There are two kinds of people:
Those who prefer pairing pepper steak with noodles and those who love eating it with rice.
100%, I’m part of the latter group.
If you’re also part of the team and want to cook the best pepper steak and rice combo at home…
Let me share the undeniably best rice for pepper steak!
Top Rice Variety for Pepper Steak: Jasmine Rice
Most of the pepper steak recipes I found online said something along the lines of:
“Serve pepper steak on top of the rice of your choice.”
Sure, this dish does taste incredible enough to pair well with most kinds of rice.
But if you want the most delicious and satisfying spoonfuls of pepper steak with rice, Jasmine rice is the best option for this dish!
Why? Let’s talk about the most important reasons.
Reasons to Use Jasmine Rice for Pepper Steak
Texture: Jasmine rice’s soft and slightly sticky texture is the perfect base for saucy dishes like pepper steak. After all, sticker grains hold on to sauces better than other varieties of rice.
Aroma: The natural floral aroma of Jasmine rice complements the earthy, umami, and savory notes of pepper steak ingredients like soy sauce, bell peppers and beef. This makes the overall eating experience of the dish more pleasant.
Availability: Jasmine rice is relatively common in most grocery stores, especially big supermarkets. No need to take extra trips to visit Asian grocery stores near (or far from) you.
Rice Runner-Ups
As mentioned, pepper steak pairs well with various rice types.
But among those, I think the two grains below deserve the runner-up spots for being the best rice for pepper steak!
Long-Grain White Rice
If you love fluffy grains or want a bag of rice that’ll also taste good when paired with other Chinese dishes like orange chicken, I highly recommend purchasing long-grain white rice.
It has a neutral aroma and flavor, allowing the pepper steak to truly shine.
Plus, it’s very versatile, so apart from Chinese cuisine, you can also use it for American classics like chicken and rice.
Oh, and have I mentioned that this rice is also the most common rice variety and is often the cheapest?
Long-Grain Brown Rice
Brown rice lovers, rejoice, as pepper steak also tastes great when paired with brown rice!
I typically use long-grain brown rice for this dish since it’s the easiest to find, but I’m pretty confident that other brown rice varieties that are long-grain will also work well for this dish.
Feel free to choose brown rice if you want to pair your pepper steak with a healthier and chewier grain. It’s also an amazing rice choice for meal prep!
Rice Over Noodles for Pepper Steak
I love noodles, of course.
But nobody can change my mind– pepper steak is best paired with rice!
To be more specific, this main dish is best paired with Jasmine rice, followed by long-grain white rice and brown rice.
Now, all that’s left for you to do is verify this statement yourself!
Easy Homemade Pepper Steak
This pepper steak recipe is one of the easiest Chinese dishes you can cook in less than an hour! It’ll remind you of your favorite takeout while tasting like home.
Ingredients
To Marinate the Beef
- 1 pound of flank steak (or top sirloin steak)
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons of cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon of Shaoxing wine (optional but recommended)
For the Sauce
- 1/2 cup of low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
For the Stir-Fry
- 1 red bell pepper (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 green bell pepper (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 medium onion (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)
Instructions
- Start by slicing the beef into thin strips (about 1/4-inch thick).
- Prepare the marinade by mixing the soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sugar, ground ginger, and Shaoxing wine (if using) in a bowl.
- Add the beef slices into the marinade, making sure each piece is coated well. Let the beef marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- In a separate small bowl, create the sauce mixture by combining the chicken stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and sesame oil. Mix everything well and set aside.
- In a wok (or a large skillet) that’s over high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the marinated beef slices and stir-fry until the pieces are browned (for about 2-3 minutes). Remove the beef from the wok and set it aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil to the wok. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry it until it’s fragrant (about 30 seconds). Then, stir in the onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper. Continue stir-frying for about 3 to 4 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.
- Return the cooked beef to the wok with the vegetables. Stir the sauce mixture for about 5 to 10 seconds and pour it into the wok.
- Stir-fry everything until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and vegetables (takes about 2-3 minutes).
- Serve your delicious pepper steak hot with steamed rice, and enjoy!
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