Description
This Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe offers a quick and delicious meal perfect for busy weeknights. Tender strips of beef are marinated and cooked with vibrant mixed bell peppers, onions, and a flavorful, slightly sweet stir-fry sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, this savory dish pairs wonderfully with rice or noodles for a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Marinade
- 20 oz beef steak
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 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
- 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 Oil and Garnish
- 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. Combine with 1 Tbsp sesame oil, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp sea salt in a bowl. Mix well and let it marinate for about 10 minutes to tenderize and season the meat.
- Mix the sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 Tbsp hoisin sauce, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp rice vinegar, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, and 1 Tbsp water until smooth. Set the sauce aside.
- Prepare the vegetables: Slice the bell peppers into thin strips, chop the small onion and green onions, mince the garlic and ginger. Have all vegetables ready for quick cooking.
- Heat the oil: In a large skillet or wok, heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Cook the beef: Add the marinated beef strips to the hot oil and stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes until they are browned but not fully cooked through. Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- Stir-fry the vegetables: In the same skillet, add the garlic and ginger first and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Then add the bell peppers, onions, and green onions. Stir-fry for about 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Combine beef and sauce: Return the beef to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour the prepared sauce over the mixture and stir well to coat everything evenly.
- Thicken the sauce: Cook together for another 2-3 minutes while stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and the beef is cooked through.
- Serve and garnish: Remove from heat and sprinkle raw or toasted sesame seeds on top. Serve hot with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- For tender beef, avoid overcooking and slice against the grain.
- You can substitute hoisin sauce with oyster sauce or tamari for gluten-free options.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add sliced chili peppers or a dash of chili flakes during the stir-fry.
- Vegetable oil can be replaced with avocado or peanut oil for different flavor profiles.
- Use a wok or large skillet for best results to allow quick, even cooking at high heat.
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
