Description
Let’s be honest—some dinners are just pure joy in a skillet. This wild, spicy Szechuan beef dish is everything: crispy-edged steak in a tongue-tingling sauce, paired with messy, sweet corn and blistered shishitos that are slightly smoky, slightly rebellious, and totally addictive. It’s dinner with attitude, fire, and flavor in under 45 minutes. Skip the takeout. Ignite your own wok party.
Ingredients
For the Beef:
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1½ lb flat-iron or flank steak, thinly sliced
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3 tbsp cornstarch
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2 tbsp rice vinegar
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1 tbsp soy sauce
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1½ tsp ground cumin
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1½ tsp ground Szechuan peppercorns (or 1 tsp black pepper + ½ tsp red pepper flakes)
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1½ tsp turmeric
For the Sauce & Veggies:
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1½ in ginger, grated
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4 garlic cloves, minced
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⅓ cup soy sauce
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2 tbsp Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
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1 tbsp chili garlic sauce or Sriracha
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1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
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1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)
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1 large carrot, julienned
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1 bell pepper, sliced
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4 scallions, chopped (whites for cooking, greens for garnish)
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Neutral oil for stir-frying
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Sesame seeds, for garnish
For Messy Corn & Shishitos:
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3 ears fresh corn (or 4 cups frozen fire-roasted corn)
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8 oz shishito peppers
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2 tbsp neutral oil
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2 garlic cloves, sliced
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1 in ginger, grated
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1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
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1 tbsp soy sauce
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1 tbsp rice vinegar
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1 tsp toasted sesame oil
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2 scallions + chopped cilantro
Instructions
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Marinate the Beef: Toss sliced beef with cornstarch, vinegar, soy, cumin, Szechuan pepper, and turmeric. Let sit 10–15 mins.
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Prep Sauce: Mix soy, wine, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. In a separate cup, mix cornstarch slurry.
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Sear Beef: In hot oil, cook beef in batches for 1–2 mins per side until crispy. Set aside.
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Stir-Fry Veggies: Add carrot, bell pepper, and scallion whites to pan. Stir 2 mins. Add sauce, simmer 30 sec, then add slurry. Return beef, toss well.
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Cook Corn & Shishitos: In second pan, blister peppers and corn in oil 4–5 mins. Add garlic, ginger, sauces, and toss to glaze. Stir in scallions and cilantro.
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Serve: Plate beef and messy corn side-by-side. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallion greens. Serve hot with rice!
Notes
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Freeze steak briefly for easier slicing.
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Cornstarch = crispy beef magic.
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Shishitos bring flavor and fun—watch for the spicy surprise!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
Nutrition
- Calories: 520 cal Per Serving
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 36g