Beef with Green Peppers in Black Bean Sauce

Who says you can’t enjoy takeaway food when watching your weight? Beef with Green Peppers in Black Bean Sauce from Justine Pattison is a pretty authentic ‘fakeaway’ which is only 225 calories per serving. With the addition of a small portion of rice, you’re looking at 400 calories all in, perfect for keeping your diet on track!

If you fancy having a go at creating more classic Chinese fakeaways, check out sweet and sour chicken and yeung chow fried rice.

Recipe: Beef with Green Peppers in Black Bean Sauce

Calories: 225 per serving (without rice)

Serves: 4

Book: Justine Pattison: Without the Calories – Takeaway Favourites

Prep time: Approx 15 mins

Cooking time: Approx 20 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp mirin (rice wine)
• 120g sachet black bean sauce
• 100ml cold water
• 400g rump or sirloin steak
• 2-3 tsp sunflower oil
• 1 medium onion (cut into 12 wedges)
• 2 green peppers (deseeded and cut into 3cm chunks)
• 2 garlic cloves (very thinly sliced)
• 20g chunk fresh root ginger (peeled and very thinly sliced)
• Flaked sea salt
• Ground black pepper

Cost per portion: Approx £2.53 (without rice)

Method:

Mix the cornflour with the mirin or sherry in a small bowl until smooth, then stir in the black bean sauce and water. Put to one side. Trim the beef of all hard fat and cut into 5cm-wide strips. Season the beef well with a little salt and lots of black pepper.

Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan or wok over a high heat and stir-fry the beef in two batches until well browned, adding a tiny splash more oil between batches if needed. Each batch will take about 3 minutes over a high heat. Transfer the beef to a plate each time a batch is ready.

Return the pan to the heat, add another teaspoon of oil and stir fry the onion and peppers for 4 minutes, or until well softened and lightly coloured, then add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute more. Return the meat to the pan, pour over the reserved sauce and stir-fry together for 2-3 minutes or until the beef is hot and glossy.