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Black Pepper Beef is a classic Chinese stir-fry made with beef, onions, and peppers.
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Black Pepper Beef

Hei Jiao Niu Liu (黑椒牛柳), or Black Pepper Beef, is a fast, easy stir-fry made with beef, onions, and peppers seasoned with oyster sauce and loads of black pepper. My take on this Chinese classic features big juicy chunks of steak, which gives the dish more substance and a bold, beefy taste.
Course Entree
Cuisine Best, Chinese
Keyword easy, quick, stir-fry
Level Beginner
Main Ingredient Beef
Diet Dairy-Free, Low-Carb
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 14 minutes
Servings 3 servings
Calories 428kcal
Author Marc Matsumoto

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 6 grams whole black peppercorns (2 teaspoons)
  • 350 grams beef tenderloin (or other steak cut, cut into ¾-inch cubes)
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon potato starch
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 140 grams onion (~1 small onion, cut into ½-inch squares)
  • 100 grams bell pepper (½ red, ½ green)
  • 12 grams garlic (~2 large cloves, chopped)
Grams + US Cups - US Standard

Instructions

  • Put the 6 grams whole black peppercorns in a mortar and use a pestle to crack the peppercorns coarsely. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, put the peppercorns in a freezer bag, and use a rolling pin to crush them.
    6 grams whole black peppercorns
    Cracking black peppercorns with a mortar and pestle.
  • In a bowl, whisk the 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, and most of the black pepper (saving a little to garnish). Add the 1 teaspoon potato starch and mix that in until there are no lumps left. Stir the 350 grams beef tenderloin in to coat evenly, and let it marinate while you prepare the vegetables.
    2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, 1 teaspoon potato starch, 350 grams beef tenderloin
    Marinating beef tenderloin in Chinese black pepper sauce.
  • Once all the prep is done, heat a frying pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and then use tongs to add the beef in a single layer. Try to leave as much of the marinade in the bowl as possible.
    1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    Browning beef in a frying pan that's been marinated with black pepper sauce.
  • Fry the beef on one side until golden brown, and then flip each piece and fry the second side until browned.
  • Dump the 140 grams onion, 100 grams bell pepper, and 12 grams garlic into the pan and turn the heat to high. Stir-fry, tossing the contents of the pan periodically to ensure everything cooks evenly.
    140 grams onion, 100 grams bell pepper, 12 grams garlic
    Stir-frying onions and peppers with marinated beef.
  • When the onions become translucent, add the remaining marinade and toss everything together until the black pepper beef is shiny and evenly coated with sauce.
    Glazing the steak with Chinese black pepper sauce.
  • Serve with rice and garnish with the remaining black pepper (to taste).

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 502mg | Potassium: 536mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1044IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3mg