Description
Sticky Rainbow Beef is a vibrant and flavorful stir-fry dish featuring tender strips of beef cooked with colorful bell peppers in a glossy, sticky sauce. Combining sweet hoisin, tangy soy, garlic, and a hint of sesame, this quick and easy recipe offers a perfect balance of textures and tastes that make it a feast for both the eyes and the palate. It’s versatile, perfect for meal prep, and easily customizable to suit different dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Protein
- 250g flank or sirloin steak, thinly sliced against the grain
Vegetables
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized strips
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized strips
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized strips
- 2 garlic cloves, freshly minced
- 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
Sauce
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Other
- 2 tbsp cooking oil (for stir-frying)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Slice the beef thinly against the grain to maximize tenderness. Chop the red, yellow, and green bell peppers into bite-sized strips, mince the garlic cloves, and slice the green onions for garnish.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, and cornstarch until smooth to create the sticky, flavorful sauce that will glaze the dish.
- Cook the Beef: Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add a splash of cooking oil. Quickly sear the beef strips in batches until just browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside to rest briefly.
- Sauté the Vegetables: In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed and toss in the minced garlic and sliced bell peppers. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp and vibrant.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Return the cooked beef to the pan and pour the prepared sauce over everything. Stir continuously as the sauce thickens and coats the beef and vegetables with a sticky glaze, about 2 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the sliced green onions over the top and serve the dish immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Prep all ingredients before cooking to ensure a fast and smooth stir-fry process.
- Use high heat to quickly sear the beef for perfect caramelization without overcooking.
- Cook beef in batches to avoid overcrowding and steaming; this keeps the meat tender and nicely seared.
- Add cornstarch gradually to adjust sauce thickness—too much can make it gummy.
- Let the beef rest for a couple of minutes after cooking for optimal juiciness.
- Feel free to swap beef with chicken, pork, or tofu for variations.
- Substitute soy sauce with tamari and use gluten-free hoisin sauce to make it gluten-free.
- Add chili flakes or jalapeños if you prefer a spicy kick.
- Replace honey with maple syrup or sugar-free alternatives for a low-sugar version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg