Black Pepper Steak Fried Rice
Tender seared steak bites tossed with day-old rice, scrambled eggs, and mixed vegetables in a bold black pepper sauce. Wok-fried and done in 30 minutes.
Black Pepper Steak Fried Rice
Ingredients
Steak Marinade
- 225 g steak, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 teaspoons light soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Black Pepper Sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons oyster sauce
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper, adjust to taste
- MSG, optional, small pinch to taste
Fried Rice
- 2 cups cooked rice, day-old, cold
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 2 stalks green onion, white and green parts separated, chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil, for searing steak
Instructions
- Mix the sauce.
Combine all sauce ingredients -- soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, water, cracked black pepper, and MSG if using. Whisk together and set aside.
- Marinate the steak.
Toss steak cubes with light soy sauce, baking soda, sugar, cornstarch, cracked black pepper, and sesame oil. Mix well and marinate for 20-60 minutes.
- Sear the steak.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok over high heat until smoking. Add the steak in a single layer and sear until browned on the outside and just cooked through. Do not overcrowd. Remove and set aside.
- Aromatics and eggs.
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter, garlic, shallot, and the white parts of the green onion. Sauté for 30-45 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the beaten eggs and scramble gently until just set. Push to one side of the pan.
- Vegetables and rice.
Add the frozen mixed vegetables and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until heated through. Add the cold rice, breaking up any clumps. Crank the heat to high and stir-fry everything together for 2-3 minutes until the rice is slightly toasted.
- Finish and serve.
Add the green parts of the green onion, the seared steak, and the pre-mixed sauce. Toss everything together until evenly coated and heated through. Taste and adjust with extra soy sauce or cracked black pepper. Serve hot.
Notes
Day-old rice is mandatory: Fresh rice is too wet and will steam instead of fry. The grains need to be dry and separated. Cook your rice the day before and refrigerate uncovered.
Baking soda in the marinade: This velvets the steak -- it breaks down the proteins for a more tender bite. 20 minutes minimum, 60 max. Beyond that the texture gets off.
Sear hot and fast: The steak needs a screaming hot pan. If the heat is too low it'll steam and go grey instead of browning. Don't overcrowd the pan.
MSG: Optional but it does what it does. A small pinch rounds out the black pepper sauce. Leave it out if you prefer.
Black pepper: This is a black pepper dish -- don't be shy with it. Taste and adjust at the end. Freshly cracked is noticeably better than pre-ground.
