A Recipe to Stay in for: Spicy pepper steak and rice

Now that the holidays are over and life has resumed its daily hustle and bustle, why not give your family a treat that is quick and tasty.  For those of you out there who love seasoning and spicy food, this is a great recipe for you.

If you have a milder palate, just lower certain spices and the dish will still come out scrumptious.

This Spicy Pepper Steak and Rice dish will take you only 20 minutes to prepare and cook.  More great news is that it will definitely stay in your budget, and still have your family and friends praising your culinary skills. What you will need:

• 1 pound of boneless beef sirloin
• 2 tbsp. of olive oil
• 2 cups of chopped fresh green peppers (red can also be used)
• 1 cup of chopped jalapeños
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 tbsp. of soy sauce
• 1 crushed garlic clove (substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder)
• 1-3 teaspoons of cayenne pepper (depending on your spice flavor)
• 1-2 teaspoons of ground black pepper
• 3-4 cups of hot cooked rice (advised instant white rice boiled)

Preparation: Slice fresh or defrosted beef into thin strips or cubes. The smaller the strips, the shorter the cook time.

In a stir fry pan, heat the olive oil and add the beef.  Keep the pan over medium fire until the beef is browned.  Add the crushed garlic clove (or powder) to the pan, along with the onions and green peppers.  Keep the beef moving by stirring it while the onions and peppers cook.

Add the chopped jalapenos and soy sauce to the pan once the onions have just begun to brown.  (Remember to keep the beef moving so it doesn’t over cook.)

Lower the heat and let it simmer for 3-5 minutes before adding the ground black pepper and cayenne pepper (amount of your choice depending on your palate).  Remove from heat when the last of the ingredients have blended with the sauce.

Serve over a warm bed of white rice, allowing the sauce to coat the rice with the beef mixture on top. This recipe serves 4-5 people and is low in cholesterol.  Bon Appetite!

Food For Thought is a NEast restaurant review column written by Donna Ward that runs every other Thursday on NEastPhilly.com. See all of Donna’s reviews here. Read other NEastPhilly columns here.