# Beef and Broccoli

Silky, velveted flank steak and crisp-tender broccoli in a glossy garlic ginger brown sauce, over jasmine rice.

- Total time: 41 min (one cook, steps overlapped; 1 hr 31 min if done strictly in order)
- Hands-on time: 33 min
- Serves: 4
- Difficulty: medium
- Source: https://dagwood.blrbdigital.com/r/beef-and-broccoli

## Ingredients

### Beef

- 1 lb flank steak. Substitutes: flat iron or sirloin steak (Just as tender. Slice it the same way, against the grain)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine. Substitutes: dry sherry (A close match, slightly sweeter)
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional)

### Broccoli

- 1 1/4 lb broccoli, about 2 medium crowns. Substitutes: broccolini (Sweeter and more tender. Cut into 2 inch pieces)
- 1 tbsp kosher salt

### Brown sauce

- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth. Substitutes: water (A lighter sauce. The oyster sauce still carries it)
- 3 tbsp oyster sauce. Substitutes: vegetarian mushroom stir-fry sauce (Meat free and very close in flavor)
- 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce (optional)
- 2 tsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tsp cornstarch

### Jasmine rice

- 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice
- 2 cups water

## Steps (in the fastest order for one cook)

1. [0:00] **Slice** (Beef): Slice 1 lb flank steak against the grain into thin strips, about 1/4 inch thick. _(6 min, hands-on)_
2. [0:06] **Rinse** (Jasmine rice): Rinse 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice in a strainer under cold water until it runs mostly clear. _(2 min, hands-on)_
3. [0:08] **Velvet** (Beef): Toss the beef with 1/2 tsp baking soda and 2 tbsp water, then mix in 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine and 2 tsp cornstarch until the liquid is absorbed. _(2 min, hands-on)_
   - Why: Baking soda raises the meat's pH, so it stays tender and silky over high heat.
4. [0:08] **Cook** (Jasmine rice): Bring the rice and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan, then cover and cook over low heat. _(20 min, hands-off, high, then low)_
   - At 5 min in: Once it boils, cover and turn the heat to low
5. [0:09] **Boil** (Broccoli): Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. _(8 min, hands-off, high)_
6. [0:10] **Rest** (Beef): Let the beef sit at room temperature so the marinade can work. _(20 min, hands-off)_
7. [0:10] **Cut** (Broccoli): Cut 1 1/4 lb broccoli into bite-size florets. Peel the stems and slice them into coins. _(4 min, hands-on)_
8. [0:14] **Mince** (Beef): Mince 4 cloves garlic and 1 tbsp fresh ginger. _(3 min, hands-on)_
9. [0:17] **Blanch** (Broccoli): Add 1 tbsp kosher salt and the broccoli to the boiling water and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, about 90 seconds. Drain well. _(3 min, hands-on)_
   - Why: Precooked broccoli only needs a quick toss in the wok, so the beef never overcooks.
10. [0:20] **Whisk** (Brown sauce): Whisk 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth, 3 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tsp dark soy sauce, 2 tsp light brown sugar, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil and 2 tsp cornstarch until smooth. _(2 min, hands-on)_
11. [0:28] **Rest** (Jasmine rice): Take the pan off the heat and let it stand, covered, so it finishes steaming. _(10 min, hands-off)_
12. [0:30] **Sear** (Beef): Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil in a wok over high heat until it just smokes. Sear the beef in two batches until browned at the edges, about 2 minutes each, then move it to a plate. _(6 min, hands-on, high)_
   - Why: A crowded wok steams the beef gray instead of browning it.
13. [0:36] **Stir-fry** (Beef): Lower the heat to medium, add 1 tbsp neutral oil, then the garlic and ginger, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. _(1 min, hands-on, medium)_
14. [0:37] **Toss** (Beef): Stir the sauce, pour it in and cook until glossy and thick, about 1 minute. Add the beef and broccoli and toss to coat. _(2 min, hands-on, high)_
15. [0:39] **Fluff** (Jasmine rice): Fluff the rice with a fork. _(1 min, hands-on, critical path)_
16. [0:40] **Serve** (Beef): Spoon the beef and broccoli over the rice and top with scallions and toasted sesame seeds. _(1 min, hands-on, critical path)_

## Graph

Each step lists the steps that must finish before it starts.

- slice-beef (can start immediately)
- velvet after slice-beef
- rest-beef after velvet
- mince (can start immediately)
- boil-water (can start immediately)
- cut-broccoli (can start immediately)
- blanch after boil-water, cut-broccoli
- whisk-sauce (can start immediately)
- rinse (can start immediately)
- cook-rice after rinse
- rest-rice after cook-rice
- fluff after rest-rice
- sear after rest-beef
- aromatics after sear, mince
- finish after aromatics, whisk-sauce, blanch
- serve after finish, fluff

## Notes

- Freeze the steak for 15 to 20 minutes first and it slices thin much more easily.
- Have every component ready before the wok goes on. The stir-fry takes under 10 minutes.
- Dark soy sauce is mostly for color. Leave it out and the dish just looks a little lighter.

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Recipe graph by Dagwood (https://dagwood.blrbdigital.com). Licensed CC BY 4.0. JSON graph: https://dagwood.blrbdigital.com/r/beef-and-broccoli.json