Jamaican dishes are love affairs of spices and flavor. Let me be honest with you, my family and I enjoy many of the island dishes.
We love their robust flavor, combined with a sweet yet savory sauce. Though it’s really hard to get these dishes in our country and the price is too high in local restaurants.
But, these are a dish that celebrates the heat and vibrancy of Caribbean cuisine, all while staying true to the Jamaican heritage.
In particular, Jamaican pepper steak recipe is popular Jamaican dish that stands out as being both hearty and flavorful.
One of my friends, who is Jamaican, always recommends this dish to me as one of the best she’s ever tasted. So I thought why not share the recipe with you?
However, this dish is not easy to cook like my previous one. Make sure you are following my every step properly or the pepper steak will taste bland and not authentic.
What is meant by a Jamaican-style pepper steak recipe?
Many of us might not be familiar with the dish “Jamaican pepper steak,” as this dish is specific to Jamaica.
However, a Jamaican-style pepper steak recipe typically consists of beef that’s marinated in chilies and thyme before being grilled over hot coals.
Well, the reason why I love this dish so much is that it has a richness that flavors the meat while also giving it a bit of heat.
And coupled with roasted veggies or some crispy rice on the side, you’ve got yourself an amazing meal.
Though many people might think the dish is spicy, which is absolutely right.
Why is my pepper steak tough?
Before I get started, let me tell you one common troubleshooting you might encounter while cooking this dish.
This is especially the case if you don’t follow my recipe perfectly.
The biggest culprit could be when you use cuts, such as pepper steak, that are not lean enough.
This means the beef will have a high amount of connective tissue and won’t be easily cooked.
This is because pepper steak is meant to be seasoned heavily with spices like chilies, thyme, and salt.
So if you don’t add these ingredients correctly or use an improper cut of meat, your steak might end up being tough instead of tender.
Make sure you are slicing the steak against the grain and tenderizing it with a pounding before cooking.
However, be aware that too much heat can also cook the beef and turn it into something less appealing.
Jamaican pepper steak recipe
- Prep Time10 min
- Cook Time20 min
- Total Time30 min
- YieldPepper Steak
- Serving Size4
- Energy394 cal
Ingredients of Jamaican pepper steak recipe
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2.1 oz red onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced/crushed
- 0.7 oz scallion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons Scotch bonnet chilies, seeded and finely chopped (for extra spice lovers)
- 4 sprigs of thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon beef seasoning
- 3 teaspoon browning sauce
- Salt as needed
- 1/4 cup beef stock
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 lbs sirloin steak
- 1 large green bell pepper sliced
- 1 red bell pepper equally sliced like a green one
- 2 cup beef broth
Instructions for Jamaican pepper steak recipe
We will first be cleaning the bell peppers and steak.
Discard any seeds or tough fibers from bell peppers.
Rinse bell pepper slices under cold water then season with salt.
Set steak and bell pepper aside.
Slice meats against grain 1/2-inch thick with a sharp knife, then pound each slice between two sheets of plastic wrap.
In a large bowl whisk together olive oil, onion, garlic, scallion, ginger, and Scotch bonnet chilies
Add salt and beef stock to the marinade until well mixed.
Cover steak with the mixture and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.
It’s time to separate the marinade from the steak.
Remove the steak from the bowl, discarding any excess.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
After heating up, add steak to the pan and cook for 3 minutes per side or until browned on each side.
Add our separated marinade to the pan.
Simmer bell pepper and steak for a few more minutes or until bell peppers are tender.
Now it’s time for cornstarch and sauce to finish the dish.
Add cornstarch to beef broth and stir until smooth.
Bring sauce to a simmer, then cook for 6-7 minutes or until thickened.
Return steak and bell pepper slices to skillet, spooning sauce over top.
- Serving Size4
- Amount per serving
- Calories394
- % Daily Value*Standard DV
- Total Fat16 g78 g20.51%
- Saturated Fat5 g20 g25%
- Trans Fat- g
- Polyunsaturated Fat1 g
- Monounsaturated Fat8 g
- Cholesterol138 mg300 mg46%
- Sodium755 mg2300 mg32.83%
- Total Carbohydrate7 g275 g2.55%
- Dietary Fiber1 g28 g3.57%
- Total Sugars3 g
- Added Sugars- g50 g0%
- Sugar Alcohal- g
- Protein51 g50 g102%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)- IU800 IU0%
- Calcium74 mg1300 mg5.69%
- Iron4 mg18 mg22.22%
- Potassium927 mg4700 mg19.72%
- Vitamin A- mcg900 mcg0%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)63 mg90 mg70%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)- IU33 IU0%
Pro Tips to make the Jamaican pepper steak recipe tastier:
1) I can understand how some people might not like bell pepper because of their strong taste it has. If that is the case, you could try to simmer bell pepper and steak in a sauce without seasoning it first.
2) I would recommend using a sharper knife when slicing beef for this recipe so that it cooks evenly and does not come out tough.
3) Though it’s optional, I would recommend using cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Doing so will give it a smoother texture and prevent any lumps from forming.
Health benefits of the pepper steak recipe
As you can clearly see what this dish consists of, is bell pepper and steak so I hope you can at least realize for yourself whether it’s healthy or not.
I mean, the pepper steak recipe isn’t just a simple beef dish. It also contains some important vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your health.
As I said vitamins, I’m talking about vitamin B12 which helps to keep the immune system functioning properly and protects against some types of diseases.
Personally, I think that this pepper steak recipe provides an excellent balance of nutrients that are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
As for minerals, beef steak has high levels of protein, important micronutrients, and iron which are important for our body’s overall health.
There are many more nutrients and vitamins that are present in the pepper steak recipe, but these are just a few examples to give you an idea of what is inside.
Our previous article: Chicken tocino recipe.
Frequently asked questions:
Q: Why do they call it pepper steak?
A: Pepper steak is typically made with peppers and steak as the main ingredients.
As pepper is a popular seasoning, it’s often included in steak dishes which gave the dish its name.
Q: Can pepper steak be unhealthy?
A: No, pepper steak is not harmful in any way. In fact, bell peppers are a good source of vitamins and minerals that are important for your health.
As long as you’re sensible with the amount of pepper that you add to the dish, it will be healthy and tasty.
Q: What can I serve with pepper steak?
A: Well, the short answer to this question is to serve with anything you like.
Let me clear it up by giving a few examples, such as, you could serve pepper steak with rice, pasta, or a side salad.
Final Thoughts
If you are still among those who don’t know about pepper steak, I urge you to try this recipe and see for yourself how tasty it is. I’m confident that you will be pleasantly surprised.
Follow my given recipe instructions above, and surprise your family and friends with a delicious spicy dish.
First, you may find it a little difficult to get used to the heat, but after a while, you’ll really enjoy the flavor of my favorite Jamaican pepper steak recipe.
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