Black Pepper Beef
Tender and succulent beef strips with sticky black pepper stir fry sauce, this restaurant-style Black Pepper Beef is the perfect easy dinner that only takes 30 minutes to make!
If you are looking for a delicious and quick meal that packs a punch of flavor, try making this Black Pepper Beef recipe. It uses minimal ingredients, but so rich and addictive.
Black Pepper Beef is a classic Chinese dish served at many Chinese restaurants. This dish is made of thin slices of marinated beef, stir-fried with rich black pepper sauce and peppers.
The black pepper takes a starring role in this simple dish. The black pepper sauce hits so many flavors with the least amount of ingredients. You will never need to order takeout again after trying this recipe!
Ingredients You Need
Marinated Beef
- Beef – Use tender cuts of beef which are ideal for stir fry. You can use tenderloin, sirloin, flank steak, skirt steak if you like.
- Soy sauce – To marinate the beef.
- Cornstarch – It helps keep the beef moist and tender while cooking.
Vegetables
- Onion – Yellow onion is the best for stir fry dishes.
- Bell peppers – This recipe uses both red and green bell peppers for the colors. You can substitute the bell peppers with chili peppers.
Black Pepper Sauce
- Black pepper – The star ingredients of the dish! Use freshly ground black pepper for the best results.
- Kecap manis – Or also known as sweet soy sauce. It is a sweetened aromatic soy sauce, originating in Indonesia. It has a thick, viscous syrupy consistency and dark color. It is made by combining soy sauce with palm sugar, which gives it a rich, molasses-like sweetness, and other herbs and spices for a layered flavor profile. If you can’t find any, you can use dark soy sauce and sugar.
- Oyster sauce – Adds umami flavor.
- Cornstarch – To thicken the sauce.
- Water –To thin out the sauce.
- Garlic – To add aromatic flavor and aroma.
The Key For Tender Juicy Beef
Different from chicken or pork, beef can get tough and chewy if you overcook it. However, once you know a few tricks, you will be able to make restaurant-style Black Pepper Beef in your kitchen in no time.
- Choose the correct cut – Choose the beef cut that is ideal for a quick stir-fry.
- Slice the beef against the grain – Otherwise, you will get a chewy, tough texture.
- Velveting the beef – Velveting is a Chinese method of marinating that keeps delicate meat moist and tender during cooking.
- Grill the beef instead of constantly stirring – Sear the beef on each side and make sure not to overcrowd the pan. It will also brown the beef better.
- Cook the beef and vegetables separately –To ensure that the meat or vegetables are not overcooked and they retain eindividual flavors.
How to Make Black Pepper Beef
Chinese stir fry cooks quickly and it will not allow much time for prepping during the cooking process. Make sure you have all the ingredients you need ahead of time.
- Marinate the beef with soy sauce and cornstarch. Rest in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
- Make black pepper sauce by mixing freshly ground black pepper, cornstarch, sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, and water.
- Stir fry onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper for 30 seconds. Transfer to a separate bowl.
- Sear the beef for a few minutes on each side. Transfer to a separate bowl.
- Stir fry garlic until fragrant. Pour in the black pepper sauce and cook until the sauce thickens.
- Toss in the cooked beef and vegetables until well combined. Serve hot.
How to Serve
Black Pepper Beef is best paired with steaming white or brown rice to balance the strong black pepper flavors and saltiness. Complete with some side dishes for a fulfilling meal.
Black Pepper Beef
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil, or more, for stir frying
Beef Marinade
- 1.1 lbs (500 gr) beef tenderloin/flank/sirloin, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Vegetables
- 1 onion, cut into 1 inch/2.5 cm squares
- 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch/2.5 cm squares
- 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch/2.5 cm squares
Black Pepper Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp freshly ground black peppers
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp kecap manis/sweet soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 1/2 tbsp (100 ml) water
Instructions
Beef Marinade
- Mix beef with soy sauce and cornstarch until combined.
- Marinate beef for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
Black Pepper Sauce
- Mix all the ingredients except garlic in a small bowl until well combined.
Stir Fry
- Stir fry the vegetables – Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or frying pan over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add onion and bell peppers. Stir fry for about 30 seconds. Transfer to a separate bowl.
- Sear the beef – Add 2 tbsp oil to the wok. Once the oil is hot, sear the marinated beef for a few minutes on each side. Don't overcrowd the pan. You may need to cook the beef in 2-3 batches. Transfer to a separate bowl.
- Cook the sauce – Add 1 tbsp oil to the wok. Add garlic and stir fry until fragrant. Pour in the sauce and cook until simmering and the sauce thickens. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings.
- Assembly – Add the cooked beef, onion, and bell peppers back into the wok. Toss in the sauce until well combined.
- Serve hot with steamed rice.
Easy and tasty! Will be making this again!