This is my mom’s easy pepper steak recipe. It tastes like pepper steak you’d get in a restaurant without all the hassle of making it from scratch.
I love this dish because it gets better every time I make it! The spices always seem to pick up more flavor, and you can never go wrong by adding a bit of butter at the end while simmering the gravy on low heat for a few minutes. Add these tips in if you want to make your meal over-the-top delicious!
Pepper steak is a popular dish in the Philippines, and it consists of meat, onions, bell peppers, and often garlic cooked with soy sauce until tender. The ingredients are grilled over charcoal or wood fire, which adds flavor to this delectable meal.
I like cooking pepper steak because I can make my family happy by preparing something they love for dinner without spending too much time on preparations.
Ingredients
- Salt and ground black pepper to season
- One teaspoon of granulated garlic or garlic powder
- Black, red, or green bell peppers (or all three)
- Steak, about 2 pounds in total. This is a significant portion for one person, so you can cut it up into smaller pieces if desired.
Instructions
Step 1: Wash the bell peppers
Wash the bell peppers, remove all of their seeds, and cut them into small cubes. Set aside on a plate with paper towels to soak up any excess liquid.
Step 2: Season beef with salt and black pepper
Season both sides of your beef with salt and ground pepper to taste roughly ten minutes before cooking it. Make sure not over season because you may need less later on depending on how much is left after searing. Sear the beef in a skillet, using about one tablespoon of oil for two pounds of meat if you have it, or just enough to coat the bottom and sides, then remove from heat to let rest before cooking further.
Step 3: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Preheat your oven’s temperature at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around 10 minutes before searing the steak by placing it on a wire rack set over a baking pan covered with foil, as this will allow any excess moisture to evaporate.
Step 4: Sear the steak
Next, add your steak back in, sear it on all sides until you get a nice crust, and then remove it from heat again (make sure not to overcook). If searing in a skillet, make sure that there is enough oil for this step, or use olive oil spray because if you don’t have any extra oils at home, we can easily do without them.
Variations
Steak with gravy
To make the steak pepper sauce, dissolve one tablespoon of cornstarch in 2 teaspoons of water. Add the mustard and Worcestershire sauces to a small pot with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme over medium heat. Stir constantly for about five minutes, careful not to let them burn or stick on top before adding cream cheese! With this gravy recipe, your favorite easy peppercorn steak will always be ready when you need it.
Soy sauce and white rice
This recipe uses simple ingredients that you might already have in your pantry. Begin by adding soy sauce, white rice, garlic cloves, ginger root slices, red bell pepper cut into strips or rings for the pepper steak variation. Stir well to cover all pan surfaces with spices before cooking on high heat until they are fragrant, then reducing to medium heat. Add water if needed while frying these ingredients.
Ginger pepper steak
Add some ginger to the pan. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes before putting in sliced beef, asparagus, and red bell pepper. You can also add sugar snap peas or broccoli if you have them on hand! Serve with rice noodles and an Asian dipping sauce that’s soy sauce-based with crushed peanuts thrown into the mix.
Storage instructions
The best way to store steak is in a container that will provide excess moisture. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or foil, then place it into an airtight container. The excess liquid should cover the steaks within 1 hour of cutting them to prevent bacteria growth and ensure safe long-term storage.
Last thoughts
This article gives you tips on how to prepare the perfect pepper steak and provides a variety of recipes for it. If you’re looking to make your next dinner a breeze, try one of these recipes today. Learn more about cooking different dishes across the world here. Subscribe to our newsletter now to get the latest updates directly.
