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If you haven’t tried Pepper Lunch Beef n Rice yet, you’re in for a treat! This Japanese fast-food spot is known for its sizzling plates of deliciousness, and I have to say, their beef and rice dish is on another level. I had my first taste of it in Macau, and the combination of hot beef, rice, and flavorful sauces was just mind-blowing. I’m bringing that experience to you today, with a super easy recipe you can make right at home. Let’s get cooking!
Method
1. Amakuchi Sauce Preparation
Start by heating a pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced onion and garlic to the pan and sauté them for about 30 seconds to a minute, or until they become fragrant. This step brings out the flavors in the onion and garlic, so don’t rush it! Once the onion and garlic are aromatic, pour in the honey and light soy sauce. Stir the mixture until it starts to bubble, signaling that the sugars are beginning to caramelize. To thicken the sauce, create a slurry by mixing 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water. Pour this slurry into the pan while stirring to ensure it integrates smoothly into the sauce. Continue to stir until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can blend it to eliminate any chunks from the onion and garlic.
2. Karakuchi Sauce Preparation
For the Karakuchi sauce, take a small pot and heat the light soy sauce and crushed garlic over low heat. Let the garlic infuse into the soy sauce for about 15 minutes, which will give the sauce a rich, garlicky flavor. Once the garlic has had time to release its essence, add the sugar and ground black pepper. Stir the mixture well and bring it to a gentle boil. To thicken the sauce, create another cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water. Slowly pour the slurry into the boiling soy sauce mixture while stirring constantly. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few more minutes until it thickens to a nice, syrupy consistency.
3. Beef n Rice Preparation
Now, it’s time to focus on the beef and rice. Heat a cast iron or regular frying pan on high heat and add a knob of butter. The butter will give your dish a rich, crispy finish, so don’t skip this step! Once the butter has melted, quickly sauté the thinly sliced beef. The beef should cook very quickly only about a minute or two per side. This ensures that the beef stays tender and juicy. After the beef is cooked, add the cooked rice directly into the pan with the beef. Toss the beef and rice together to combine the flavors. Add in the canned sweet corn and thinly chopped spring onions for extra flavor and texture. Stir everything together, ensuring the rice, beef, and vegetables are evenly distributed.
4. Final Touches
Once everything is well-mixed and heated through, it’s time to drizzle your Amakuchi sauce or Karakuchi sauce or both over the dish. Give it another good mix so the sauces coat the beef and rice. Let everything cook together for another minute, allowing the flavors to meld. This step will also ensure that the rice takes on a beautiful shine from the sauce. When you’re ready, remove the pan from the heat, and serve your sizzling beef and rice. The hot plate will keep the dish warm as you enjoy it!
Necessary Tools
• Frying pan or cast iron pan (or sizzling plate)
• Knife for slicing the beef
• Small pot for making the sauces
• Spoon for mixing
• Serving plate
Pepper Lunch – Beef N Rice
Cuisine: JapaneseDifficulty: EasyServings
2
servingsPrep time
10
minutesCooking time
10
minutesTotal time
20
minutesIngredients
For Amakuchi Sauce (Honey & Soy Sauce)
• 1/2 small onion, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup light soy sauce
• Corn starch slurry (1 tsp corn starch + 1/4 cup water)
For Karakuchi Sauce (Garlic & Soy Sauce)
• 1/2 cup light soy sauce
• 5 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp corn starch + 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
For Beef n Rice
• 220g beef, sliced thinly (I used sirloin)
• Canned sweet corn
• Spring onion, thinly chopped
• Cooked rice (adjust to preference)
• Knob of butter
Directions
- Heat a pan on medium-high and fry the minced onion and garlic until fragrant (it should only take less than a minute).
Add the honey and soy sauce, and mix until it starts to bubble.
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the pan while stirring.
Once the sauce thickens, you can either leave it chunky or blend it until smooth. - For the Karakuchi Sauce
In a small pot, heat the soy sauce and garlic on low heat for about 15 minutes to let the garlic infuse the sauce.
Add the sugar and ground black pepper, then bring it to a boil.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to make another slurry, and pour it into the sauce, stirring as you go.
Let the sauce simmer until it thickens. - For the Beef n Rice
Heat a cast iron pan or regular frying pan on high heat and add a knob of butter.
Quickly sauté the thinly sliced beef until it’s just cooked through.
Add the cooked rice into the pan and toss it with the beef.
Stir in the canned sweet corn and spring onions.
Drizzle your choice of sauce (or both) over the top and give it a good mix.
Let everything heat together for a minute, and your delicious Pepper Lunch is ready to serve!
Notes
- When making the Karakuchi sauce, be careful not to add too much soy sauce or sugar since it can get really salty if you overdo it.
- If you don’t have a sizzling plate, a regular frying pan works fine, but be sure to use a good amount of butter to get that crispy texture you want.
- Don’t overcook the beef. It only needs a minute or two in the pan to stay tender.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this dish with a side of kimchi or pickled vegetables to add a little tanginess. You could also serve it with a crispy fried egg on top for that extra richness. And, of course, some extra sauce never hurt anyone, right?
Fun Fact
Did you know Pepper Lunch was first created in Japan by a chef named Kunio Ichinose in 1994? The idea was to make a “Pepper Steak” experience with a sizzling plate that anyone could enjoy fast! Talk about an awesome way to serve steak, rice, and sauce all in one dish.
Conclusion
Pepper Lunch – Beef n Rice is all about bringing that sizzling goodness into your own home. It’s simple, quick, and packed with flavor, thanks to the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory sauces. Give this recipe a try, and you’ll feel like you’re sitting at your favorite Japanese restaurant in no time. Enjoy!
