Making authentic tasting stir fried black pepper steak might look intimidating, but it is easier than you think. I used to think dealing with beef in a stir fry was one of the most difficult things to do in Chinese cooking. Different from chicken or pork, beef can get really tough and chewy if you accidentally overcook it. However, once you know a few tricks, you will able to make restaurant-style black pepper steak in your own kitchen in no time.
Best black pepper steak
1. Use a nonstick skillet instead of a wok
Even though every single Chinese cookbook insists on using a wok for stir fry, I found that a nonstick skillet works perfectly for this dish. Not only can you make beautifully charred steak with a great flavor, but you will also need less oil and the steak will not cause any sticking problems. If you’re curious about the pros and cons of a wok, read my previous post on 10 reasons not to use a wok. And if you want to know about the perfect stir fry setup, read wok vs. stir fry pan.
2. The key for tender juicy steak
Choose the correct cut: I’ve tried flank steak, plate steak, boneless short ribs, sirloin, and tenderloin. All have yielded great results. If you cannot find these cuts, try to use a cut that has a finer grain and contains some fat. Always cut the beef against the grain. Try to maintain the same thickness and size for each slice. Always marinate the beef. The whole process will help soften the beef and add flavor. Plus the soy sauce will give the beef a beautiful char. Grill the beef instead of constantly stirring. One of the reasons we use a flat skillet; if you heat up the pan really hot, it only takes 30 seconds or so to sear each side, while the inside is a little pink. Roasting the beef instead of stirring will brown the steak better.
3. Why you need to remove the steak once
Transferring the half-cooked steak to a plate before adding the rest of the ingredients is crucial. When you add the sauce and veggies, the pan temperature will drop significantly. So the veggies won’t be seared properly, and the sauce will reduce very slowly. Both result in a soupy dish with overcooked meat.
4. Get used to the pace of stir frying
I found that Chinese stir fry has a much faster pace than most Western cooking. When I start cooking a dish, it takes me about 5 minutes (or maybe less) to finish. This means you have less than a minute between adding ingredients. So do read through the recipe before cooking, and move quickly when you start.
One last word
Although this black pepper steak is scrumptious enough to serve by itself, I highly recommend adding a sunny side up egg to your rice bowl. I learned this pairing from Chinese diners that cater lunch for office workers. Not only does the egg add volume to your bowl, but the runny egg yolk also goes perfectly with the spicy beef. Try it once and I guarantee you’ll be hooked 🙂
More Chinese stir fry recipes
Sweet and Sour Chicken Beef Chow Fun Beef and Broccoli General Tso Tofu Orange Chicken Shrimp Chow Mein
Happy cooking! If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with. The post was originally published on Aug 18, 2014, and updated by Nov. 15, 2017. The current recipe contains more sauce and it’s more suitable serve over rice.
