Chinese Pepper Steak

Chinese Pepper Steak

Using a less expensive cut of meat, you can afford to feed six people a steak dinner. And the home-made Sweet & Sour Sauce rivals any take-out.  This dish has been a weekend family favorite for several decades.

1-1/2 pounds round steak

2 tablespoons oil

½ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

5 tablespoons lite soy sauce

1 cup water

2 green or red bell peppers, cut in thin strips

2 tablespoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons water

2 tomatoes, cut in chunks

Slice the steak into thin strips and brown in the oil in a large skillet. Add pepper, garlic powder, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and 1 cup of water.  Cover the skillet and simmer over low heat for 1 to 1 ½ hours.  Add green/red bell peppers and simmer 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the 3 tablespoons of water and stir into the Pepper Steak to thicken.  Add the tomato chunks and simmer 5 minutes longer.  Serve over cooked rice with the Sweet & Sour Sauce. Serves 6.

Sweet & Sour Sauce

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup catsup

1- 14 ounces can pineapple chunks with juice

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

½ teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1/3 cup of water

In a small sauce pan, mix together the sugar, catsup, pineapple juice, vinegar and garlic powder.  Stir and bring the mixture to a boil.  Stir in the cornstarch mixture and stir until thicken. Stir in the pineapple chunks.  Serve over the Chinese Pepper Steak and cooked rice. Serves 6.