Authentic and Easy-to-follow Recipe for Colorful Jamaican-Style Pepper Steak
Jamaican Pepper Steak is a delightful stir-fry dish consisting of beef strips, rich Caribbean spices, sweet bell peppers, and Asian flavorings such as ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.
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Ready in just 30 minutes, this colorful steak dish makes a perfect weeknight meal or a lazy Sunday lunch.
Serve it on a bed of plain steamed rice or with a slice of crusty Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread for a meal that the whole family will love!
What is Jamaican Pepper Steak?
Jamaican Pepper Steak is a flavorful Caribbean dish featuring tender strips of beef sautéed together with bell peppers and onions.
It's seasoned with traditional Jamaican pantry staples like allspice, thyme, garlic, and scotch bonnet pepper, adding a unique kick to the dish.
Jamaican Pepper Steak blends Caribbean roots with Chinese influences, incorporating ingredients like ginger and soy sauce.
Unlike the Chinese-American version, Jamaican Pepper Steak uses cuts of beef that require longer cooking for a tender and savory result.
Why This Recipe Works?
- This Jamaican Pepper Steak recipe combines the vibrant flavors of Jamaican cuisine with the savory influences of Chinese cooking.
- The longer cooking time required for the beef cuts used in this recipe allows the flavors to meld and develop, resulting in tender, succulent meat.
- Ready in just 30 minutes, this stir-fry dish is perfect as a weeknight meal or a lazy Sunday lunch.
- The leftovers would keep for up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Ingredients You'll Need
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.
- Steak - Sirloin is my favorite to use for this dish but you can also use round steak or flank steak.
- Peppers - I use a variety of peppers, including different colors and types, but traditionally, this dish is cooked with bell peppers.
- Seasoning - My to-go spices for the Pepper Steak dish are salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder, cumin, nutmeg, allspice, paprika, brown sugar, and thyme. You can adjust the amount to your taste.
- Chili - The dish is traditionally made with scotch bonnet chilies. However, I use mild chilies as a preference.
- Flavorings - Fresh garlic, ginger, spring onions, tomato paste, and light soy sauce.
How to Make Jamaican-Style Pepper Steak?
Making this delicious recipe with vibrant colors is very easy and straightforward.
However, to achieve the best results you need to follow a few simple steps:
Marinate the Beef
In a bowl, place the beef strips and add the olive oil, salt, brown sugar, black pepper, onion powder, garlic granules, allspice, thyme, cumin powder, nutmeg, and smoked paprika.
Mix them all thoroughly, ensuring they are evenly coated, and then add the sirloin steak strips.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to let the flavors infuse into the meat.
Stir Fry the Beef Stripes and Vegetables
Heat vegetable or sunflower oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Remove the steak strips from the marinade and shake off any excess liquid.
Add the marinated steak strips to the hot oil.
Cook them until they are browned and cooked to your desired level of doneness.
Once done, remove the steak pieces from the skillet and set them aside.
If necessary, do it in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
In the same skillet, add the sliced red and yellow bell peppers, as well as the sliced onion.
Sauté them until they become tender and slightly caramelized.
Add the finely chopped garlic cloves, tomato paste, sliced chili, and finely chopped ginger to the skillet.
Stir-fry the mixture for about a minute to release the flavors.
Return the cooked steak to the skillet and mix it with the sautéed vegetable mixture.
Add the sliced spring onions, soy sauce, and beef stock to the skillet.
Stir everything together to coat the steak and vegetables with the delicious sauce.
Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes until the flavors meld together and the sauce thickens slightly.
Top Tips From the Chef
- Don't skip marinating the steak! Allow it to marinate in the flavorful blend of spices for at least 30 minutes, or even longer for tender meat and more intense flavors.
- Opt for sirloin or top-round cuts for the best results. These cuts require longer cooking, allowing the flavors to develop fully and ensuring the steak becomes tender and juicy.
- When stir-frying the steak, use a hot nonstick skillet or wok with high heat. This quick searing process seals in the juices and creates a beautiful brown crust.
- Adjust the spice level according to your preference. If you prefer, use scotch bonnet pepper or hot pepper sauce for an extra kick!
- Avoid overcooking the steak and vegetables to maintain their tenderness and flavor. Aim for a perfect balance with tender steak and crisp-tender vegetables.
What to Serve with Jamaican Pepper Steak?
The most traditional way to serve Jamaican Pepper Steak is over a bed of plain steamed white rice or Turkish Rice Pilaf (Sehriyeli Pilav).
The rice will soak up the savory sauce, enhancing the overall taste and providing a comforting base for the dish.
Serve this beef dish with a refreshing side salad such as Persian Shirazi Salad or Greek Cucumber Salad to balance the richness of the steak.
Frozen Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer provide a comforting and nutritious side dish that complements the flavors of the Pepper Steak.
