Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

 

5- beef and broccoli stir fry

By Jon Sullivan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons


Beef and broccoli – it’s a combination that can never go wrong. No wonder, this rip-off from the Chinese cuisine has remained an American household favorite for decades.

What makes beef and broccoli so special? The answer lies in the amazing contrast of crunchy broccoli and juicy, tender beef morsels in one single dish. Although, the spice-infused brown sauce, adhering to the core ingredients also deserves some credit for this great-tasting yet simple meal. But getting the right balance of crunch and juiciness can be a tad difficult. Then again, applying few tricks will help you achieve the best results and create a perfect bowl of beef & broccoli stir fry to satisfy your cravings.

First of all, blanching the broccoli ensures that it is crisp-tender and you don’t have to remain in doubt whether both the meat and veggie will be cooked properly at the same time or not. For the succulent meat, cooking it in fair amount of oil is a must to trap its juices. And don’t worry about a runny stir fry, the broccoli will take care of that by absorbing most of the sauce without losing much of its crunchiness.

It tastes great with cauliflower rice or squash noodles but also makes a nice filling for salad green wraps. Which way do you want to enjoy it?

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean skirt steak, sliced into thin strips
  • 1 head broccoli, chopped into small florets
  • ½ tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 small sweet onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • ½ tbsp minced ginger
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ground fennel
  • 1 tsp ground anise
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp canola oil
  • Sea salt to taste

Method:

Serves: 4

  • Drop the broccoli florets into boiling water and cook for 15seconds to blanche.
  • Drain it out into a colander and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a wok over moderate heat until it starts simmering.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the honey, vinegar, ground spices, a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes together until well combined.
  • Toss the beef strips into the hot oil and stir fry for 5 minutes or until they brown evenly.
  • Stir in the onion slices as well as minced garlic plus ginger and continue to stir fry for another couple of minutes or until the onion turns translucent.
  • Scatter the broccoli florets into it and toss them together to mix well.
  • Cook for another 3 minutes and drizzle the vinegar-honey mixture over them.
  • Give them a good stir to coat well with the mixture and cook for 2 more minutes to ensure that the sauce is absorbed by the beef and broccoli.
  • Tip it into a serving bowl and serve warm.