Description
This Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe is a quick, flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. Tender strips of beef steak are marinated and stir-fried with colorful bell peppers, onions, and a tangy, slightly sweet sauce made from hoisin and soy sauce. Served best with rice or noodles, this dish is both satisfying and packed with savory goodness.
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
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp water
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 11 oz mixed color bell peppers
- 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
- Sesame seeds to taste (raw or toasted)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Slice the beef steak into thin strips. In a bowl, combine beef strips with sesame oil, 1 tsp cornstarch, baking soda, and sea salt. Toss well and allow to marinate for 10 minutes to tenderize and enhance flavor.
- Make the Sauce: In a separate small bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, and 1 Tbsp water until smooth. Set aside.
- Prepare Vegetables: Slice mixed bell peppers into thin strips. Thinly slice the onion and chop the green onions. Mince the garlic and ginger.
- Heat the Oil: In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
- Cook the Beef: Add the marinated beef strips to the hot oil in a single layer. Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes until beef is browned but not fully cooked through. Remove beef from the pan and set aside.
- Cook Vegetables and Aromatics: In the same pan, add garlic, ginger, and onion. Stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the bell peppers and continue stir-frying for 3-4 minutes until just tender-crisp.
- Combine and Finish: Return the beef to the pan and pour in the prepared sauce. Stir everything together and cook for another 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and beef is fully cooked. Stir in green onions just before finishing.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove from heat, transfer to serving plates, and garnish with sesame seeds. Serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- Marinating the beef with baking soda helps tenderize it quickly.
- Hoisin sauce can be substituted with oyster sauce for a slightly different flavor.
- Use rice vinegar for authentic flavor; apple cider vinegar or Shaoxing wine can be substituted if needed.
- Adjust the brown sugar amount depending on desired sweetness or use honey/maple syrup for alternative natural sweeteners.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce and hoisin sauce.
- Don’t overcook the bell peppers to keep their vibrant color and crunchy texture.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the crisp vegetables and tender beef at their best.
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
