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Chinese Beef and Broccoli

A quick and satisfying dish featuring tender beef and crisp broccoli in a savory sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Beef Marinade
  • 1 lb flank steak (or skirt steak, or other cut) Can also use sirloin or ribeye.
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (optional) Optional for a tenderizing effect.
Sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock (or beef stock)
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry) Avaiable at Asian grocery stores.
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar (or white sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Vegetables
  • 1 head broccoli (cut to bite-size florets)
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 teaspoons ginger (minced)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Slice the beef against the grain into thin slices, about 1/4 inch thick. Place the slices in a bowl and add soy sauce, peanut oil, and cornstarch. Mix gently by hand until the beef is coated. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.
Sauce Mixing
  1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients: chicken stock, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Stir until well combined.
Cooking Broccoli
  1. In a large nonstick skillet, add 1/4 cup of water over medium-high heat. Once the water boils, add the broccoli and cover. Steam the broccoli for about a minute until it's tender. Then, transfer it to a plate and wipe any excess water from the skillet.
Cooking Beef
  1. Heat the peanut oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Spread the marinated beef in a single layer. Let it cook without moving for about 30 seconds until browned. Flip the beef and cook for a few more seconds until it's lightly charred but still pink inside.
  2. Add minced garlic and ginger to the beef. Stir for a few seconds to release their flavors.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Return the steamed broccoli to the skillet. Stir the sauce mixture and pour it over the beef and broccoli. Cook and stir everything for about a minute until the sauce thickens. Transfer to a plate and serve hot.

Notes

Make sure your skillet is hot enough before adding the beef; this helps in getting a nice sear. Be careful not to overcook the beef. If the sauce doesn't thicken, try cooking it a bit longer or adding a touch more cornstarch mixed with water. Serve with rice or noodles and sprinkle with sesame seeds or sliced green onions for extra flavor.