Asian Inspired Cube Steak (Printable)

Tender cube steak marinated in savory Asian flavors and seared with vegetables for a quick weeknight dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 4 cube steaks, approximately 1.1 lb total

→ Marinade

02 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon honey
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Vegetables

10 - 1 small onion, thinly sliced
11 - 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)

→ Other

13 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
14 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)

# Directions:

01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined.
02 - Place the cube steaks in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade over the steaks, turning to coat evenly. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the steaks from the marinade, reserving the liquid. Sear the steaks for 2 to 3 minutes per side until well browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
04 - Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the same skillet. Sauté the sliced onion and bell pepper for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and lightly caramelized.
05 - Pour the reserved marinade into the skillet with the vegetables and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens. Return the steaks to the pan and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, turning to coat evenly in the sauce.
06 - Transfer the steaks and vegetables to a serving platter. Spoon the pan sauce over the top and garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice or sautéed greens.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The marinade does all the heavy lifting so you get bold savory flavor with almost zero effort.
  • Cube steak is budget friendly but tastes like you spent hours on it.
  • Everything cooks in one skillet which means cleanup is almost nonexistent.
02 -
  • Do not skip the marinating step even if you are in a rush because those 10 minutes make a huge difference in flavor penetration.
  • Resist the urge to move the steaks around while they sear because a still steak develops the best crust.
03 -
  • Pat the cube steaks dry with a paper towel before searing for the best golden crust.
  • Let the skillet get fully hot before the meat touches it because a lukewarm pan means steamed steak instead of seared.

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