Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prep the Broccoli for Tender-Crisp Perfection
- You have two options for pre-cooking the broccoli: blanching or steaming.
- Blanching: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Add chopped broccoli florets and cook for just 1-2 minutes until they turn bright green and are slightly tender-crisp. Immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop cooking and lock in vibrant color and texture. Drain well.
- Steaming: Place the broccoli in a steamer basket over an inch or two of simmering water, cover, and steam for 3-5 minutes until bright green and slightly tender, easily pierced with a fork but still offering slight resistance.
Brown the Beef and Onion
- In a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, add the lean ground beef and diced yellow onion. Cook, breaking the beef apart with a spatula, for about 5-7 minutes. Achieve good browning on the beef (Maillard reaction), forming golden-brown bits. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. If using extra lean ground beef, draining fat is likely not needed.
Sauté Broccoli and Add Aromatics
- Once the beef is browned, add the sesame oil to the skillet. Then, add your pre-cooked (blanched or steamed) broccoli florets. Stir and cook for just 1-2 minutes to warm the broccoli through; it should already be tender-crisp.
Simmer and Thicken the Sauce
- Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, minced garlic, minced ginger, and the optional brown sugar to the beef and broccoli. Stir until everything is well coated. Let this mixture come to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare your cornstarch slurry: in a small bowl, whisk together 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2-3 tablespoons of cold water or chicken broth until completely smooth. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the sauce becomes wonderfully thick, glossy, and reaches your desired consistency, coating the back of your spoon. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed.
Serve
- Remove from heat and serve your delectable Quick Beef and Broccoli warm! It’s fantastic over fluffy jasmine rice, with your favorite ramen noodles, or even in light and refreshing lettuce wraps. Consider a simple side salad for a complete meal.
Nutrition
Notes
This recipe is incredibly versatile and makes for excellent leftovers or meal prep. Adjust brown sugar to your preference for a sweeter sauce, and always taste before serving to fine-tune the seasoning. Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.