Description
This Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe is a quick and flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights, featuring tender strips of beef combined with vibrant mixed bell peppers, onions, and a savory, slightly sweet sauce. Serve it over rice or noodles for a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef 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 & 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)
Cooking Oils & 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 strips with 1 tsp cornstarch, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp sea salt. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes to tenderize.
- Make the sauce: In a separate bowl, mix together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, and 1 Tbsp water until smooth. Set aside.
- Prep vegetables and aromatics: Slice the bell peppers into thin strips, chop the onion into thin slices, 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 strips and stir-fry until browned and just cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same pan, add 1 Tbsp sesame oil. Add garlic and ginger, sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add onions and bell peppers, stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Combine and finish: Return the beef to the pan, pour in the prepared sauce, and stir well. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and vegetables evenly.
- Garnish and serve: Stir in sliced green onions and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- Use a high heat and keep ingredients moving in the pan to avoid overcooking and to retain crunch in the vegetables.
- For extra flavor, marinate the beef for up to 1 hour if time allows.
- You can substitute beef with chicken or tofu for variations.
- If you prefer less sodium, reduce the soy sauce amount or use a low-sodium version.
- Serve with steamed jasmine rice or your favorite noodles for a complete meal.
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
