How do you thicken beef and broccoli?

To thicken beef and broccoli, you can mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with a small amount of water to create a slurry . Add the slurry to the simmering sauce and stir until it thickens.

What is beef and broccoli sauce made of?

Beef and Broccoli Ingredients Sauces and oils: This beef and broccoli recipe calls for oyster sauce, sesame oil, and soy sauce . Sherry: Cooking sherry adds a sweet, nutty flavor to the beef and broccoli. Sugar: White sugar lends a hint of sweetness. Cornstarch: A teaspoon of cornstarch thickens the sauce.

What is Chinese beef and broccoli sauce made of?

The sauce is a combination of beef stock, light and dark soy sauce, Chinese rice wine (you can swap for sherry if you haven't got rice wine), sesame oil, sugar, white pepper and black pepper .

What can I use to thicken beef stock?

Add Flour Or Cornstarch Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

How do you thicken beef stir fry?

Cornstarch! In his book How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman recommends mixing 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the same amount of water , and tossing this into the stir fry just when it's almost done. It thickens in seconds, picking up the flavors of everything already in the dish and coating evenly.

How do you make beef sauce thicker?

Use Flour and Water Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

What is the best way to thicken beef stew?

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking . Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

Beef and Broccoli - Mighty Mrs | Super Easy Recipes (2024)

Take-out style Chinese Beef and Broccoli stir-fry is easy to make at home. This quick recipe incorporates strips of lean flank steak, healthy broccoli and plenty of delicious sauce. Serve over rice. Ready in less than 30 minutes!

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★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

If you're looking for that take out taste but want to be able to make it yourself at home in less than 30 minutes — this beef and broccoli recipe is for you!

This easy beef and broccoli recipe is loaded with flavorful sauce, thin strips of steak and crisp broccoli.

This is a great dish for family dinner because it's quick and easy and is a crowd pleaser. Make a big batch and you can take leftovers to work for lunch.

★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

You'll need the main ingredients (beef and broccoli of course!) plus a line-up of seasonings and sauces to create the yummy sauce.

Here's a look at everything you'll need:

Beef and Broccoli - Mighty Mrs | Super Easy Recipes (2)

Flank steak. Flank steak is very flavorful but can be a little tough so be sure to slice this against the grain to create more tender strips. You can use skirt steak or sirloin steak instead if you prefer more tender beef.
Avocado oil. This is a healthy option but you can also use other cooking oils like vegetable or corn oil.
Broccoli. Fresh broccoli tastes best but frozen can be used if that's more convenient.
Beef stock. This is the base for your sauce.
Sauce seasonings and thickener: Low-sodium soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, cornstarch, garlic, cloves, ginger, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. To save time, I prefer to use garlic and ginger paste but you can use fresh garlic and ginger if you prefer.
For garnish: sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Rice. Cooked rice for serving with the finished dish.

★ How to Make this Recipe ★

This homemade beef and broccoli comes together in just a few easy steps.

Here's a look at what you'll do:

Beef and Broccoli - Mighty Mrs | Super Easy Recipes (3)

Cook broccoli.
Cook steak.
Combine sauce ingredients and heat.
Stir to thicken.
Add beef and broccoli to pan.
Toss to coat then serve over rice.
Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

So easy! You won't ever need to order out again if you don't want to.

★ Tips & FAQs ★

Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use frozen broccoli if fresh is not available. Just make sure to thaw it before cooking or adjust the cooking time to ensure it's tender.

What's the best cut of beef for this dish?

Flank steak or sirloin are excellent choices. Make sure to slice the beef thinly against the grain for the best texture.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

While beef and broccoli is best enjoyed fresh, you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time and store them for later in an airtight container.

Reheat just until warmed through. You may want to remove the steak while reheating and heat the rice and broccoli first so it doesn't overcook.

Is it necessary to marinate the beef?

Marinating the beef for 15-30 minutes enhances the flavor, but it's not mandatory. If you're short on time, you can still achieve a delicious dish without marinating.

Can I use low-sodium soy sauce for a healthier option?

Yes, you can substitute low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the overall sodium content. In fact, I recommend it for flavor as well. I find regular soy sauce to be too salty but feel free to choose which you prefer.

How can I make the dish spicier?

If you like a bit of heat, you can add red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chili peppers when stir-frying. Adjust the quantity according to your spice preference.

What is the purpose of cornstarch in the recipe?

Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce. It also aids in achieving a glossy finish on the beef.

You can actually coat the beef with a thin layer or corn starch before frying creating a velvety texture.

Can I use a different vegetable instead of broccoli?

Absolutely! While broccoli is traditional, you can experiment with other vegetables like snap peas, bell peppers, or baby corn to create your own twist on the dish.

How do I avoid overcooking the broccoli?

To prevent overcooking and retain the broccoli's vibrant color and crisp texture, only cook until broccoli is bright green.

If you prefer softer vegetables, you may decide you want to cook it longer. Just be sure to stir as you cook so that the broccoli cooks evenly. You also want to be sure your heat is set to medium-high not full heat.

Is Chinese beef and broccoli healthy?

This dish is heavy on vitamin-rich broccoli and incorporates flank steak which is a lean red meat. Served over rice, this is a low-fat dish that's definitely relatively healthy.

How long do leftovers last in the fridge?

Leftovers can last up to 5 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.

★ More Recipes You'll Love ★

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This easy homemade beef and broccoli recipe was featured on South Your Mouth!

Beef and Broccoli

Author: Angela G.

5 from 1 review

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Skill Level: Easy

Recipe Type: Beef, Healthy Choices, Rice Dishes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 24 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Yield: 8 cups

Ingredients

▢ 2-3 tablespoon cooking oil divided
▢ 2 cups broccoli florets
▢ 1 lb flank steak thinly sliced

For the Sauce

▢ ½ cup beef stock
▢ ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
▢ 3 tablespoon honey
▢ 3 teaspoon sesame seed oil
▢ 1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch
▢ 3 teaspoon garlic paste
▢ 2 teaspoon ginger paste
▢ 2 teaspoon oyster sauce
▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
▢ 1 pinch red pepper lakes more or less to taste

For Garnish

▢ 2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
▢ 2 green onions sliced

Serve over

▢ 2 cups cooked white rice

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Instructions

Heat 1 tablespoon cooking oil in a large sauté pan, over medium-low heat.
Once heated, add the broccoli. Toss for 9-12 minutes or until tender, but still crisp. When done, transfer broccoli to a plate to set aside.
Add remaining tablespoon of oil top pan then add the steak without overlapping. You may need to cook the steak in batches if your pan is small.
Cook on 1 minute per side or until browned on all sides and no pink is visible.
Transfer beef to the plate with broccoli.
Add beef stock, soy sauce, honey, sesame seed oil, cornstarch, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pan.
Stir until combined and thick. This will take 1 to 2 minutes.
Add broccoli and beef back to the saute pan once sauce has thickened.
Toss to coat steak and broccoli in sauce then remove from heat and top with sesame seeds and green onions.
Serve over warm cooked rice.

Notes

Slice steak in uniform strips so they each cook at the same rate. Aim for the strips to be about ¼" to ½" thick. Or you can often find flank steak already sliced and labeled as "stir-fry" steak which saves time not having to slice it yourself.

Slice broccoli florets into bite-size pieces, keeping the pieces consistent in size so that the broccoli cooks evenly.

If you prefer a thicker or thinner sauce, adjust the amount of cornstarch up or down as desired.

Love sauce and want more for the rice? Feel free to double the sauce!

Nutrition Facts

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