Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Thinly sliced flank steak and crisp-tender broccoli in a glossy garlic-ginger sauce. Faster than takeout and ready in 30 minutes.
By Tasty Nest Recipes Editorial TeamPublished
30 min total 4 servingsEasy
Photo: joyosity · CC BY 2.0. Illustrative photo; your results may look different.
About this recipe
Beef and broccoli is a takeout favourite for good reason: savoury, slightly sweet sauce, tender beef and bright green broccoli that still has some bite. Making it at home is quicker than waiting for a delivery.
The secrets are slicing the beef thinly against the grain and cooking it in a very hot pan in batches, so it sears instead of stewing. A quick toss in cornstarch before cooking helps it stay tender and lets the sauce cling.
Have everything chopped and the sauce mixed before you turn on the heat. Once the cooking starts, it moves fast.
Equipment you'll need
- Wok or large (12-inch) skillet
Tips for success
- Freeze the steak for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing; it firms up and is much easier to cut thinly.
- Look for the lines (the grain) running along the steak and slice across them. This shortens the muscle fibres and makes every bite more tender.
- Do not crowd the pan when searing the beef. Cooking in two batches keeps the wok hot so the meat browns.
Substitutions and variations
- Sirloin or skirt steak works well in place of flank steak.
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce, and a gluten-free oyster sauce, to make the dish gluten-free.
- Replace the oyster sauce with hoisin sauce for a sweeter, richer flavour.
Storage and reheating
To store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water until warmed through, or microwave in 1-minute bursts. The broccoli will soften slightly.
Recipe
Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Thinly sliced flank steak and crisp-tender broccoli in a glossy garlic-ginger sauce. Faster than takeout and ready in 30 minutes.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
Tick off ingredients as you gather them.
For the beef
For the sauce
For the stir-fry
Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the beef
Toss the sliced beef with the soy sauce and cornstarch in a bowl and set aside while you prepare everything else.
Step 2: Mix the sauce
Whisk together the soy sauce, water, oyster sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch and sesame oil in a small bowl until the cornstarch dissolves.
Step 3: Cook the broccoli
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the wok over high heat. Add the broccoli and stir-fry for 1 minute, then add the water, cover and steam for 2 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender. Transfer to a plate.
Step 4: Sear the beef
Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the wok and heat until shimmering. Add half the beef in a single layer and cook without stirring for 1 minute, then stir-fry for another minute until browned. Transfer to the plate and repeat with the remaining oil and beef.
Step 5: Build the sauce
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and ginger and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant. Give the sauce a stir and pour it in; it will thicken within about 1 minute.
Step 6: Combine and serve
Return the beef and broccoli to the wok and toss until coated in glossy sauce and heated through. Serve immediately over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Cuisine: Chinese-American · Course: Main course
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330
- Protein
- 25 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
- Sugars
- 6 g
Approximate values estimated from typical nutrition data for the listed ingredients, excluding optional toppings and serving suggestions. Actual values vary with brands, portion sizes and substitutions. Not verified by a dietitian or laboratory analysis.
tastynestrecipes.com/recipes/beef-and-broccoli-stir-fry
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Guides for this recipe
Techniques, troubleshooting and leftover ideas to help you get the most from your beef and broccoli stir-fry.
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