return the steak to the pan. Pour the stir fry sauce over everything and toss to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens, then remove from heat.
Garnish with green onion or sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
When cooking the steak, ensure it’s in a single layer. If your skillet isn’t large enough, cook the steak in two batches. Overcrowding will steam the meat instead of searing it, leading to less tender results.
This is a crucial step for tender steak. Look for the direction of the muscle fibers in your steak and slice perpendicular to them.
Always dissolve cornstarch in water before adding it to hot liquids. This prevents lumps and ensures a smooth, glossy sauce.
The sauce will thicken as it heats up. Cook it for only 1-2 minutes after adding it to the steak and peppers to prevent it from becoming too thick or burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian