As the song goes, it’s “back to life, back to reality.” While Pesach was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with family and friends, there’s something nice about getting back into a routine. Not to mention, being able to eat chometz again!
One of my most favorite chometzdik dinners is a dish my mom makes with pepper steak and plum jelly. She found the gourmet jam in Australia, and every time she visits, she brings home a jar. I decided to try and recreate her recipe without the jam, and I think I came pretty close!
It took me a while to learn how to make pepper steak that didn’t taste like I was chewing rubber. I learned, first and foremost, that good pepper steak has to be quality pepper steak. The better the quality of the meat, the softer it will turn out in the end. The second thing I learned about cooking pepper steak is to cook it low and slow. The longer the steak simmers, the longer the meat will tenderize. Lastly, I learned to add the sauce at the end, so that the sugar in it does not burn and harden the meat.
Have you got any tips for making your pepper steak soft? I’d love to hear them!
Pepper Steak with Plum Sauce
1 pkg pepper steak
1 onion, sliced into half rings
5 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 30 oz can whole purple plums in heavy syrup
1/4 cup hoison sauce
salt and pepper, to taste
oil, for sauteing
Method:
Saute pepper steak in a bit of oil until browned. Remove from pan. Add onions and garlic and saute until golden. Return meat to pan, remove pits from plums and add them, with their syrup, to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1-2 hours. Uncover the pot, add hoison sauce and cook on high heat until reduced by half, about 20-30 minutes.
1 year ago: 1-2-3 decadent molten chocolate chip cakes
looks so delishh! mmm..
Hi Chani,
Is the pepper steak very sweet tasting in this recipe?
It is sweet, but not too sweet (for my taste anyway!)
Hey Chani
Totally going to try this recipe!
I hope I find kosher hoisin sauce in the local super market…
Come visit!!!
Hi Chanie,
This might sound stupid but I was wondering if this recipe would still work using only the syrup and not the actual plums.
Tia!!
Hi Chaya, I’m sorry but without the plums, there would not be much of a sauce, so I don’t think it would work.
do you think i could adjust this to use the plum sauce with a chuck roast?
For sure, that would actually be delicious!
Hi Chanie, can this recipe be made in advsnce anf then heated up for a yom tov meal?
Yes, definitely.
Thank you
Hi Chanie,
I can’t find the plum sauce anywhere. Any other substitutes you can recommend? Thanks!
Sorry for the delay in responding. Do you mean the hoison sauce?
Can’t find canned plums anywhere – what can I use as a substitute?
Maybe some plum jam?
I have a 13oz jar of plum preserves – how much should I use? Thanks!
Follow the recipe as written and add some stock mixed with preserves in place of the canned plums.
How to tenderize the meat.
Briefly soaking meat in a solution of baking soda and water raises the pH on the meat’s surface, making it more difficult for the proteins to bond excessively (Less tough), which keeps the meat tender and moist when it’s cooked.
1 tsp dissolved in 1/2 cups of water for every 12oz. of meat. 15 to 20 minutes is fine but it can soak as long as 45 minutes (longer isn’t better it just doesn’t affect the taste of the meat). Just rinse the meat briefly… or not.
You can also simply rub the meat with baking soda and let it sit for a few hours…. this you have to rinse however.
The water solution works best for things like stir fry (Lot’s of surface area), and the rub method works good for steaks. Trust me I’m a chef
Thanks for this great tip Dan! I will try it!
Yes! It’s known as ‘velveting’ the meat. You can google it too! Chinese restaurants do this daily to soften the beef.
hi! I know this is an older post but I really want to try this recipe for Rosh Hashana! I can’t seem to find kosher hoison sauce anywhere, would I just be able to leave it out or what you recommend adding instead? thanks, my family and I love your recipes!
Hi! I actually love this recipe and often make it for Succos! If you can’t find hoison sauce, you can mix some freshly grated garlic and ginger and a little splash of rice vinegar into some regular BBQ sauce and use that instead.