Description
Kung Pao Beef brings together juicy slices of beef, crisp bell peppers, and roasted peanuts in an easy, 35-minute takeout-inspired dish. It’s a weeknight-friendly recipe with restaurant-level flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ pounds flank steak, sliced into ¼-inch thick strips
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 – 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and cut into small cubes
- 1 green bell pepper, deseeded and cut into small cubes
- ½ medium onion, cut into cubes
- 3 – 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger, minced or grated
- ¾ cup dry roasted peanut halves (I used lightly salted)
- 5 dried red chili peppers, deseeded (you can leave some seeds for more spice, if desired)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to desired spice
- sliced green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Place steak strips in a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce and cornstarch until smooth. Add brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Mix well.
- Set aside 2 tablespoons of the sauce and pour it over the steak. Toss to coat and marinate for 15 minutes.
- Add water to the remaining sauce and stir. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook bell peppers and onions for 3–5 minutes until slightly softened. Add garlic and ginger, cook 1–2 minutes. Transfer to a clean bowl.
- In the same skillet, add oil if needed. Sear steak in batches, 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer to the bowl with vegetables.
- Add peanuts and dried red chilis to the skillet. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Return the steak and vegetables to the skillet. Pour in the sauce and add red pepper flakes. Stir and simmer on low for 3–4 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Top with sliced green onions and serve over white rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Marinating Tine: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 638
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 710.3 mg
- Fat: 23.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 41.4 g
- Fiber: 4.1 g
- Protein: 63 g
- Cholesterol: 158.7 mg