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    Home » Beef

    Beef Stir Fry with Onions & Peppers

    Published: Jul 25, 2022 by Nora Rey · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

    6.6K shares
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    Delicious Beef Stir Fry with Onions & Peppers with tender, velvety slices of beef and a flavorful sauce. It's a quick and easy recipe you can make in less than 30 minutes!

    You may also like Tofu and Asparagus Stir Fry for a meatless alternative.

    Beef stir fry with onions and peppers in a wok.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients you’ll need
    • Notes and substitutions
    • How to make this recipe
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Watch how I make it here
    • Other beef recipes you may like
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients you’ll need

    Individual ingredients for beef stir fry with onions and peppers.
    Oil (for searing & sautéing) and ground pepper are not in the picture.

    Notes and substitutions

    • Beef: My favorite cuts for stir-frying are flank steak and flat iron steak. Chuck steak is an economical choice. Boneless short ribs with their deep marbling are excellent if you don't mind spending more. Other good options are beef sirloin, skirt steak, and flap meat.
    • Baking soda: It breaks down the tough fibers of an inexpensive cut of beef, making it tender and velvety. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, it is the same ingredient used in baking, cleaning, and neutralizing odors.
    • Shaoxing wine: It is an amber-colored Chinese rice wine that enhances the flavors of the dish. Substitute with another Chinese cooking wine, dry sherry, or Japanese rice wine (sake).
    • Oyster sauce: It is thick and umami-rich with a mild briny flavor like oysters.
    Two different types of bottled oyster sauce.
    Left: Lee Kum Kee Oyster-flavor Sauce Right: Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce
    • Sesame oil: Use the dark-colored variety made from toasted sesame seeds. It has a strong nutty flavor and aroma used for seasoning. Add it at the end of cooking, but use it sparingly as it can be overpowering in excess.
    Two different brands of sesame oil.
    • Oil: Use a neutral or light-tasting oil (or a combination) that can withstand high heat. Find out more.

    How to make this recipe

    (1)Make the sauce by combining 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and ½ cup of water. Set aside.

    Mixing the stir fry sauce in a measuring cup.

    (2)Cut a pound of beef into 2"-thick sections along the grain or in the same direction as the muscle fibers. (3)Slice each section thinly (about ¼ inch) against the grain or across the muscle fibers.

    PRO TIP: Partially freeze the meat for about an hour to make slicing easier.

    Slicing the slab of meat into sections, then slicing them across the grain.

    (4)Add 2 tablespoons of stir-fry sauce to the meat and mix them together. (5)Add ¼ teaspoon baking soda and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Mix them well, so they are evenly distributed. Velvet the meat for about 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

    Adding some of the stir fry sauce to the meat slices, then adding baking soda and cornstarch to them.

    (6) Grate or mince 2 teaspoons of ginger. (7)Mince 4 cloves of garlic.

    Grating ginger and mincing garlic.

    (8)Slice 1 red bell pepper into thin strips. (9)Slice 1 onion the same way.

    Slicing red bell pepper and onion into thin strips.

    (10)Cut 3 scallions into 2-inch sections.

    Cutting the scallions into sections.

    (11)Set your wok or skillet over high heat. Add a bit of oil to coat the bottom when the pan is almost smoking. Spread the meat in a single layer.

    Let them sear for about 2 minutes without touching them. Let the other side brown for another minute. Transfer to a plate.

    Searing the meat slices on the wok.

    (12)Cook onions and red bell peppers for a minute until slightly blistered. Add scallions and push them to one side. Slightly lower the heat at this point.

    (13)Add a bit of oil and sauté ginger and garlic for about 30 seconds. Toss them all together.

    Stir frying the vegetables on the wok. Then sauteing the ginger and garlic.

    (14)Add the meat and sauce to the pan. Let the sauce slightly thicken for about 30 seconds.

    Adding the stir fry sauce to the meat and vegetables in the wok.

    (15)Add some ground pepper and mix them together. Turn off the heat.

    Beef stir fry with onions and peppers in a wok.

    Beef Stir Fry with Onions and Peppers goes best with white rice or plain noodles.

    A serving of beef stir fry with onions and peppers over rice in a bowl.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you make beef tender?

    Slice beef thinly and against the grain to ensure it is tender and easy to chew. Overcooking beef can make it tough.

    Velveting is a technique used in Chinese restaurants that uses baking soda and cornstarch to ensure the meat (especially an inexpensive cut) is tender and velvety.

    Do you have to use a wok?

    A wok is excellent for stir-fries and fried rice like Crab Fried Rice. While you won't achieve wok hei, the unique smoky flavor and aroma from cooking in a wok, a large skillet (or a sauté pan) where the ingredients get lots of contact with the hot pan will do.

    Can I make it in advance?

    Prepare the meat, vegetables, and sauce separately in advance and refrigerate. The velveting can be done in as little as 5 minutes. With everything ready, stir-frying will only take less than 15 minutes.

