Black pepper beef stir fry, a really quick and easy Chinese takeaway style meal that can be made at home in under 30 minutes.
Green pepper and red onion add texture to the soft and succulent spicy beef in a dish that will quickly become a midweek favourite.
Black Pepper Steak Stir Fry
I love a good quick stir fry and this black pepper beef recipe is the latest in a collection of Chinese takeaway-inspired dishes.
I have everything from Szechaun beef and beef and broccoli stir fry to Chinese beef with shiitake mushroom stir fry, Chinese beef curry and beef in black bean sauce.
Tender rump steak velveted in egg white and dark soy sauce which is then stir-fried quickly with beef, onion and green pepper.
Seriously that really is how simple it is!
It is fiery too, black pepper is a sadly overlooked spice for imparting heat to a dish.
It is more commonly used in Indian dishes like Chicken Chettinad or Mulligatawny Soup.
Here it sings as part of a Chinese recipe and it is a glorious spicy alternative to a chilli beef stir fry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of beef steak is best to use?
Many recipes similar to this will tell you to use fillet steak however, it is too mild in flavour for my liking.
It is however beautifully tender, but I usually use either sirloin or rump steak. Both are less tender, but have much more flavour and for me, that is where it is at.
If you prioritise flavour over texture go with rump and if tenderness is your aim then go for sirloin.
I don’t have dark soy sauce, can I use light soy sauce?
No, not for this recipe. Dark soy is thicker, sweeter and less salty than light soy sauce.
Using all light soy sauce for this recipe results in a stir fry that is far too salty.
What is Shaoxing wine?
Shaoxing wine is a Chinese rice wine, but you can use any rice wine as a substitute.
Serving Suggestions
This black pepper beef stir fry is pictured with simply boiled jasmine rice, but it sits equally well alongside a host of dishes.
Sticking with the rice theme, it is great with egg fried rice. If you are good with cross-cultural influences then you must try this with some coconut rice, it is delicious.
Noodles are another wonderful option as a side dish, it is particularly good with some quickly cooked soy sauce noodles.
If you want more vegetables then add either stir fried broccoli or some stir fried asparagus, both are superb with this quick stir fry.
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think they make a material difference to the recipe. But if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Stovetop.
- Wok, I use a large carbon steel wok.
- Mixing and prep bowls.
- Whisk.
- Kitchen knife.
- Chopping board.
- Serving and serving spoons.
Black Pepper Beef Recipe
Stir fried black pepper beef is a super quick Chinese influenced takeaway that is fiery with lots of black pepper but quite light and very quick to cook.
Ingredients
- 400g (14oz) Beef Steak (I use rump)
- 1 Egg (White only)
- 1 Tbsp Shaoxing Wine
- 4 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tsp Cornflour
- 1 Green Pepper
- 1 Red Onion
- 3 Spring Onions
- 2 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- 2 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce
- 1½ Tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp Dark Brown Sugar
Instructions
- Trim the beef of fat and sinew and cut it into strips 3-5mm (⅛-¼") thick and 5-6cm (2") long and place it in a medium bowl.
- Add the egg white to a small bowl and pour in the Shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, cornflour, and 1 teaspoon of the black pepper then whisk to combine.
- Pour this mix over the beef, mix well and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes.
- Cut the pepper in half deseed it, remove the stalk and then cut it into strips approximately 3-5mm (⅛-¼") thick.
- Top and tail the red onion, cut it in half lengthways and peel it, then slice it into strips lengthways about 3-5mm (⅛-¼") thick.
- Remove the outer leaves of the spring onion then slice them as thinly as you can at a 45° angle to the stem.
- Heat a wok over a very high heat and when almost smoking, add the cooking oil.
- Remove the beef from the marinade and stir-fry it for 2 minutes.
- Remove the beef from the wok and set it aside.
- Add the sliced onion and green pepper to the pan and stir fry for a minute.
- Return the beef and add the remaining black pepper, sugar and light soy sauce and stir fry for a final minute.
- Toss through most of the spring onion reserving a little for garnish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 850Total Fat: 60gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 36gCholesterol: 287mgSodium: 1569mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 59g
Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.