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Stir-Fried Beef with Snap Peas and Red Peppers

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 26, 2011

Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4 as a main dish with rice

Stir-Fried Beef with Snap Peas and Red Peppers

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sugar plus an additional 1 teaspoon12 ounces flank steak, cut into 2-inch wide strips with grain, then sliced across grain into ⅛-inch-thick slices2 tablespoons dry sherry ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth ¼ cup oyster sauce 1 teaspoon cornstarch 3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 12 ounces sugar snap peas, ends trimmed and strings removed (about 4 cups)1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼-inch slices2 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. Combine soy sauce and 1 teaspoon sugar in medium bowl. Add beef, toss well, and marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour, stirring once. Meanwhile, whisk remaining tablespoon sugar, sherry, broth, oyster sauce, and cornstarch in medium bowl. Combine garlic, ginger, and 1 teaspoon oil in small bowl.
  2. Drain beef and discard liquid. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add half of beef in single layer, breaking up clumps. Cook, without stirring, for 1 minute, then stir and cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer beef to clean bowl. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in skillet and repeat with remaining beef. Rinse skillet and dry with paper towels.
  3. Add remaining tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet and heat until just smoking. Add snap peas and bell pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add water and continue to cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Push vegetables to sides of skillet; add garlic-ginger mixture to clearing and cook, mashing with spatula, until fragrant, 15 to 20 seconds. Combine garlic-ginger mixture with vegetables. Return beef and any juices to skillet and stir to combine. Whisk sauce to recombine, then add to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 30 seconds. Serve.

Stir-Fried Beef with Snap Peas and Red Peppers

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Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4 as a main dish with rice

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar plus an additional 1 teaspoon
12 ounces flank steak, cut into 2-inch wide strips with grain, then sliced across grain into ⅛-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons dry sherry
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup oyster sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
12 ounces sugar snap peas, ends trimmed and strings removed (about 4 cups)
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼-inch slices
2 tablespoons water

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar plus an additional 1 teaspoon
12 ounces flank steak, cut into 2-inch wide strips with grain, then sliced across grain into ⅛-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons dry sherry
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup oyster sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
12 ounces sugar snap peas, ends trimmed and strings removed (about 4 cups)
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼-inch slices
2 tablespoons water

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar plus an additional 1 teaspoon
12 ounces flank steak, cut into 2-inch wide strips with grain, then sliced across grain into ⅛-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons dry sherry
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup oyster sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
12 ounces sugar snap peas, ends trimmed and strings removed (about 4 cups)
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼-inch slices
2 tablespoons water

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For a stir-fry with well-browned, tender, and savory beef, just follow these guidelines. Start with full-flavored flank steak. Marinate the beef in soy sauce to ensure that each slice is well seasoned. Use a large skillet and cook in batches to get the best browning. Add aromatics such as ginger and garlic at the last minute to prevent them from scorching.

Instructions

  1. Combine soy sauce and 1 teaspoon sugar in medium bowl. Add beef, toss well, and marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour, stirring once. Meanwhile, whisk remaining tablespoon sugar, sherry, broth, oyster sauce, and cornstarch in medium bowl. Combine garlic, ginger, and 1 teaspoon oil in small bowl.
  2. Drain beef and discard liquid. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add half of beef in single layer, breaking up clumps. Cook, without stirring, for 1 minute, then stir and cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer beef to clean bowl. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in skillet and repeat with remaining beef. Rinse skillet and dry with paper towels.
  3. Add remaining tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet and heat until just smoking. Add snap peas and bell pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add water and continue to cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Push vegetables to sides of skillet; add garlic-ginger mixture to clearing and cook, mashing with spatula, until fragrant, 15 to 20 seconds. Combine garlic-ginger mixture with vegetables. Return beef and any juices to skillet and stir to combine. Whisk sauce to recombine, then add to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 30 seconds. Serve.

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