    Watch how I make it here

    Other beef recipes you may like

    • Korean beef stew in a bowl
      Korean Beef Stew
    • Kare Kare over rice on a plate
      Kare Kare with Beef Shank (in Peanut Sauce)
    • Beef Caldereta served on a plate
      Beef Caldereta
    • Beef tapa served with fried egg, garlic fried rice, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a spicy vinegar dipping sauce
      Filipino Beef Tapa (Tapsilog)
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    Did you make this recipe? I would love to know! Your feedback helps me make better recipes.  Please rate, review, or comment below. Questions about this recipe are welcome, too!

    Let's connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube. Be sure to tag me when you try any of my recipes @recipesbynora!

    📖 Recipe

    Beef Stir Fry with Onions and Peppers

    Delicious stir fry with tender, velvety slices of beef and a flavorful sauce ready in less than 30 minutes!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, Filipino
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 316kcal
    Author: Nora Rey
    Cost: $8-$10

    Equipment

    • A wok, skillet, or sauté pan

    Ingredients

    Stir-fry sauce

    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce regular or light
    • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine sub: Chinese cooking wine, dry sherry, or sake
    • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
    • 2 teaspoons sugar
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil dark-colored variety
    • ½ cup water

    For the stir-fry

    • 1 pound flank steak (see note)
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 medium onion sliced into strips
    • 1 medium red bell pepper sliced into strips
    • 3 scallions cut into 2-inch sections
    • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • Ground pepper to taste
    • Neutral-flavored oil for searing and sautéing
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Make the sauce by combining soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, sugar, cornstarch, sesame oil, and ½ cup of water. Set aside.
    • Slice the meat thinly (about ¼ inch) against the grain or across the muscle fibers.
    • Add 2 tablespoons of stir-fry sauce to the meat and mix them together.
    • Add baking soda and cornstarch. Mix them well, so they are evenly distributed. Velvet the meat for about 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
    • Set your wok or skillet over high heat. Add a bit of oil to coat the bottom when the pan is almost smoking. Spread the meat in a single layer.
    • Sear for about 2 minutes without touching them. Let the other side brown for another minute. Transfer to a plate.
    • Cook onions and red bell peppers for a minute until slightly blistered. Add scallions and push them to one side. Slightly lower the heat at this point.
    • Add a bit of oil and sauté ginger and garlic for about 30 seconds. Toss them all together.
    • Add meat and sauce to the pan. Let the sauce slightly thicken for about 30 seconds.
    • Add some ground pepper and mix them together. Turn off the heat.

    Video

    Notes

    Beef: Other good options are flat iron steak, beef sirloin, skirt steak, and flap meat. Chuck steak is an economical choice. Boneless short ribs with their deep marbling are excellent if you don't mind spending more.   

    Nutrition

    Calories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 27gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 1135mgPotassium: 565mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1022IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @recipesbynora or tag #RecipesByNora!

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    Comments

    1. KimJ.

      February 05, 2023 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is great and we enjoyed it. However I used thin cut top sirloin sliced up. I wish I would have marinated it longer or tenderized it. I almost burned it on high heat trying to sear it, and it was a little tough, but those were chef problems. The flavors and result still came out great. I’ll make it again, with a different sear on the meat!😄

      Reply
    2. Marge Treichler

      November 03, 2022 at 5:39 pm

      5 stars
      Not an oyster fan so I left that part out... BUT, this is the third time I've made it and needless to say it is SCRUMPTIOUS! Thank you Nora..... Will now try other recipes of yours.

      Reply
      • Nora Rey

        November 07, 2022 at 9:11 pm

        Hello Marge! Thank you so much! That makes me so glad. =) And yes, I have also tried making it with vegan mushroom oyster sauce and it worked as well.

        Reply
    3. Jomelyn

      February 13, 2022 at 4:14 pm

      5 stars
      I will make this for dinner again tonight. It is very tasty.

      Reply
      • Nora

        March 10, 2022 at 1:09 am

        Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it! =)

        Reply
    4. Bim

      September 20, 2021 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      Followed every step of this recipe, the result was so good my husband and kids asked me where I ordered it. They can’t believe that I made it myself. Thank you Nora, keep sharing!

      Reply
      • Nora

        September 21, 2021 at 7:55 am

        Wow, Bim! That is so good to hear! I am so happy you guys liked it. =)

        Reply
      • Naomi

        October 26, 2022 at 3:48 pm

        I will love to make the dishes thank you

        Reply
    5. Pianino Teoria

      August 30, 2021 at 12:11 pm

      Superb website you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get feed-back from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Bless you!

      Reply
    6. Peachit

      August 28, 2021 at 7:45 pm

      I have

      Reply
    7. Christine Krueger

      July 18, 2020 at 12:27 am

      O.M.G. Just made this for dinner, and it is excellent. Used powdered garlic and ginger, since we didn’t have any. Used four of the “rib eye” steaks from a Dollar Tree. Leave those frozen, they cut easier. Also great for fajitas. We will definitely make this again!

      Reply
    8. Amy Breault

      April 29, 2020 at 12:25 am

      Absolutely delicious! Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply

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