Description
This Easy Beef and Broccoli recipe is a flavorful and quick stir-fry dish featuring tender marinated flank steak and crisp broccoli florets tossed in a rich, savory sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it combines tender beef, nutritious broccoli, and a thick, glossy sauce served over noodles or rice for a satisfying meal in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Beef and Marinade
- 1 lb. flank steak (thinly sliced against the grain)
- 2 ½ Tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (or 1 tsp kosher salt)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 lb. broccoli (cut into small florets)
- 3-4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ tsp fresh ginger (grated)
Oils
- 2-3 Tbsp neutral oil (vegetable, avocado, or canola)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (standard all purpose, not light or dark)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or honey
- 3 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Chinese cooking wine (shaoxing, optional)
- 1 Tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
Serving Option
- 16 oz noodles (ramen noodles of choice)
Instructions
- Marinate the Steak: Toss the thinly sliced flank steak with dark soy sauce, cornstarch, salt, baking soda, and white pepper until every piece is well coated. Let it marinate for about 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Make the Sauce: In a measuring cup, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar (or honey), oyster sauce, rice vinegar, dark soy sauce, and cornstarch. Set this sauce mixture aside; it will thicken nicely when cooked.
- Cook the Beef: Heat about 2 tablespoons of neutral oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated beef in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary. Let it sear undisturbed for a short time, then stir-fry until browned, about 2–3 minutes. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the Broccoli and Aromatics: In the same pan, add the sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn. Add the broccoli florets and stir-fry until they turn bright green and slightly tender. For softer broccoli, add a splash of water and cover the pan to steam for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the Sauce: Return the cooked beef to the pan with the broccoli. Give the sauce a quick whisk and pour it over the mixture. Toss everything together until the sauce thickens, becomes glossy, and evenly coats the beef and broccoli.
- Serve: Serve the beef and broccoli hot over cooked ramen noodles or rice. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a softer broccoli texture, steaming with a splash of water covered in the pan helps.
- You can substitute brown sugar with honey for a natural sweetness.
- Use neutral oils like vegetable, avocado, or canola oil for high-heat cooking.
- Chinese cooking wine (shaoxing) is optional but adds authentic depth to the sauce.
- Thinly slicing the flank steak against the grain helps keep the beef tender.
- Work in batches when cooking the beef to avoid steaming and to get a good sear.
- You can serve this dish with rice as well as noodles.
