Chinese Beef and Broccoli: Taste of Authentic Cuisine (西蘭花牛肉)

Name: Beef and Broccoli
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound Beef top round steak; 1 head Broccoli ((1 pound)); 4 cloves Garlic; 4 slices Ginger; 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil ((For stir fry beef)); 1 cup Water; 2 tablespoons Oyster sauce; 2 tablespoons Soy sauce; 1/2 teaspoon Salt; 1 tablespoon Brown sugar; 1 teaspoon Sesame oil; 2 tablespoons Corn starch; 2 tablespoons Water; 6 cups Water; 1/4 teaspoon Salt; 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Get ready to savor a delightful and easy-to-make authentic Chinese beef and broccoli dish! This beloved Chinese classic stands proudly alongside favorites like sweet & sour pork, mapo tofu, eggplant pork, pork patty, and tomato fish. Our authentic beef and broccoli recipe brings a unique twist that is different from typical restaurant versions. I'm excited to guide you through creating this delicious meal at home, complete with step-by-step photos and a handy video. Let's dive in and enjoy this culinary adventure together!

Do you love Chinese food? Try these authentic recipes for steamed pork patty, beef bitter melon, garlic chives eggs, tomato eggs, cashew shrimp, pan-fried buns, hairy gourd vermicelli, and steamed pork ribs.

Authentic Chinese beef and broccoli on the plate

What is beef and broccoli (西蘭花牛肉)?

Beef and broccoli is a classic Chinese home-style dish, along with steamed fish, steamed pork patty, beef bitter melon, garlic chives eggs, tomato eggs, cashew shrimp, hairy gourd vermicelli, and steamed pork ribs. It's a delicious and well-loved dish commonly found on the menus of Chinese restaurants in the United States. Beef and broccoli consists of tender slices of beef and fresh broccoli in a savory brown sauce.

Not only is this dish simple and easy to make, but it's also tasty! Typically, it is served with jasmine rice, which absorbs the flavorful sauce from the beef. The combination of tender meat, crispy broccoli, and savory brown sauce makes beef and broccoli a satisfying and delicious meal and a homey Chinese dish.

My family's unique and authentic Chinese beef and broccoli recipe:

There are many different recipes for making beef and broccoli. However, this cozy and authentic Chinese beef and broccoli recipe features more sauce and is my family's authentic recipe. It is not like the recipes from typical American Chinese restaurants. Additionally, it is best served with jasmine rice, ham fried rice, ho fun noodles, or vegetable chow mein. Furthermore, the meat is extra soft, tender, and juicy, while the broccoli is crisp and bright green. You don't need to order takeout; try this authentic Chinese beef and broccoli recipe at home.

What can I serve with Chinese beef and broccoli?

It's best served with steamed white jasmine rice, brown rice, ham fried rice, ho fun noodles, or vegetable chow mein.

What sauce do they use in authentic beef and broccoli?

The sauce typically includes soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, cornstarch, and a touch of sugar to balance the flavor.

What is the best cut of beef for broccoli beef?

The best cut of beef for beef broccoli is tender and suitable for quick stir-frying. Steak-style beef is a good option for stir-frying. I usually use tri-tip, sirloin, and top-round steaks because they are cheaper and more available at regular grocery stores. However, some people like flank and skirt steak because of their flavor and tenderness, especially when sliced thinly against the grain. I use flank and skirt steak to make beef broccoli when I cook them in the instant pot.

How do Chinese restaurants make the beef so tender?

Most restaurants add kansui, potassium carbonate, and sodium carbonate to the beef to tenderize it. Then, they rinse the beef with water. After that, they marinade and season the beef.

If you want to tender beef like in restaurants, add 1 teaspoon of kansui and mix it with the sliced beef for 1-2 hours. Then, rinse the meat with water (3 times). After that, marinate the beef. If you don't have kansui, you can use baked baking soda (bake the baking soda at 200F for an hour). Add 1 teaspoon of baked baking soda to the beef, mix it well, and let it tenderize the meat for 1-2 hours. Then, rinse the beef with water (3 times) before marinating them.

How do you make the beef tender?

You don't need to use kansui (potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate) or baking soda to tenderize the meat, and you can still make the tender beef for this dish. Regardless of choosing the proper cut of the meat, slicing the beef thinly against the grain is essential, too.

This helps break down the muscle fibers and results in a more tender and enjoyable eating. Also, remember that cooking time is important, and you don't want to overcook the beef and make it tough. In addition, marinating the beef beforehand can add extra flavor and help tenderize the meat further.

