Description
This easy Beef and Broccoli is one of the best dinner ideas when you need a quick and simple meal that still feels healthy and satisfying. Tender strips of beef and crisp broccoli cook in a rich savory sauce that is perfect for weeknight dinner and meal prep. It is a simple homemade favorite with big flavor and easy steps that make it one of the best quick ideas for busy nights and casual family meals.
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Slice the beef into thin uneven strips and then coat it with part of the soy sauce and cornstarch so the surface looks lightly glossy and slightly sticky. In the same stage stir the remaining soy sauce with beef broth and brown sugar and garlic and ginger and sesame oil and water so the mixture turns into a smooth brown sauce with tiny bits throughout.
- Spread the coated beef in a hot layer so the strips start to darken at the edges and the glossy coating tightens around the meat. As it cooks the beef changes from soft red slices to browned strips with irregular caramelized spots and a slightly firmer shape.
- Add the broccoli so the bright florets scatter through the browned beef and begin to soften while staying green. The mix now looks fuller and more textured because the broccoli catches some of the sauce from the pan and the beef shifts around the florets in loose uneven clusters.
- Pour the brown sauce over the beef and broccoli so everything turns glossy and the liquid settles into the spaces before thickening. As it cooks the sauce changes from thin and loose to rich and clingy and it coats the beef and broccoli unevenly with a deeper brown color and a slightly sticky finish.
- Spoon the finished beef and broccoli over cooked rice so the glossy sauce settles into the rice and the beef and broccoli sit in loose uneven layers on top. The final dish looks homemade and hearty with browned beef edges and bright green broccoli and non uniform sauce coverage and a light scatter of sesame seeds.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Slice the steak very thin so it cooks quickly and stays tender.
- Mix the sauce before cooking so it can go into the wok at the right moment.
- Cook the broccoli just until crisp tender for the best texture.
- Serve it right away so the sauce stays glossy and the rice soaks up all the flavor.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and keep the rice separate when possible so the texture stays better. Reheat gently until hot and add a small splash of broth or water if the sauce has tightened too much in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Chinese-American