Sizzling Chinese Pepper Steak with Onions

Ingredients:
For the Stir-Fry:
1 lb flank steak or sirloin steak, thinly sliced against the grain (about 1/4 inch thick)
1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 large onion, sliced into thin rings
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any high-heat oil)
For the Marinade:
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar (or white vinegar)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup water or beef broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
Garnish (Optional):
Sesame seeds
Green onions, sliced
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Steak:
Slice the steak thinly against the grain into strips, about 1/4 inch thick. This will help ensure the steak stays tender when cooked.
In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, cornstarch, sesame oil, and black pepper. Add the steak strips to the bowl and toss to coat. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes (or up to 30 minutes).
2. Make the Sauce:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and water (or beef broth). Set the sauce mixture aside.
3. Stir-Fry the Vegetables:
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Add the sliced bell peppers and onions. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are slightly tender but still crisp. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside.
4. Cook the Steak:
In the same skillet or wok, add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil over high heat.
Add the marinated steak strips to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the steak is browned and cooked through. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan—cook the steak in batches if needed.
Once the steak is cooked, return the peppers and onions to the skillet with the steak.
5. Add the Sauce:
Give the sauce mixture a quick stir to recombine, then pour it over the steak, peppers, and onions. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
In a small bowl, mix the 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Add this slurry to the skillet, stirring constantly. The sauce will begin to thicken and coat the steak and vegetables.
Continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and become glossy.
6. Serve:
Transfer the sizzling pepper steak to a hot plate or serve directly from the skillet. Optionally, garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for extra flavor and color.
Serve with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal!