1 1/2 pounds flank steak
3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
1 pound green beans
5-7 green onions (about 1 small bunch), chopped (reserve the green ends for a flavorful garnish)
1 red, orange, or yellow bell pepper, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
SAUCE:
1/2 cup pear juice (reserve 2 tablespoons)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
Whisk together the sauce ingredients and set aside. Set aside 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of pear juice as well.
Slice the steak into 1/4″ slices (or slightly thinner if you prefer). Sprinkle them lightly with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and toss to coat the steak.
In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tablespoons oil (one with a high smoke point like grapeseed, peanut, or canola oil) over medium-high heat. Add the steak in a single layer that covers the whole pan and cook 3-5 minutes or until the steak is cooked through. Move the steak off to the side of the pan (if it’s very large) or transfer it to a plate while you cook the veggies so the meat doesn’t “boil.”
Add the green beans and cook for 2-3 minutes or until they start to become tender-crisp. Add the chopped white ends of the green onions and the bell pepper and cook 1-2 minutes more. Add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant. Add the steak back to the pan and cook until the steak is heated through.
Turn the heat to high and add the sauce ingredients and bring to a boil. While the sauce is heating, whisk together the reserved cornstarch and pear juice. When the sauce is boiling, add the cornstarch mixture and cook about 1 minute or until the sauce is clear and thickened. Remove from heat and serve immediately over hot rice. Makes 6 servings.
From whence it came: Kate Jones of Our Best Bites is my hero for creating this recipe and then adding it to their 400 Calories or Less cookbook. I am having so much fun cooking meals from this new and healthy cookbook. It's a winner and I highly encourage you to get a copy now!!
Why it's blogable: I think this might just be one of the best recipes I've ever made. And it's only 300 calories! It is beyond delicious. I can't recommend this one highly enough. I made it for The Spy and I and we had enough for two dinners. The leftovers were just as delicious! This is a new favorite dinner that I will be making over and over again.
If I were you: I'd consider investing in this cookbook. For instance, on the margin of this recipe it gave the tip to look for the pear juice in the baby food aisle. Along with mouth watering recipes there are lots of tips and helps in the cookbook. You can find it at Amazon for a great price. Or if you're a bargain shopping addict like me, you might be able to find it for even less on Ebay. I bought a brand new copy for $9.99 with free shipping. I always to my best to find the best price on pretty much everything!
Hope you enjoy stirring it up!
