One restaurant all five of us and our various food allergies / issues can eat at is PF Chang’s. But, while the food is safe and delicious, it costs a small fortune, PLUS the nutritionals are ghastly — and who’s ever eaten just a small portion of their mouthwatering order? NOT THIS GAL! Hence why I took it upon myself to whip up this delectable, restaurant-style Beef and Broccoli recipe featuring sizzling beef and steamed broccoli surrounded by the most luscious, savory-sweet sauce. This broccoli beef recipe is a TOTAL UPGRADE!
What How to Make It
Beef and Broccoli Recipe
We love to support local restaurants whenever possible, though when you’re eating with a food allergy or Celiac Disease, a chain restaurant with food allergen protocols can bring peace of mind. For example, anytime you order a gluten free item at PF Chang’s, it’s brought out on a special plate so you, the kitchen, and server all know that the request has been communicated and received. But like I said — the price, ouch. We recently sat down at the restaurant for lunch as a family, and the beef and broccoli I ordered was $19! My Broccoli and Beef stir fry costs a fraction per serving, feeds an army, and is just as good as the restaurant’s. The sauce is the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and sweet, with a fresh garlic and ginger punch, and is much healthier than takeout. I cannot wait for you to try this easy beef and broccoli!
Ingredients Needed
Pick up a flank steak and bag of broccoli, as the rest of the ingredients needed are kitchen staples — woo! Here’s what you’ll need:
Flank steak: we LOVE flank steak and I always add one to my monthly ButcherBox order. Sliced thinly and against the grain, flank steak is extremely tender and the best cut of beef for broccoli beef. Skirt steak or hanger steaks are great swaps! Broccoli: a 12oz bag of broccoli is a convenient and simple way to add veggies to the dish. Tamari: gluten free Tamari gives the beef and broccoli stir fry sauce a savory, umami flavor. Feel free to use low sodium soy sauce if you don’t need to eat gluten free. Brown sugar: provides sweetness to balance out the savory sauce. Rice vinegar: adds a welcome tang to the sauce. Aromatics: both ginger paste and fresh garlic lend mouthwatering flavor to the sauce. I like Gourmet Garden ginger paste, though feel free to peel then grate your own fresh ginger. Heads up: Gourmet Garden garlic paste contains milk. Sesame oil: a drizzle in the sauce adds tasty toasted sesame flavor. Vegetable or canola oil: to stir fry the beef in. You only need 4 teaspoons of oil for the entire recipe! Cornstarch: coats the beef strips so they crisp up in the pan, and thickens the stir fry sauce. Cooked rice: to serve with the beef and broccoli — feel free to make white rice or brown rice.
5 Beef and Broccoli Dos and Don’ts
Here are 5 dos and don’ts to keep in mind when making this easy, quick-cooking stir fry: Ok, who’s ready for a taste of this luscious and sizzling stir fry?!
How to Make Beef and Broccoli
Step 1: Slice the flank steak.
Start by slicing a flank steak in half lengthwise if it’s very wide, then thinly slice the steak against the grain at a slight angle. I like to slice as thin as possible — almost shaved, if you can achieve it!
Flank steak is a flat, wide cut of beef that has lots of flavor and a very obvious grain running vertically down the cut. Slicing a steak against the grain results in super tender cooked meet. If you slice it with the grain, it becomes chewy. If you can’t find flank steak, skirt steak or hanger steak are great swaps.
Step 2: Marinate the flank steak.
Add the thinly sliced steak to a gallon-size Ziplock bag then add gluten free reduced sodium Tamari (or reduced sodium soy sauce if you don’t need to eat gluten free) cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag then squish to evenly coat in the marinade and store in the refrigerator for up to an hour prior to cooking.
Step 3: Make the stir fry sauce.
To a small bowl or glass measuring cup add water and cornstarch then whisk to create a smooth cornstarch slurry. Add more water plus reduced sodium Tamari (or again, soy sauce if you don’t need to eat gluten free), brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger paste, fresh garlic, and sesame oil then whisk to combine and set aside. Craving some spice? Add a pinch or more of red pepper flakes!
Step 4: Steam the broccoli.
Time to turn on the heat! Add broccoli florets to a steamer basket over a couple inches of boiling water then steam until crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes, and set aside.
Step 5: Stir fry the beef.
Meanwhile, heat canola or vegetable oil in a large wok or 12″ pan over high heat. Add 1/3 of the marinated beef in a single layer then let it sear until the bottoms are crispy and brown. Use tongs to stir fry the beef until it’s just barely cooked through.
Transfer the crispy beef to a plate then repeat the searing and stir frying process with the remaining beef in two batches.
Step 6: Simmer the stir fry sauce.
Turn the heat down to medium then pour the stir fry sauce into the skillet and let it simmer and thicken for 1 minute.
Add all the crispy beef back into the pan then stir to combine and simmer for another minute or two, or until the beef is warmed through and the sauce is thick and bubbly.
Step 7: Combine and serve.
Scoop the beef and sauce over bowls of cooked white or brown rice then top with steamed broccoli and serve. Like I said, I prefer to not add the broccoli into the wok so it doesn’t get soggy and overcooked, though please feel free to do that if you like. However you serve it, I hope you LOVE each and every drop of this restaurant-inspired Beef and Broccoli recipe — it’s good to the very last drop!!
More Take-Out Fake-Out Recipes
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Photos by Ashley McLaughlin Like this recipe? Share it with friends!
