Name: Beef Stir-Fry with Black Bean Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 3 servings
Ingredients: 400 g beef sirloin (thinly sliced); 3 tbsp black bean sauce; 2 bell peppers (mixed colors, sliced); 1 onion (sliced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tbsp ginger (grated); 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp cornstarch (for velveting); 1 tsp sesame oil; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 green onions (sliced)

Tender beef strips in a savory, slightly sweet black bean sauce with crispy vegetables. Better than takeout and ready in 15 minutes.

I used to order this from my local Chinese place every week until I realized I was spending a fortune on something I could make in 15 minutes. The trick is high heat and fast cooking — everything should be slightly charred but still crisp. The black bean sauce is the foundation. You can buy it jarred (Lee Kum Kee is solid) or make your own with fermented black beans, garlic, and ginger. Either way, it gives the beef this deep, savory, almost funky flavor that is completely addictive. The key t