Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Beef and broccoli is a classic Chinese-American dish, and one of my personal favorites. Below, we break down exactly what makes it so good and how to get the most tender results on your beef.

Low-Sodium Chicken Broth

Why not just plain old chicken broth? The sad truth is, your average store-bought chicken broth is LOADED with salt. Not only is it unhealthy, it also adds tons of salt to your stir-fry. Remember, it's much easier to add salt than it is to take it away. We like to take seasoning into our own hands—that's why we go for the low-sodium stuff.

Low-Sodium Soy Sauce

Soy sauce adds a lot more to a dish than salt. It has tons of flavor, too! Just like the chicken broth, we prefer to start with a less salty dish and work our way up. We want all the flavor soy sauce provides, but we realllly don't want to over salt our dinner. 

Hoisin Sauce

While it literally translates to "seafood sauce," hoisin sauce is actually a fermented bean paste that's been sweetened and flavored with varying aromatics and spices. It's crucial in giving this dish that trademark Chinese-American take-out flavor.

Steak

Sirloin steak is super affordable, easy to slice into thin pieces that can soak up a ton of flavor from the short marinating time. It results in a tender and quick-cooking bite, making it the perfect choice for a stir-fry. Flank and skirt will work equally well—this isn't a choosy recipe! 

Pro tip #1: Freeze your steak for 30 minutes before slicing for the thinnest slices. Thinner meat will cook faster and result in a more tender bite. 

Pro tip #2: if you want steak done right, DON'T crowd the pan. If the pieces of meat are too close together, all the moisture they release will evaporate and steam the meat, turning it gray and soupy. If needed, cook steak in two batches to ensure each piece has a perfectly golden crust. 

Pro tip #3: A thin layer of cornstarch coating each piece will turn every bite into a tender, saucy affair. Let the coating sear in your pan until it's nicely golden and lightly crispy before giving it a turn. Keep your pan well-oiled during this stage to ensure even crispiness on every piece! Once you hit the pan with your marinade mixture, it will deglaze the pan and your steak, marrying that cornstarch coating right into the sauce for that perfectly silky consistency.

Broccoli

It's not a beef and broccoli stir-fry without broccoli! If you like yours on the tender side, add more broth as needed and keep it cooking until it's as tender as you like it. If you prefer more of a crunch, throw it in raw! For some extra veg intake with your meal, add some sliced bell peppers or quartered bok choy for a delicious and nutritious power-up. 

Rice

Ok, so rice isn't totally necessary for this recipe, but there really is no better pairing. Check out our guide for how to cook perfect rice for the fluffiest bowl ever.

Editor's Note: This introduction to this recipe was updated on July 1, 2020 to include more information about the dish.