Recipe Variations
- Give a tropical twist to this Jamaican stir-fried dish by adding pineapple chunks to the stir-fry. The sweetness of the pineapple complements the savory flavors of the steak.
- Infuse the steak with the bold and fiery flavors of Jamaican jerk seasoning. Marinate the meat in jerk marinade before stir-frying for an authentic and spiced-up version.
- Swap the beef steak strips for plant-based protein like tofu or tempeh to create a delicious vegetarian alternative. The same flavorful sauce and vegetables will beautifully complement the plant-based protein.
- Create a sweet and spicy version by adding a touch of honey or brown sugar to the sauce to balance the heat from the spices.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storage
To store Jamaican Pepper Steak, first, allow it to cool completely at room temperature.
Then, transfer the leftovers to an airtight container or a sealable plastic bag.
When refrigerated, leftover Pepper Steak can stay fresh for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, you can freeze the Pepper Steak for up to 3 months.
Reheating
When you're ready to enjoy the frozen Pepper Steak, there are a couple of safe reheating options:
- Thawing and Stovetop Reheating - Thaw the frozen Pepper Steak in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, transfer the contents to a skillet or a non-stick pan and gently reheat over low to medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Add a splash of water or beef broth if needed to prevent drying out.
- Microwave Reheating - Alternatively, you can use the microwave for a quicker reheating process. Remove the frozen Pepper Steak from the freezer-safe container and place it in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on low to medium power in 1-minute increments, stirring in between, until fully heated. Adjust the microwave power and time to avoid overheating.
As with all reheated dishes, it's essential to heat the Pepper Steak to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is safe to eat.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use other cuts of beef like flank steak or ribeye if sirloin or top round cuts are not available.
However, keep in mind that these cuts may require shorter cooking times as they are more tender.
Yes, you can marinate the beef ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook.
However, for the best results, it's recommended to stir-fry the dish right before serving to retain the freshness and texture of the vegetables.
Yes, you can customize the vegetables according to your taste.
While the recipe calls for red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers and onions, you can add other colorful vegetables like green bell peppers or any other sweet peppers, snap peas, or carrots to create your own variation.
Related Recipes
For more delicious side dishes to go with your colorful Jamaican-Style Pepper Steak dish why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this Authentic and Easy-to-follow Recipe for Delicious Jamaican-Style Pepper Steak as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!
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Jamaican Style Pepper Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 1 tablespoon good quality olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic granules
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
- ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Stir-fry
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or sunflower oil
- 700 g sirloin steak (cut in strips)
- 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
- 2 yellow bell peppers (sliced)
- 1 medium onion (sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 chili (sliced)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (finely chopped)
- 2-3 spring onions (sliced)
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- ½ cup beef stock
Instructions
Marinating the Beef
- In a bowl, place the beef strips and add the olive oil, salt, brown sugar, black pepper, onion powder, garlic granules, allspice, dried thyme or oregano, cumin powder, ground nutmeg, and smoked paprika.
- Mix them all thoroughly, ensuring they are evenly coated. and then add the sirloin steak strips.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to let the flavors infuse into the meat.
Stir Frying the Beef and Vegetables
- Heat vegetable or sunflower oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Remove the steak strips from the marinade and shake off any excess liquid.
- Add the marinated steak strips to the hot oil and cook them until they are browned and cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- Once done, remove the steak from the skillet and set it aside. If necessary, do it in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- In the same skillet, add the sliced red and yellow bell peppers, as well as the sliced onion. Sauté them until they become tender and slightly caramelized.
- Add the finely chopped garlic, tomato paste, sliced chili, and finely chopped ginger to the skillet. Stir-fry the mixture for about a minute to release the flavors.
- Return the cooked steak to the skillet and mix it with the sautéed vegetable mixture.
- Add the sliced spring onions, soy sauce, and beef stock to the skillet. Stir everything together to coat the steak and vegetables with the delicious sauce.
- Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes until the flavors meld together and the sauce thickens slightly.
Notes
- Don't skip marinating the steak! Allow it to marinate in the flavorful blend of spices for at least 30 minutes, or even longer for more intense flavors.
- Opt for sirloin or top-round cuts for the best results. These cuts require longer cooking, allowing the flavors to develop fully and ensuring the steak becomes tender and juicy.
- When stir-frying the steak, use a hot skillet or wok with high heat. This quick searing process seals in the juices and creates a beautiful brown crust.
- Adjust the spice level according to your preference. If you prefer, use scotch bonnet pepper for an extra kick!
- Avoid overcooking the steak and vegetables to maintain their tenderness and flavor. Aim for a perfect balance with tender steak and crisp-tender vegetables.
- The leftovers would keep for up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
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katherine morris
My mom used to make this we served it over rice it's delicious
Ayla Clulee
Dear Katherine, thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Best wishes
Ayla