Cooking can be both an art and a wonderful journey. It can take you to new and exciting places right from your kitchen. Today, I'm taking you on a culinary trip to the Caribbean, where we will prepare a delicious Jamaican pepper steak recipe. If you love the fusion of spicy and savory flavors, and tender strips of beef that melt in your mouth, then fasten your seatbelt. It's going to be a tasty ride!
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1 - Why You Will Love This Recipe
With its delightful combination of ingredients like sirloin steak, bell peppers, and a rich savory sauce, this Jamaican Pepper Steak recipe offers a unique fusion of flavors that's perfect for a delicious main dish. From the tender strips of beef to the vibrant colors of the peppers, this dish will not only satisfy your taste buds but will also be a feast for your eyes.
2 - The Best Cut of Meat For This Recipe
- Recommended Cut For This Recipe
Sirloin steak is the star of our Jamaican stir-fried dish. It's tender, juicy, and full of flavor, making it the best cut for this recipe. You can find this prime cut at local butchers or online. If you're into Wagyu beef, Snake River Farms offers excellent options. When buying locally, look for a well-marbled piece to ensure extra flavor and a juicy texture.
- Other Cuts You Can Use For This Recipe
- Flank Steak: A leaner cut, great for soaking up all those delicious Jamaican seasonings. Adjust the cooking time for a more tender result.
- Top Round Cuts: If sirloin is unavailable, top round cuts will do the trick. Be mindful of the cooking time, so it doesn't become tough.
- Strip Steak: Similar in texture to sirloin, this can be a delightful alternative.
- Using Wagyu Beef, Grass-Fed Beef, or Dry-Aged Beef
Utilizing Wagyu, grass-fed, or dry-aged beef in this recipe can elevate your dish to gourmet levels. Wagyu, with its incredible marbling, offers unmatched tenderness and flavor. Remember to cook it at medium heat to preserve its unique characteristics. Grass-fed and dry-aged beef, on the other hand, bring a more complex flavor profile to this delicious recipe.
3 - Tools Needed
Large Skillet or Nonstick Skillet: This is essential for achieving that perfect sear on the steak pieces and bell pepper stir-fry. It allows for even cooking at medium-high heat, ensuring a delicious flavor.
4 - Cooking Methods
- On the Grill
- Prepare the grill: Heat the grill to medium-high heat, ready for this delicious main dish.
- Follow steps 1-4 in the recipe card: Cut your sirloin steak into tender strips of beef, marinate with Jamaican seasonings, and separate the marinade.
- Grill the beef: Place the steak pieces on the grill. Sear for a couple of minutes on each side for a vibrant color, then move to indirect heat to finish cooking, taking care of the internal temperature.
- Add the marinade & vegetables: In a large skillet on medium heat, follow steps 6-8 in the recipe card to complete your popular stir-fried dish, adding the bell pepper stir-fry, beef broth, savory sauce, and red bell pepper.
- In the Oven
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F, ready to cook this colorful recipe.
- Follow Steps 1-4 in the recipe card: Using the same preparation methods, cut your prime cut sirloin steak into beef strips, and get ready with your Jamaican pantry staples.
- Simulate Grilled Texture: Use a baking soda solution to create a textured surface on the steak pieces, giving an extra flavor that simulates grilling.
- Bake the Beef: Place the beef in a nonstick skillet or large pan and bake until your desired level of doneness, usually around 30-40 minutes.
- Finalize in a Skillet: Follow steps 6-8 in the recipe card to complete the Jamaican pepper steak recipe, sautéing garlic, adding bell pepper stir-fry, and watching that brown gravy thicken.
- Sous Vide
- Prepare the Sous Vide Cooker: Set the sous vide precision cooker to 130°F, giving you a clear snapshot of Jamaican Chinese cooking.
- Follow Steps 1-3 in the recipe card: Take care of marinating the strip steak with hot pepper sauce, black pepper, and other key ingredients, then set aside in an airtight container.
- Sous Vide the Steak: Place the beef strips in the sous vide bag and cook for 1-2 hours.
