Black Pepper Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
Make this easy Black Pepper Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry! A quick recipe featuring ground beef, veggies, and a savory, peppery sauce
Ingredients
Here’s the complete list of ingredients, with precise measurements:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ small head cabbage, shredded (about 4-5 cups)
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1 pinch salt, to taste (or more)
These quantities yield approximately 4 servings.
Have all vegetables prepped and sauce components measured before heating the wok.
Instructions
Let’s cook this flavorful black pepper stir-fry:
1. Prepare Ingredients (Mise en Place):
- Gather all your ingredients. Chop the garlic. Shred the cabbage. Cut the red bell pepper into strips.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and the ½ cup of cold water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved and no lumps remain. Set this slurry aside.
2. Sauté Garlic and Brown Beef:
- Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- Add the chopped garlic to the hot oil and sauté for about 5-10 seconds, just until fragrant. Be very careful not to burn the garlic.
- Immediately add the ground beef to the wok/skillet. Stir-fry, breaking up the beef with your spatula, until it is evenly browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Carefully drain off any excess fat from the beef.
3. Stir-fry Vegetables:
- Add the shredded cabbage and red bell pepper strips to the wok/skillet with the browned beef.
- Stir-fry for 3-5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender-crisp (cabbage wilted but still with some bite, peppers slightly softened).
- Stir in the 2 tablespoons of soy sauce.
4. Thicken Sauce and Season:
- Give the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch and cold water mixture) another quick whisk, then pour it into the wok/skillet with the beef and vegetables.
- Add the 1 teaspoon (or more to taste) of ground black pepper and a pinch of salt (taste first, as soy sauce is salty).
- Cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and become glossy.
5. Serve:
- Serve the Black Pepper Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry hot, typically over steamed rice or noodles if desired. Enjoy immediately!
A quick, easy, and flavorful meal!