Friends, I'm revealing a restaurant secret on how to make the most tender Beef and Broccoli stir-fry.
Beef Broccoli is easily the most popular takeout dish in America. It traces its roots back to the vibrant traditions of Chinese cooking- a wok and a blast of fire. While most recipes are easy, what may surprise you is that there is a secret to how you get that tender beef from takeout, the one where the meat just melts in your mouth.
Watch how to make it
Secret Tips for Perfect Beef Broccoli: Now, let's talk about the secrets to making the perfect Beef Broccoli right in your own kitchen. Pay close attention, because these tips will elevate your cooking game to a whole new level:
- Choose the Right Cut of Beef: To achieve that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, opt for flank steak sliced thinly across the grain. Flank cut comes from the animal's abdomen, below the loin and sirloin. While, it may not be the most tender cut, it is typically preferred for stir-fry cooking along with skirt and flap steak.
- Baking soda: The secret to getting the flank steak incredibly tender is baking soda. Baking soda functions as a meat tenderizer by altering the structure of meat fibers. It elevates the pH levels on the meat's surface, making it more difficult for the proteins to form strong bonds, resulting in that characteristic melt-in-your mouth tenderness.
- Prep Like a Pro: Before you start cooking, tenderize the beef by marinating it in a mixture of baking soda and water for 10 minutes. This simple trick will help break down the meat fibers, resulting in a more tender and juicy bite.
- Sauce it Up: The key to any great Beef Broccoli lies in the sauce. This is too obvious but I can't say that enough. Whip up a delicious soy-based sauce using a blend of soy sauce, oyster sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and a hint of sesame oil. Don't forget to add minced garlic and crushed ginger for an extra layer of flavor and dark soy sauce for that rich brown color!
- Cornstarch Magic: To achieve that signature glossy finish to your Beef Broccoli sauce, you need some cornstarch. This ingredient acts as a thickening agent, giving your sauce the perfect consistency and silky mouthfeel.
- Mise en place: When it comes to stir-frying, timing is everything and Mise en place is your best friend- a fancy french word (way of life?) that basically means to chop what needs chopping and slice what needs slicing and get everything ready for the wok. Listo!
Tips for Cooking Success: Now that we've covered the ingredients, let's explore some additional tips to ensure that your Beef Broccoli turns out perfectly every time:
- Prepare Your Ingredients in Advance: Before you start cooking, take the time to prepare all of your ingredients and have them organized and ready to go. This will help streamline the cooking process and ensure that everything comes together smoothly.
- Use High Heat: Stir-frying is all about quick cooking over high heat. Make sure your wok or skillet is nice and hot before you add your ingredients, allowing them to cook quickly while retaining their natural flavors and textures.
- Don't Overcrowd the Pan: When stir-frying, it's important not to overcrowd the pan. Cook the beef and broccoli in batches if necessary, giving each ingredient plenty of room to cook evenly.
- Taste and Adjust: As you're cooking, don't be afraid to taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning to suit your preferences. If you like your Beef Broccoli on the sweeter side, add a bit more brown sugar. If you prefer it more savory, add an extra splash of soy sauce.
The Beauty of Beef Broccoli: One of the things I love most about Beef Broccoli is its versatility. While the classic recipe calls for flank steak and broccoli, feel free to get creative and add your own twist to the dish. You can experiment with different cuts of beef, such as sirloin or ribeye, or swap out the broccoli for other vegetables like bell peppers, snap peas, or mushrooms. For premium steak, I'd avoid using baking soda because they're already tender but I also would never use premium cuts for stir-fry, ever! Let's leave the rib-eyes for a fancy steak dinner. The point is that whichever cut you choose, the possibilities are endless, so don't be afraid to get creative and make the recipe your own.
Storing Beef Broccoli: Honestly, I don't struggle with this as much because these go fast! However, if you have leftover, proper storage is key to maintaining the dish's flavor and texture. Here's how to store Beef Broccoli for later:
- Cooling Down: Allow the Beef Broccoli to cool down to room temperature before transferring it to airtight containers or resealable bags. This helps prevent condensation from forming and keeps the dish from becoming soggy.
- Refrigeration: Store it in the fridge for up to three to four days. You can label the container with the date if you like, just to keep track of its freshness. I just give food a good sniff when pulling them out of the fridge.
- Freezing: If you want to store Beef Broccoli for longer periods, consider freezing it. Transfer the cooled dish to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Like most cooked foods, Beef Broccoli can be frozen for up to three months.
Reheating Beef Broccoli: When you're ready to enjoy your leftover Beef Broccoli, reheating it properly will help maintain its flavor and texture. Here's how to reheat Beef Broccoli to perfection:
- Thawing (if frozen): If you've frozen your Beef Broccoli, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. This ensures even reheating and helps retain the quality.
- Stovetop: For best results, reheat Beef Broccoli on the stovetop. I love this method but this one takes patience, which many of us don't. Place a non-stick skillet or wok over medium heat and add a splash of water or beef broth to prevent sticking. Once the skillet is hot, add the Beef Broccoli and stir-fry until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Microwave: If you're short on time, you can also reheat Beef Broccoli in the microwave. Transfer the desired portion to a microwave-safe dish and cover it loosely with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out. I always use this little trick. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until heated through.
Serving Suggestions: Here are a few Beef Broccoli serving suggestions to inspire your creativity:
- Steamed Rice: Serve the Beef Broccoli over a bed of fluffy steamed rice for a classic and satisfying meal.
- Noodles: Pair the Beef Broccoli with your favorite noodles, such as lo mein or rice noodles.
- Fresh Garnishes: Add a sprinkle of chopped green onions, toasted sesame seeds, or a drizzle of chili oil for an extra burst of flavor and visual appeal. But we do this already. Full recipe in the box below.
Beef and Broccoli (Easy and Delicious)
Ingredients
Baking Soda Tenderizing
- 1 lb flank steal
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup water
Marinade
- ¾ tsp white pepper
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon tsp sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon tbsp cornstarch
Sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 2 tsp fresh garlic and ginger
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 2 tsp cornstarch mixed with water
Stir-Fry
- 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
- broccoli, blanched
- Cooked beef
- Sauce
- Sesame seed, for garnish
Instructions
- Cut flank steak against the grain at a bias then sprinkle with baking soda and ¼ cup water and mix well. Let this marinate for 10 mins then rinse with water. The baking soda helps the more inexpensive cuts of meatlike flank and skirt get super tender. It’s a restaurant secret.
- Next, marinate the beef in the remaining ingredients listed and let it sit for 15-20 mins. In the meantime, blanch your broccoli for 30 seconds in boiling water and prepare your sauce by mixing all the ingredients mentioned under "Sauce".
- To make the Beef and Broccoli stir-fry, first fry up your steak in batches with a few tablespoons of oil. It will only take 2-4 mins. DO NOT OVERCOOK! Set aside.
- In the same wok in which you seared off the steak, add some oil and garlic cloves, followed by the blanched broccoli and your cooked beef and then your sauce. Let the sauce thicken on high heat. Conversely, you can add your sauce first and let it thicken before adding your veg and meat to avoid overcooking.
- Once the sauce is lusciously thick, plate out your dish and serve with white rice. Garnish with sesame seeds.
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