Beef and Broccoli (西兰花牛肉)
Make restaurant-style Beef and Broccoli (西兰花牛肉) at home with tender steak, crisp broccoli, and a rich garlic sauce. This easy stir-fry beats takeout every time.
Ingredients
- Beef Marinade:
- - 1 lb flank steak or sirloin thinly sliced across the grain
- - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- - 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Sauce:
- - 3 tablespoon oyster sauce
- - 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- - 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- - ⅓ cup beef broth or water
- Stir-Fry:
- - 3 cups broccoli florets
- - 3 garlic cloves minced
- - 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- - 2 tablespoon neutral oil e.g., canola or avocado
Instructions
- Marinate the beef: In a bowl, mix sliced beef with soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Let it rest for 15–30 minutes.
- Make the sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Heat a wok or skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Stir-fry beef in batches until browned. Set aside.
- In the same pan, add remaining oil, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry until fragrant.
- Return beef to the pan, add broccoli, then pour in the sauce. Stir until sauce thickens and coats everything, about 2–3 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
What to Serve With Beef and Broccoli
- Steamed jasmine or basmati rice
- Lo mein or rice noodles
- Cauliflower rice for a low-carb twist
- Chili crisp or Chinese black vinegar on the side for extra zing
Recipe Tips
- Flank steak works best, but sirloin is great too.
- Don’t skip the blanch and shock step for vibrant green broccoli.
- If you're making ahead, store sauce and components separately and combine right before reheating.
Cultural Context
While 西兰花牛肉 isn’t a traditional Chinese dish, it’s a product of cultural fusion — Chinese technique meets American ingredients. It reflects the adaptability and creativity of Chinese-American cooking, which turned humble ingredients into iconic comfort food.
- Steamed jasmine or basmati rice
- Lo mein or rice noodles
- Cauliflower rice for a low-carb twist
- Chili crisp or Chinese black vinegar on the side for extra zing
Recipe Tips
- Flank steak works best, but sirloin is great too.
- Don’t skip the blanch and shock step for vibrant green broccoli.
- If you're making ahead, store sauce and components separately and combine right before reheating.
Cultural Context
While 西兰花牛肉 isn’t a traditional Chinese dish, it’s a product of cultural fusion — Chinese technique meets American ingredients. It reflects the adaptability and creativity of Chinese-American cooking, which turned humble ingredients into iconic comfort food.