What kind of broccoli do you use?

For this beef broccoli recipe, we usually use fresh Western broccoli instead of Chinese broccoli or gai lan. However, if you prefer gai lan, feel free to use it. We typically consume the florets or crowns of Western broccoli because they are tender and crisp and cook quickly. Thus, they're perfect alongside the stir-fried beef.

What are the ingredients for authentic beef and broccoli?

This authentic Chinese beef and broccoli recipe includes beef, broccoli, ginger, garlic, salt, soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, vegetable oil, cornstarch, and water.

Authentic Chinese beef and broccoli ingredients

Substitution:

Can I make beef and broccoli gluten-free?

Yes! Use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce, and ensure your oyster sauce is also gluten-free.

Can I substitute with other meats?

Sure, you can, but the dish's name will change depending on the meat you use. You can use chicken or pork.

Storage:

How to store leftovers?

Refrigerating:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Let the dish cool before sealing to prevent excess moisture buildup.

Freezing:

For best results, freeze the meat and broccoli separately in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, removing excess air.
It can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Reheating:

Stovetop: Reheat in a pan over small medium heat.
Microwave: Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between to ensure even warming.
From Frozen: Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Cooking tips for authentic Chinese beef and broccoli:

Marinate beef for at least 10-15 minutes before cooking.
Add salt and vegetable oil into boiling water to cook the broccoli, which helps the broccoli's color stay green.
Don't overcook the broccoli. If it is overcooked, the green color will lost. Cook until it is soft but still green.
Rinse the broccoli with cold water that can retain the broccoli's beautiful green color.
We like more sauce for beef and broccoli dishes because they are best served with r ice. I add a cup of water. However, if you don't want more sauce, you can reduce the amount of water and cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

FAQs:

What kind of beef do you use?

Usually, I use steak-style beef. In this recipe, I use top-round steak.

How to tenderize meat?

Some people like to add baking soda. But cooking time is very important. Don't overcook the beef so the meat will be soft and tender.

Is beef broccoli healthy?

Homemade beef and broccoli are healthy because they are around 250-300 calories. Besides, broccoli tastes good and is high in fiber, vitamins K and C, potassium, and folate (folic acid).

My kids love eating cooked broccoli because it's soft and sweet. It's an excellent vegetable for kids, too. Now, you don't have to order takeout; you can make this easy and tasty beef broccoli at home.

Can I cook beef and broccoli in an instant pot?

Yes, you can. But, I suggest choosing skirt and flank steak instead because the beef is tender and soft when using an instant pot to cook it.

How do I prevent the broccoli from getting mushy?

To keep the broccoli crisp, lightly steam or blanch it before stir-frying, or add it toward the end of cooking.

Can I cook beef and broccoli in an instant pot?

Yes, you can. But I suggest choosing skirt and flank steak instead because the beef is tender and soft when cooked in an instant pot. Push the manual button to adjust the time for 25 or 30 minutes at high pressure and natural release pressure.

Instructions for how to make authentic Chinese beef and broccoli:

Preparation:

1. Wash and cut one big head of broccoli (1 pound) into pieces.

Thin slices:

2. Slice one pound of beef steak (Beef top round steak) into small strips.

Marinade beef:

3. Slice the beef and put it in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.

4. Mix it well. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes before cooking.

Cooking broccoli:

5. Meanwhile, pour 6 cups of water into a pot. Then, add ¼ teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil.

6. When the water starts boiling, add the broccoli to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes or until soft. Do not overcook it.

7. Drain the water and rinse the cooked broccoli with cold water so that it retains its bright green color.

8. Lay the cooked broccoli on a plate. After that, set it aside.

Stir fry meat:

9. Pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and turn the fire on medium-high. Add 4 cloves of garlic and 4 slices of ginger and stir fry them a bit.

10. Next, put the marinated beef into the pan and stir-fry them slightly.

11. After, pour one cup of water into the beef.

cornstarch mixture in the glass container top view

12. Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water to a small container and mix well.

authentic Chinese beef and sauce stir fry in the pan

13. Lastly, pour the cornstarch mixture into the beef and keep stirring until it's thickened. Then, pour the meat and sauce over the plate with cooked broccoli.

Chinese authentic beef and broccoli top view

Enjoy this simple, authentic Chinese beef and broccoli recipe! For more recipes, check out crab stir fry, gai lan, soy sauce chicken, salt and pepper squid, lobster yee mein, pickled cucumber, Chinese cabbage bacon stir fry, and lo mai fan.

Chinese Beef and Broccoli