Spanish Pepper Steak Recipe to Spice Up Your Mealtime

The Pepper Steak dish has variations ranging across ethnicities worldwide. Most notably, it has Chinese and Spanish roots. But if you want to make yours Spanish-style, save this easy-to-follow recipe.

The first well-known origins of the Pepper Steak can be traced back to the Chinese province Fujian, where it is known as Qīngjiāo ròusī. Traditionally, Chinese folks used pork instead of beef to prepare this meal.

However, once it reached the States during the 1940s, Chinese-American folk switched to beef. Today, Chinese Pepper Steak is made with beef strips, sliced onions, bell peppers, and, contrary to the traditional Qīngjiāo ròusī, heavy seasoning with a generous amount of freshly ground pepper.

A close-up of pepper steak cooking in a pan | Source: Shutterstock

Pepper Steak also has a Jamaican variation, prepared with staple Jamaican seasonings like thyme, allspice, and Scotch bonnet chiles (or peppers). Then there's Spanish Pepper Steak, a dish that closely resembles other traditional Spanish meals like Bistec Encebollado and Carne Guisada.

Although Pepper Steak seems to have rooted itself in the cuisine of various ethnic groups, this article will focus on the Spanish Pepper Steak recipe. So, without further ado, here's how to make it.

Beef pepper steak served with rice | Source: Shutterstock

Spanish Pepper Steak Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef strips
• ½ white onion, finely diced
• ¼ Cubanelle or green pepper, diced
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion (red or white), sliced
• ½ red bell pepper, sliced
• ½ green bell pepper, sliced
• 2 ½ tsp sopita or adobo
• 1 tbsp salsa china (soy sauce)
• 1 tsp of Dr. Orégano
• ½ tbsp sazón
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 lime
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp olive oil for marinade
• 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking

A few of the ingredients for pepper steak | Source: Shutterstock

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, add your beef strips, garlic cloves, onions, cubanelle or green pepper, Dr. Orégano, salsa china, squeezed lime juice, sazón, olive oil, adobo, and black pepper. Mix well until everything is combined.
2. Leave the mixture to marinate for two days max, but if you're short on time, 30 minutes should be sufficient.
3. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Add your marinated pepper steak once the oil is warm enough.
5. After 3-5 minutes or more, the steak should start releasing and cooking in its own juices. Wait another 3-5 minutes, then add water to your mixing bowl and pour some into the skillet, ensuring it covers the meat entirely.
6. Leave your pepper steak to simmer over medium heat for another 10 minutes.
7. Once the water reduces, stir your pepper steak and check its tenderness. Then, add more water and leave it to cook for another 8-10 minutes.
8. Once your meat is tender, add your sliced bell peppers, onions, and vinegar. If you feel the steak strips are too dry, add a bit of water.
9. Leave the pepper steak to cook until your bell peppers and onions are softened to your liking.

Now that your Spanish Pepper steak is ready to serve, you can enjoy it in a lettuce wrap, a taco, or with rice and beans. And since you're already cooking up a storm, try this Texas Roadhouse Kenny's Cooler recipe.