- Quick Sear in Hot Oil: Remove from the sous vide and quickly sear in hot oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat, making sure the beef steak strips are brown.
- Finish with Marinade & Peppers: Follow steps 6-8 in the recipe card to complete the delicious recipe, making sure to toss in green bell peppers and red bell pepper, and whisking cornstarch into beef broth.
With these three methods, you can adapt the Jamaican pepper steak recipe to suit your preferences and equipment, always focusing on vibrant flavors and the delicious blending of spices that define Jamaican cuisine. Whether it's a sunny BBQ day or a cozy evening meal, these methods are the best way to enjoy this authentic dish! Enjoy the real treat next time you're in the mood for a savory stewed dish.
5 - Cooking Tips
- Dry Brine Your Steak
- What It Does: Helps retain moisture, making your sirloin steak juicy.
- How to Do It: Rub your strip steak with a mixture of black pepper and salt, then set aside in an airtight container for 30-40 minutes. This step helps to lock in the moisture, leading to a tender texture in your Jamaican pepper steak recipe.
- Use a Thermometer
- Ideal Temperature: 130-135°F for medium-rare, ensuring your beef dish is cooked to perfection.
- How to Do It: Use a thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of your steak pieces as they cook on medium-high heat. This will provide a clearer snapshot of Jamaican Chinese cooking, helping you to understand the key differences between levels of doneness. Don't forget to season beef with Jamaican seasonings for extra flavor.
- Bonus Tip: Accompany with Bell Pepper Stir-Fry and White Rice
- What It Does: Complements the vibrant colors and flavors of the Jamaican stir-fried dish.
- How to Do It: Sauté garlic, green bell peppers, red bell pepper, and sweet bell peppers in olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add a splash of light soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce for a savory sauce. Serve alongside white rice, creating a colorful recipe that's perfect for a delicious main dish.
These cooking tips offer a real treat for anyone looking to master the Jamaican pepper steak recipe. From brining techniques to understanding the level of doneness, they provide insights into making a popular stir-fried dish. Try them out next time, and you'll be amazed at how these simple techniques can transform your cooking, making every meal a perfect weeknight meal or festive occasion!
6 - Storage Instructions
- In the Fridge: wrap the leftover pepper steak in an airtight container and store for up to 3 days.
- In the Freezer: freeze the delicious recipe in small cubes, using an airtight container, for up to 3 months.
- The Best Way to Reheat This Recipe: thaw, then reheat in a large pan over medium heat to avoid dry or overcooked meat.
7 - Side Dishes
The Jamaican pepper steak recipe itself is filled with flavor, so why not pair it with side dishes that bring the essence of Jamaica to your plate? Here's how to complement your main course with some local flair:
- Jamaican Callaloo Salad
Try a Jamaican Callaloo Salad, a blend of fresh callaloo leaves, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and red onion, lightly tossed with a lime and scotch bonnet pepper vinaigrette. This salad's unique combination adds a touch of spice and citrusy zest, perfectly echoing the flavor profile of your pepper steak.
- Steamed Cabbage and Carrots
Steamed Cabbage and Carrots is a Jamaican staple, often sautéed with scotch bonnet chiles, bell peppers, and onions. Its aromatic and tender texture pairs well with the bold, meaty flavors of the pepper steak, making it a must-try accompaniment.
- Rice and Peas
Instead of plain white rice, why not serve your pepper steak with Rice and Peas? This classic Jamaican side dish is made with rice, coconut milk, scallions, thyme, Scotch bonnet pepper, and kidney beans, cooked together to infuse a heady combination of flavors. This side dish is not just about soaking up the delicious gravy; it's a celebration of Jamaican flavors that stands proudly alongside the main dish.
- Bonus: Festival (Jamaican Cornbread Fritters)
As an extra treat, consider adding Festival, which are sweet and crispy cornbread fritters, as a side. These golden fritters are a popular Jamaican staple and offer a delightful contrast of sweet and savory that can balance the rich flavors of the steak.
With these traditional Jamaican side dishes, your meal will become an authentic culinary journey around Jamaica, taking the dining experience to the next level. Enjoy your cooking adventure!
