Cherry & Dennis Recipes
Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry
西蘭花炒牛肉
Recipe overview
Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry is a common Hong Kong home-style dish. The beef should be tender and the broccoli should stay crisp, making it very good with rice. This dish helps helpers learn how to marinate beef, blanch broccoli, and stir-fry quickly. The most important point is not to cook the beef for too long, or it will become tough. The broccoli should also not be overcooked, so it stays bright green and crisp.
01
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 250g sliced beef
- 1 broccoli, about 400g
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 slices ginger, optional
- 1.5 tablespoons cooking oil
- A little water
Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce Beef marinade:
- 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce Beef marinade:
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar Beef marinade:
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch Beef marinade:
- 1 tablespoon water Beef marinade:
- 1/2 teaspoon cooking oil Beef marinade:
- a little white pepper, optional Beef marinade:
- 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce Stir-fry sauce:
- 1/2 tablespoon light soy sauce Stir-fry sauce:
- a little sugar Stir-fry sauce:
- 3 tablespoons water Stir-fry sauce:
- a little cornstarch slurry, optional, for thickening at the end Stir-fry sauce:
02
Tools
- 1 chopping board
- 1 kitchen knife
- 1 large bowl
- 2-3 small bowls
- 1 pot or wok for blanching
- 1 frying pan / nonstick wok
- 1 spatula
- 1 colander
- 1 white round serving plate
03
Steps
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients
Prepare the beef, broccoli, garlic, ginger slices, and seasonings first. This dish needs quick stir-frying, so everything should be ready before cooking.
Step 2
Marinate the beef
Put the sliced beef into a large bowl. Add light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, cornstarch, water, and white pepper. Mix well, then add a little oil.
Step 3
Rest the beef
Let the beef marinate for about 15 minutes so the flavour becomes even and the meat stays smoother.
Step 4
Prepare the broccoli
Cut the broccoli into small florets. The thick stem can be peeled and sliced so it is not wasted.
Step 5
Wash the broccoli
Wash the broccoli well with clean water. Pay special attention to any sand or small insects inside the florets.
Step 6
Blanch the broccoli
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a little oil and salt, then cook the broccoli for about 1 to 2 minutes. Drain well.
Step 7
Prepare garlic and ginger
Chop or lightly crush the garlic, and slice the ginger. Set them aside.
Step 8
Stir-fry the beef first
Use medium-high heat. When the wok is hot, add oil and quickly stir-fry the beef until it changes colour and is about 80% cooked. Remove it first.
Step 9
Fry the garlic
In the same wok, add a little more oil if needed. Add the garlic and ginger and fry until fragrant.
Step 10
Add broccoli
Add the blanched broccoli and stir-fry quickly. Add oyster sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, and a little water.
Step 11
Return the beef
Put the beef back into the wok and mix quickly. Cook until the beef is just done. If you want a thicker sauce, add a little cornstarch slurry.
Step 12
Taste and serve
Taste the dish and serve it on a plate. The beef should be tender and the broccoli should be bright green and crisp. Do not overcook it.
Common mistakes
- The beef is cooked for too long and becomes tough and dry.
- The beef is not marinated with cornstarch and a little water, so it is not smooth enough.
- The broccoli is not blanched first, so stir-frying takes too long.
- The broccoli is cooked for too long and becomes yellow and too soft.
- The heat is too low, so the beef releases water and is less fragrant.
- Too much seasoning covers the natural taste of the beef and broccoli.
Tips
The key to Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry is to handle the two ingredients separately: blanch the broccoli first, quickly stir-fry the beef until about 80% cooked, then combine them at the end. Do not keep the beef in the wok for too long, or it will become tough. When cooking it for your employer’s family for the first time, keep the seasoning lighter and ask Ma’am or Sir to taste before serving.
