Quick Stir-Fried Beef with Bell Peppers and Black Bean Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

A fast and flavorful Chinese stir-fry featuring tender beef strips and crisp bell peppers coated in a savory fermented black bean sauce. This Chinese-inspired Instant Pot recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs flank steak, red bell pepper, green bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz, thinly sliced against the grain flank steak
• 1 large, sliced into thin strips red bell pepper
• 1 large, sliced into thin strips green bell pepper
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp, rinsed and mashed fermented black beans
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp sesame oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, toss 12 oz thinly sliced flank steak with 1 tsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp soy sauce, mixing to coat evenly.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the beef slices in a single layer and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until browned but still tender. Remove beef and set aside.
3. Step 3: Add remaining 1 tbsp vegetable oil to the wok. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 2 tbsp mashed fermented black beans, stir-frying for 30 seconds until aromatic.
4. Step 4: Add 1 large sliced red bell pepper and 1 large sliced green bell pepper, stir-frying for 2 minutes until just tender but still crisp.
5. Step 5: Return the beef to the wok and stir in 1 tbsp oyster sauce, remaining 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1/4 cup water. Stir-fry for another minute until the sauce thickens and coats all ingredients.
6. Step 6: Drizzle 1 tsp sesame oil over the stir-fry, toss to combine, then serve hot.