5 Ways to Make Pepper Steak at Home

Are you ready to embark on a culinary journey that marries simplicity with sublime flavors? Pepper steak, a classic dish known for its tender beef and rich, peppery sauce, can be a perfect addition to your home cooking repertoire. This guide will walk you through five delicious variations of making pepper steak, ensuring you have all the information needed to impress your family or friends with this delightful meal.

1. Classic Pepper Steak

Preparation Time: 30 minutes | Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sirloin steak
• 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ¹⁄₂ cup heavy cream
• Salt to taste

Steps:

1. Crush the Peppercorns: Place peppercorns in a plastic bag and crush them coarsely with a rolling pin or use a pepper mill for a coarse grind.
2. Season and Sear: Coat the steak with half of the crushed peppercorns, salt, and sear in a hot skillet with olive oil for about 3-4 minutes per side.
3. Make the Sauce: Remove steak, reduce heat, add garlic, beef broth, remaining peppercorns, and soy sauce. Simmer, then stir in cream to thicken.
4. Combine: Slice the steak thinly, return to the pan, and warm through in the sauce.

🧑‍🍳 Note: For a restaurant-quality finish, slice the steak against the grain to ensure tenderness.

2. Spicy Szechuan Pepper Steak

Preparation Time: 40 minutes | Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon chili oil
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with water

Steps:

1. Marinate: Mix Sichuan peppercorns with cornstarch, salt, and marinate steak for 20 minutes.
2. Stir-Fry: Heat oil, cook steak until browned, then add chili oil, bell pepper, and green onions. Stir-fry.
3. Sauce: Combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sugar, add to the pan, thicken with cornstarch slurry.

🌶️ Note: Be mindful of the heat level; Sichuan peppercorns have a unique numbing effect, which can intensify when combined with other chilies.

3. Creamy Garlic Pepper Steak

Preparation Time: 45 minutes | Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 1.5 pounds strip steak
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons mixed peppercorns (black, green, red)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¹⁄₂ cup white wine
• Fresh rosemary sprigs

Steps:

1. Season: Rub steaks with crushed peppercorns and salt.
2. Cook: Sear steak in half the butter, then remove. In the same pan, cook garlic until fragrant, deglaze with wine, reduce, then add cream.
3. Thicken: Stir until sauce thickens, return steak, baste with sauce, and finish with rosemary.

4. Grilled Pepper Steak with Herb Butter

Preparation Time: 35 minutes (excluding marinating time) | Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 1.5 pounds hanger steak
• 2 teaspoons crushed black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt to taste

Steps:

1. Marinate: Combine olive oil, garlic, herbs, and peppercorns. Marinate steak for at least 2 hours.
2. Grill: Grill over high heat to desired doneness. Rest the steak.
3. Herb Butter: Mix softened butter with herbs, salt, and spread over the warm steak.

🧈 Note: A compound herb butter elevates the steak's flavor, making it a perfect complement to the grilled finish.

5. Vegan Pepper “Steak”

Preparation Time: 30 minutes | Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 16 oz seitan or tempeh
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Steps:

1. Press: If using tempeh, press it to remove excess moisture, then slice.
2. Sear: Cook seitan or tempeh with oil until browned, season with crushed peppercorns, then remove.
3. Vegetables: Stir-fry bell peppers and onions, add tamari, sugar, and paprika, cook until caramelized.
4. Combine: Add protein back in, mix, and warm through.

🌱 Note: This vegan recipe showcases how traditional flavors can be adapted for different dietary needs.

Having explored these five variations of pepper steak, you're now equipped to bring diverse flavors to your kitchen. Whether you prefer the classic, the spicy, the creamy, the grilled, or the vegan approach, pepper steak offers something for every palate. Each method highlights different techniques and ingredients, yet all result in a delicious, tender, and flavorful dish.