Final Take Away
This Jamaican Pepper Steak recipe is not just a meal; it's a culinary experience. From selecting the best cut to the lively cooking process, it's a real treat that brings the Caribbean to your kitchen. Give it a try next time and enjoy the vibrant colors and flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Sirloin steak Cut into tender strips of beef
- 1 unit Green bell pepper Sliced into thin strips
- 1 unit red bell pepper Sliced into thin strips
- 2.1 oz red onion sliced
- 3 units garlic cloves crushed or grated
- 0.7 oz scallion or green onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger optional
- 4 units sprigs of thyme
- 1 tablespoon all purpose / beef seasoning
- 3 teaspoon browning sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ cup beef broth
- 1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Cut into strips: Take your prime cut sirloin steak and slice it into tender strips of beef, each 3 inches long and about ½ to 1 inch thick. Make sure those steak pieces are even, so they cook uniformly.
- Add the marinade to the meat: Here's where the Jamaican seasonings come into play. Mix in everything except the cornstarch, beef broth, and bell pepper. Add a dash of hot pepper sauce and some black pepper to make it extra flavorful. Coat those beef strips well with the marinade and set aside.
- Leave to Marinate: Now, you don’t have to marinate for long. I usually give it a half-hour or so, just enough time to let those juicy textures and heady seasonings penetrate the meat. You could even use this time to start on some white rice or prep those sweet bell peppers.
- Separate the marinade: This is a bit tedious, but trust me, it's worth it! Separate the marinade from the meat, but don't fuss about getting every last bit of garlic or ginger off the beef. It’s part of the delicious flavor. No need for a separate plate; place the meat straight into a large skillet.
- Quick brown: Heat some olive oil to medium-high heat in a large pan, and add the strips of meat. Brown them on all sides, stirring so all the beef steak strips are brown. It won’t take long; you'll notice that vibrant color change as the meat hits the hot oil.
- That marinade again: Stir in the set-aside marinade from earlier, and let it cook for about 3-4 minutes. Feel the kitchen filling up with that authentic Jamaican stir-fried dish aroma!
- Pepper to the steak: Time to add the bell pepper stir-fry! Toss in the green bell peppers and red bell pepper. Splash in a bit more browning sauce to darken that savory sauce. If needed, pour in the beef broth (the perfect way to use any leftover pepper steak), and whisk the cornstarch into the beef broth before adding it.
- Let the sauce thicken: Cook for another 5 minutes until that delicious gravy thickens. The fragrance of those sweet peppers, scotch bonnet pepper, and light soy sauce will have your mouth watering by now!
Video
Notes
- Feel free to use sweet bell peppers or yellow bell peppers for vibrant colors.
- You can also cook this delicious main dish in a nonstick skillet or large pan.
- Leftover pepper steak can be stored in an airtight container and makes a delicious recipe for next time.
- If you find there's too much water from the meat in the pan, you don't have to add the beef broth. Simply take some sauce from the pan, whisk with cornstarch, then pour it back in.
- For those interested in a slightly different take, adding a touch of Worcestershire sauce or light soy sauce can add an interesting twist.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Jamaican Pepper Steak is a colorful beef dish. It has tender strips of steak and bright bell peppers. A rich, savory sauce brings it all together. The dish is influenced by Jamaican and Chinese cooking. This fusion creates flavors that tantalize the taste buds. The marinade includes scallion, ginger, and browning sauce. These ingredients infuse the meat with bold flavors. You can serve Jamaican Pepper Steak with white rice or other sides. It's great for a weeknight meal or special occasions.
A: The spiciness in Jamaican Pepper Steak can be adjusted. Some heat may come from hot pepper sauce or Scotch bonnet peppers. These are famous in Jamaican cuisine. That being said, you can control the spice level. You can use fewer hot peppers or a milder sauce. It's about finding the right balance for your taste. Want full heat? Use Scotch bonnet chiles. Prefer it milder? Reduce or omit these ingredients. Either way, you'll enjoy the delicious flavor of this Jamaican stir-fried dish.
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