I’d definitely categorize this as a ‘comfort food.’
Broccoli Beef was one of my favorite dishes prepared by my mom when I was growing up and it remains a favorite to this day. In Washington I ate this all year round but here in California I find myself craving it in the Fall and Winter months. This is also the first dish I made Shrek in the beginning of our relationship and was he impressed! Little did he know it was just a bait and switch… He totally thought I could cook after I served him this when really I’m more of a baker.
To catch your own man, I mean, to make this yourself you’ll need the following ingredients and large wok. Measurements are approximate as I actually don’t measure anything out!
- 1 lb thinly sliced beef cut against the grain. I get the butcher to do it because it’s a PAIN to slice correctly at home.
- cornstarch
- garlic clove
- garlic salt
- 1 red pepper, sliced
- 1 carrots, sliced
- 1 white onion, sliced
- broccoli florets
- soy sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- vegetable oil
- sesame oil
- red pepper flakes
- Wondra flour
**A note if this is your first time stir frying: the oil is cooked over HIGH heat and is extremely HOT. Thus, ingredients can burn quickly if you don’t keep everything moving. (Like my garlic in the photo below is borderline burnt.) I highly advise washing and slicing EVERYTHING beforehand to have it ready to throw in the wok.
1. Slice meat (or get your butcher to do it) and place in large bowl. Add soy sauce, garlic salt, corn starch.
2. Slice onions, pepper, and carrots. Wash broccoli florets. Set aside.
3. Heat vegetable oil and sesame over high heat. Add garlic
4. Add meat. Cook til brown then remove from wok. Set aside in (clean!) large bowl
5. Heat more oil. Add onions, pepper, and carrots. Cook til onions are transparent
6. Add broccoli florets, Hoisin and water.
7. Add Wondra to thicken the sauce to your liking. Let simmer for a bit.
8. Add salt, pepper, and chili flakes to taste.
9. Enjoy!
