Description
Hearty pepper steak simmers with robust Asian-inspired flavors, melding tender beef strips and colorful bell peppers. Slow cooker magic creates a comforting meal you can savor with rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) beef sirloin or flank steak, sliced into thin strips
- 3 bell peppers (red, green, yellow), sliced into strips
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup (120 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- 3 tbsps cold water
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Sliced green onions (optional)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Searing: Flash-fry beef strips in a scorching skillet, creating a caramelized exterior that locks in intense flavor and develops a gorgeous golden-brown crust.
- Foundation Layering: Spread sliced onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic across the crockpot base, establishing an aromatic flavor foundation.
- Sauce Composition: Whisk together soy sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and paprika into a harmonious, deeply complex liquid that will infuse the entire dish with rich umami character.
- Liquid Integration: Pour the meticulously crafted sauce over the vegetable layer, ensuring complete coverage and maximum flavor absorption.
- Protein Placement: Arrange seasoned beef strips atop the vegetable-sauce mixture, positioning them strategically without complete submersion.
- Slow Transformation: Cover and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours, allowing gentle temperatures to tenderize meat and meld intricate flavor profiles.
- Final Enhancement: In the cooking’s concluding phase, introduce a cornstarch slurry to elegantly thicken the sauce, creating a glossy, velvety texture that clings beautifully to each ingredient.
- Presentation: Serve over steamed rice or noodles, garnishing with fresh green onion slivers and toasted sesame seeds for a sophisticated culinary finish.
Notes
- Sear Beef Intensely: Lock in flavors by quickly browning beef strips in a scorching skillet before slow cooking, creating a delicious caramelized exterior that enhances overall taste and texture.
- Balance Sauce Harmony: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution of sweet, tangy, and umami notes, preventing clumping and guaranteeing a smooth, well-integrated flavor profile.
- Control Moisture Levels: Avoid overloading crockpot with excess liquid, which can dilute the rich sauce and prevent proper meat caramelization during the slow cooking process.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular soy sauce for low-sodium or gluten-free alternatives, and use coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener for paleo or keto-friendly variations without compromising the dish’s authentic taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg