why is pepper steak chewy – Busy in Brooklyn (2024)

Mongolian Beef

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It’s been hard getting back into the blogging groove lately. I surprised myself when I kept things going so consistently ever since baby #5 came last July, but those days of sleeping babies are long gone, and my little rascal is crawling around putting every last tiny speck and crumb into her mouth.

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I also lost my cleaning help (of 6 years!) recently, which any mom knows is the single most important thing to help us keep our sanity. I mean, who do you think did the dishes after every cookfest I had in the kitchen? I mean, I love to cook, but I don’t love to clean up after myself. ;) Yes, my friends. That is my dirty little secret.

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People always ask me, “How do you do what you do?” and the truth is, I’d never be able to do it without help! I always say – somethings got to give. Having five kids is a full time job in and of itself, so how I manage recipe testing, blogging, cooking classes and photography work boils down to this – I can’t do it all. I’m not very active in the gazillion whatsapp groups I belong to. I went off Facebook. I cut down on volunteer work (and send a donation instead!) and I have, ahem – had, cleaning help.

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Luckily, this recipe was photographed and tested months ago, and I love saving things like these in the archives for those stressful times when I don’t have time to work on new recipes. I had made it for dinner one night and it came together super fast with little fuss. Who doesn’t love recipes like that?!

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With summer coming and school coming to an end, we all need those quick and easy stir fries that we can throw together at the last minute. I hope you all enjoy this one as much as we did!

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Mongolian Beef

1 lb pepper steak (see note)
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp grapeseed or other neutral flavored oil
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cloves garlic, minced
small knobof ginger, peeled and very finely julienned
1/2 red chili pepper, thinly sliced (remove veins and seeds for less heat)
1/2 c stock
1/3 c hoison sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 tbsp sesame seeds

Method:

Heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat and add the sesame and grapeseed oils. Stir fry the meat until brown, seasoning it with salt and pepper (I prefer to do this in two batches). Remove the meat from the pan and discard any liquid.Add more oil, if needed, and saute the garlic, ginger and chili pepper until fragrant. Add the stock, hoison sauce, brown sugar and soy sauce and bring to a boil.

In a small bowl mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water to dissolve. Add the mixture the pan and simmer until the sauce thickens. Return the meat to the pan and stir to coat the meat in the sauce.

Serve the meat over rice with sliced scallions and sesame seeds for garnish.

NOTE: Kosher pepper steak is thinly sliced steak that is usually used for stir fry. Many butchers cut their pepper steak from different parts of the steer. Depending on where the pepper steak is cut from, it can be very tender or it can be very tough. Many people assume that it is the way they are cooking it, but it has to do with the quality of the meat and where it is cut from. For instance, meat that is cut from the top of the rib will be pretty tough, and meat this is cut from the filet split (a smaller cut from a minute steak roast) will be tender. Pepper steak that is tender will be soft and easy to chew after a quick stir fry, however meat that is tough will be rubbery and will require a long braise to break it down and tenderize. For this recipe, I recommend purchasing a tender cut of pepper steak because of the quick preparation. For a more in-depth explanation of kosher cuts and cooking methods, read this guide.

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Related Recipes:

pepper steak with plum sauce
soy and ginger glazed sugar snap peas

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why is pepper steak chewy – Busy in Brooklyn (2024)

FAQs

Why is pepper steak chewy – Busy in Brooklyn? ›

Depending on where the pepper steak is cut from, it can be very tender or it can be very tough. Many people assume that it is the way they are cooking it, but it has to do with the quality of the meat and where it is cut from.

Why is pepper steak so chewy? ›

Your steak is chewy and tough most likely because the cut of steak was not tender to begin with. Another reason your steak is chewy and tough could be that you overcooked or undercooked the steak. Your steak could also be chewy and tough because you didn't let it rest long enough after cooking it.

Why is my New York steak chewy? ›

Typically, leaner cuts like the flank or skirt can be chewy if not prepared correctly. Cooking Method: Overcooking can cause the steak to lose its moisture, making it dry and chewy. Conversely, undercooking can make certain cuts feel tough. Aging Process: Steaks that are not properly aged can be less tender.

How to make pepper steak not chewy? ›

  1. Cut Against the Grain. Cutting the steak against the grain also helps keep it from getting tough. ...
  2. Braise. After marinating and properly cutting the steak, braising can further help keep the meat from getting too tough. ...
  3. Slow Cook. If you don't have time to braise the steak, slow cooking is always an option.

Why is skirt steak so chewy? ›

Skirt steak is shaped much the same, but tends to have a beefier flavor. But, this cut comes from the diaphragm muscles of the animal, making it a tougher piece of meat. It can become very chewy quickly, especially if it's not cooked correctly. You can, however, cook both types of meat with generally the same methods.

How do I make my steak tender and not chewy? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

What is it called when steak is chewy? ›

You would say "tough" rather than "hard". "Full of nerves" isn't right. "Stringy" is better. Often, a stringy texture means that the meat contains a lot of connective tissue. This translates into a cooked steak that takes a long time to chew, because the meat is so tough.

How do you fix chewy steak after cooking? ›

Your overcooked steak is tough and chewy because of a lack of its natural liquid and fat, so here are some ways to infuse liquids and fats into your steak. Covering your overcooked steak with a thick sauce or gravy will help balance out the dryness and make up for its lack of flavor. Preferably, the sauce is also warm.

What can I do with tough chewy steak? ›

How to Tenderize a Tough Cut of Meat
  1. Pound it out. Pounding softens and tenderizes meat, making it easier to cut and eat. ...
  2. Use salt. ...
  3. Use an acidic marinade. ...
  4. Use kiwi, papaya, or pineapple. ...
  5. Score it. ...
  6. Slow cook it.
Jan 17, 2024

What is the best cut of steak for pepper steak? ›

Flank steak is our cut of choice for pepper steak—it's marbled with fat, full of beefy flavor, and easy to cut into thin, tender slices. That being said, flank isn't your only option. Skirt steak will give you a very similar result, or if you're looking for a cheaper choice, sirloin is another great option.

How to make skirt steak not so chewy? ›

Slicing the meat thinly across grain will provide enough tenderization, especially if you don't overcook your skirt steak to make it tough and dry.

What is the least chewy steak? ›

Choose the Right Cut: Opt for tender cuts of steak, such as ribeye, tenderloin (filet mignon), or striploin (New York strip). These cuts generally have less connective tissue and are naturally more tender.

How to stop steak from being chewy? ›

A steak can become less chewy by cooking it until it reaches an appropriate internal temperature, slicing it against the grain, and letting it rest after cooking. Additionally, choosing a cut of meat with a lower amount of connective tissue and marinating it before cooking can also help tenderize the steak.

How to fix chewy ground beef? ›

Luckily, there is a handy little chemical that solves both of these issues. It's called “sodium bicarbonate,” but is known to most as “baking soda,” and adding it to your ground beef helps keep it tender while also speeding up the browning process.

Which steak is most tender in pepper steak? ›

Here's what you need to know to make this 30-minute dinner: The best cut of steak for pepper steak: Flank steak is our cut of choice for pepper steak—it's marbled with fat, full of beefy flavor, and easy to cut into thin, tender slices. That being said, flank isn't your only option.

Why is grass fed steak chewy? ›

Because of its low fat content, it can easily turn out dry and chewy. To maximize the flavor of your meat, freeze it and thaw it the right way. Don't over season it either.

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