Beef Pepper Rice

If you’ve ever been to Pepper Lunch, you know how addictive that sizzling plate of beef pepper rice can be! The aroma, the butter, the pepper, the juicy beef… But the best part is that you can actually make this at home with just a few ingredients! Let’s make it.

watch how to make beef pepper rice

what is beef pepper rice?

Pepper Lunch is a Japanese fast-food chain restaurant famous for the Beef Pepper Rice. Their beef pepper rice consists of sizzling hot grilled beef slices served with a bed of rice, with a generous sprinkle of black pepper, corn and green onions. This dish often comes with a special garlic and honey soy sauce to drizzle over the meat and rice.

This beef pepper rice dish really reminds me of my teenage years. I used to go to Pepper Lunch all the time with my friends after school. It’s such a quick and satisfying meal.

The great thing about this dish is that it’s actually really easy to make at home! All you need is some thinly sliced beef (I like to use Chinese hotpot beef), rice, black pepper, your favourite veggies (corn or onions), and most important– the special garlic soy sauce.

Whether you’re a student looking for a quick lunch to make or a busy adult, this is a perfect lunch or dinner option to make.

why you’ll love this recipe

• It’s quick – ready in 15 minutes.
• Super flavourful and satisfying.
• Perfect for using up leftover rice.

ingredients

Thinly sliced beef – I use the kind made for Chinese hot pot, which I get from my local Asian supermarket. It’s usually sold in plastic trays with each slice rolled up. I like that it’s already super thin and well-marbled, which is perfect for this dish.

Cooked rice – I prefer using Japanese short-grain rice. They are also called sushi rice and you can find it in most supermarkets!

Sweetcorn – You can use fresh sweetcorn, but I used canned for convenience.

Green onions – Optional, but I love the freshness it adds.

Butter – A small knob of butter adds richness and helps bring everything together.

Lots of freshly cracked black pepper – Add as much as you want! It’s pepper lunch after all!

Garlic soy sauce – This is a quick mix of light soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, minced garlic, sugar, and a black pepper.

how to make beef pepper rice

1. In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper. Set aside.
2. Heat a bit of oil in a frying pan or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
3. Add a bowl of cooked rice to the centre of the pan. Arrange the sliced beef around the rice. Place a knob of butter on top of the rice, then sprinkle generously with black pepper. Add the corn and chopped green onions on top.
4. Once the beef starts to sizzle, pour the sauce evenly over everything. Stir well to mix the beef, rice, and sauce together.
5. Turn off the heat and serve straight from the pan. The residual heat will finish cooking the beef. If you’re using a cast iron pan, let it sit for a minute or two for some crispy edges.

my top tips for making the best beef pepper rice

1) use thinly sliced beef

I personally like to use the kind of thin-sliced beef used for Chinese hotpot, which you can buy in your local Asian supermarket. But if you don’t have access to that or cannot find it, you can freeze a piece of steak for 30 minutes and then slice it thinly yourself.

2) use a cast iron pan if you can

Cast iron pan holds heat really well and gives you the sizzling, crispy finish that’s super similar to the Pepper Lunch hot plate experience. But if you don’t have a cast iron pan, a regular frying pan will still work just fine, but keep in mind you might not get the signature crispy rice or charred beef aroma. It still tastes delicious though!

check out more of my beef rice recipes!

• Steak butter rice with soy-cured egg yolk
• Gyudon (Japanese beef rice bowl)

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