beef and broccoli stir fry, a simple winner

I have tried numerous oriental stir frys throughout the years, most of which I've had mixed feelings about. Of course you can't really mess up sauteed vegetables, but it is the sauce and meat marinade that I haven't been able to master.

Last Tuesday night I turned a corner. I nailed it, making a beef and broccoli stir fry that was to die for.

After much research, I realized the secret and most important ingredient I have omitted in the past is CORNSTARCH. I don't know why but cornstarch has always intimidated me a little. I guess it is the unfamiliarity of it... the fear of the unknown. Is it powder? Is it liquid? What's it got to do with corn? But now I understand it is as simple as baking powder or baking soda, a white powdery ingredient found near the flour in most grocery stores.


All you do is mix it in your meat marinade and it will look like so...

Easy, seriously easy. And it made all the difference.

Enough talk of cornstarch, here is the recipe for some killer stir fry.

Ingredients:
Approximately 1 lb beef (top sirloin, flank steak, or something good that's on sale!)
2-3 heads of broccoli (cut into florets)
1 onion, diced
1-2 cloves garlic minced
vegetable oil (enough to coat pan and cook onion)

Marinade:
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon corn starch
black pepper

Sauce:
1/2 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon cooking sherry

plain, white instant rice

First things first, slice beef into thin pieces. Then mix soy sauce & cornstarch in a nice size bowl. Toss meat in marinade, coating thoroughly and add black pepper. (You could do this step earlier in the day allowing the meat to marinate longer. I marinated mine about an hour before cooking).


Now, time to steam the broccoli! Bring water, about 1-2 inches deep in a sauce pan, to a boil. Add broccoli and allow to steam for 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside.


Using the same sauce pan (after discarding broccoli water), coat with a little vegetable oil and saute onions until slightly brown and tender. Throw in a dash of soy sauce if you like...I did. When onion is browned, toss in the minced garlic.

Now for the protein...on medium heat, begin cooking the beef. It takes about 1-2 minutes on each side. It's quick and you don't want to overcook it. Try not to crowd it in the pan. You may need to cook a little, set aside, cook a little, set aside...you understand.


When all the beef is done, toss in your broccoli.

And to finish it off, add your beef broth and sherry liquid sauce.


Serve over cooked white rice.

This meal is SO simple, pure, simple, good, flavorful, & simple! We loved it. Hope you do too.