I don’t stir fry often.  Before I made dinner last night, I would have said I don’t really know why.  After dinner was made, I remembered.  Stir frying is unbelievably messy.  Yikes!   The oil (and I didn’t think I used that much) splattered everywhere.  The stovetop, and the floor, required heavy duty cleanup after dinner.  (Thanks, Howard!)  I even tried using a splatter guard, but I couldn’t stir the food at the same time.  I can’t get over the mess.

Despite the mess, dinner was smelled great while it was cooking and tasted just as good. 

After a week of eating most meals with a spoon (stew and soups), I was happy to eat with a fork (or chopsticks).  I’ve had this recipe in my recipe box for years.  The recipe is for Beef with Peppers, but this time what I really made was Peppers with Beef.  I used up the rest of the CSA peppers and a small Delmonico steak from the Codman Farm Meat CSA.  I don’t make this dish often, but when I do, I wonder why?  It tastes so good.  Maybe it’s the housekeeping involved in stir frying.

Peppers with Beef
(Serves 2)

• 1/2 lb beef, cut beef across grain into thin slices, then cut into pieces 1-1/2″ x 1″
• 4 green and/or red peppers, cut into thin strips, lengthwise
• Oil

Beef Marinade

• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sake (rice wine)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp water

Minced Seasonings:

• 1 Tbsp minced scallions
• 1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic

Oyster Sauce:

• 3 Tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sake (rice wine)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 6 Tbsp water
• 2 tsp cornstarch

Place pieces of meat in a bowl with Beef Marinade.  Toss to coat.  Let it sit while you cut up the peppers, mince the seasonings, and mix up the Oyster Sauce.

 Heat oil in a large skillet.  Add beef slices and fry, stirring constantly, until meat changes color.  (There will be extra marinade in the bowl.  Just cook the meat.)  Remove meat and drain.

Reheat skillet with 3 Tbsp oil.  Add minced seasonings and stir fry unitl fragrant, about 15 seconds.  Add peppers, and stir fry about 2 minutes, over high heat.  Add oyster sauce mixture and heat until thickened.  Add meat and toss to coat.  Serve over rice.

(You could add more meat and peppers to feed more people.)

Here’s the end result: