Tag Archives: broccoli

Beef and Broccoli with Red Pepper and Scallions

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In many Chinese restaurants, this is one of the most-ordered items of their menus, and is also a favorite take-out dish.

There are many beef and broccoli recipes on the Internet, with variations made in slow cookers, in Instant Pots, and on sheet pans. This version from Woks of Life, however, will show you exactly how to easily achieve restaurant results at home.

Here are the basic steps to making an authentic beef broccoli stir-fry:

  • Tenderize & marinate the beef
  • Blanch the broccoli & sear the beef
  • Cook the sauce & stir-fry everything together

This simple method yields tender beef, still crisp, healthy broccoli, and a rich sauce, combined into a restaurant-style dish. For this recipe, you’ll need both light/regular soy sauce and dark soy sauce. A good dark soy sauce adds flavor and provides that rich dark color to your beef and broccoli. Just as important as the soy sauce is the oyster sauce, which is full of umami goodness and key to producing an authentic restaurant flavor.

Our broccoli florets were too firm in the final dish. For one, they could have been cut smaller, and The Hubs ran cool water over them after they were blanched which prevented any further cooking.

We took the liberty of adding some red bell pepper and scallions, both for color and added nutrition. In the end, we both felt the dish did not have enough bold flavors for our liking—which is probably why we never order it at a Chinese restaurant. But for those of you who prefer a more sedate flavor profile, then it is probably a recipe for you.

Beef and Broccoli with Red Pepper and Scallions

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

For the beef and marinade:

  • 1 lb. flank steak (sliced 1/4-inch thick)
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda (optional)
  • 3 Tbsp. water
  • 1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
  • 2 tsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp. oyster sauce

For the sauce:

  • 2/3 cup low sodium chicken stock (warmed)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar (or brown sugar)
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. dark soy sauce (or double black dark soy sauce)
  • 1 Tbsp. oyster sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. sesame oil
  • 1/8 tsp. white pepper

For the rest of the dish:

  • 4 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
  • 1 bunch scallions, sliced thin, whites and greens divided (save some greens for garnish)
  • 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil (divided)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1/4 tsp. ginger (grated/minced, optional)
  • 1 Tbsp. Shaoxing wine
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch (mixed with 3 Tbsp. water)

Directions

  1. In a bowl, add the sliced beef along with the baking soda and water (if you don’t want your beef tenderized too much, omit the baking soda). Massage the beef with your hands until all the liquid is absorbed. Mix in the remaining marinade ingredients: cornstarch, oil, and oyster sauce. Set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Make the sauce mixture by mixing together the chicken stock, sugar, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper. Set aside.
  3. Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch your broccoli for 30 to 60 seconds (depending on whether you like your broccoli crunchy or a little soft). Drain (but do not run cool water over them), and set aside.
  4. Insert copy about bell pepper and scallions here…
  5. Heat your wok over high heat until smoking. Add 2 tablespoons oil and sear the beef on both sides until browned (this should only take 2-3 minutes). Turn off the heat, remove the beef from the wok, and set aside.
  6. Set the wok over medium heat and add another tablespoon of oil along with the garlic and ginger (if using). Stir the garlic and ginger for 5 seconds and then pour the Shaoxing wine around the perimeter of the wok.
  7. Next, add in the sauce mixture you made earlier. Stir the sauce around the sides of the wok to deglaze it (all those nice bits from stir-frying the beef should be absorbed into the sauce). Bring the sauce to a simmer. Stir the cornstarch and water into a slurry to ensure it’s well combined, and drizzle the mixture into sauce while stirring constantly. Allow it to simmer and thicken for 20 seconds.
  8. Toss in the blanched broccoli and seared beef (along with any juices). Mix everything together over medium heat until the sauce coats the beef and broccoli. If the sauce seems thin, turn up the heat and reduce it further, or add a bit more cornstarch slurry. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of chicken stock or water. Serve with plenty of steamed rice.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Adapted from a recipe by Bill from Woks of Life

Hoisin Broccoli and Tofu Traybake

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Traybake, a savory, one-pan meal cooked on a baking sheet in the oven is a home chef’s friend. This simple vegetarian traybake combines several pantry staples—hoisin, soy sauce and garlic—with broccoli and tofu and yields a hearty, satisfying main.

A 475°F oven develops the right amount of flavorful char on the broccoli and cooks the florets to a pleasing tender-crisp texture. While steamed rice is the usual accompaniment, we went a step further and made Vegetable Fried Rice.

A bit short on the hoisin sauce, we decided to make up the 1/4 cup deficit by including oyster sauce. The end result was less sweet and more to our liking.

Don’t skip the baking-sheet prep. Be sure to line it with foil and mist it with cooking spray. The sugar in the hoisin makes things a little sticky in the oven. The foil and cooking spray help ensure the broccoli and especially the more fragile tofu release from the baking sheet.

Hoisin Broccoli and Tofu Traybake

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
  • 1 lb. broccoli crowns, cut into 1½-inch florets
  • 14 oz. container firm OR extra-firm tofu, drained, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick slices and pressed dry
  • Toasted sesame seeds, to serve

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 475°F with a rack in the middle position. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin, soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil. In a medium bowl, toss the broccoli with half of the hoisin mixture until evenly coated. Distribute in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  3. Transfer the remaining hoisin mixture to the now-empty bowl, add the tofu and gently toss to coat. Place the tofu on the baking sheet, arranging it in a single layer, being sure that all the slices lay flat against the baking sheet.
  4. Roast the broccoli and tofu without stirring until the broccoli is charred and tender-crisp, about 25 minutes. Using a wide metal spatula, transfer to a platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  5. Optional garnish: Chopped fresh cilantro

http://www.lynnandruss.com

By Calvin Cox for Milk Street

Chicken alla Diavolo with Broccoli

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Here’s a one-pan meal that has risen to the top of our list—pretty much after one bite! The chicken was amazingly moist and juicy, the broccoli florets cooked just right, and the hot, sour and vinegary peperonicini-garlic topping was a WOW factor!

The chicken for Italian pollo alla diavola, or devil’s-style chicken, usually is spatchcocked and grilled. The name is a reference to cooking the chicken over flames and/or the seasonings that make the bird diabolically spicy.

For this easy weeknight version, Milk Street quick-cooks chicken parts instead of a whole bird, seasons them generously with both red pepper flakes and black pepper, then roasts them on a baking sheet in a very hot oven. The broccoli florets also get tossed onto the baking sheet for a complete one-pan dinner. A simple garlic-lemon pan sauce spiked with peperoncini finishes the dish and adds another layer of piquancy.

We used a whole 4-pound-plus chicken. First because, we both prefer different meat options; and secondly because we like to have the extra parts, neck, back, gizards, ect. for our “body bag” which we store in the freezer until such time we need to make homemade chicken stock again. And a whole chicken is typically cheaper than buying the sum of its parts separately. But, yes it is a bit more work. If you prefer to buy already cut up thighs, and or breasts, by all means, do so.

About that broccoli. Don’t cut the crowns into small florets. Keep them in largish 3-inch pieces so they don’t overcook. The baking sheet will be crowded after the broccoli is added, but both the chicken and broccoli reduce in size during cooking.

Two steps not mentioned in the original directions, but that we think are necessary is to, first, massage the chicken parts with oil so that the rub will adhere to the skin. Second, oil the center of the rimmed baking sheet where the garlic cloves will be, and then drizzle a bit more oil over the cloves.

Chicken alla Diavolo with Broccoli

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. dried thyme
  • 1¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 4 12-oz. bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts or 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, trimmed and patted dry
  • ¼ cup plus Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 lbs. broccoli crowns, cut into 3-inch florets
  • 8 medium garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges to serve
  • ½ cup chopped drained peperonicini
  • ¼ cup lightly packed fresh oregano, chopped
Rub skin with oil before sprinkling with seasonings
Add oil under and over garlic cloves

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 475°F with a rack in the middle position.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the thyme, pepper flakes and 2 teaspoons each salt and black pepper. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the mix onto all sides of the chicken. To the remaining seasoning mix in the bowl, add the ¼ cup oil and the broccoli, then toss to coat.
  3. Place the garlic in the center of a rimmed baking sheet, then arrange the chicken, skin up, around the garlic; this placement helps prevent the garlic from scorching during roasting. Arrange the broccoli in an even layer around the chicken. Roast until the thickest part of the breasts (if using) reaches 160°F and the thickest part of the thighs (if using) reaches 175°F, about 30 minutes.
  4. Using tongs, transfer the chicken and broccoli to a serving platter. Transfer the garlic to a medium bowl and, using a fork, mash to a rough paste.
  5. Carefully pour ¼ cup water onto the baking sheet and scrape up any browned bits. Pour the pan juices over the garlic and add the lemon zest and peperoncini, then whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
  6. Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli, then sprinkle with oregano. Serve with lemon wedges.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Recipe by Rose Hattabaugh for Milk Street

Roasted Broccoli and Olives

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If you want an easy, yet different side dish, try this unique combination. The original recipe is listed below, although I made a few changes such as using pitted olives. I mean, who wants to stop after every bite and fish pits out of your mouth, especially in front of others! This allowed me to cut them in half before roasting.

With only two of us at the dinner table, I scaled back some on the amount of broccoli because it wouldn’t all fit on the baking sheet in one layer, and it just seemed excessive for the both of us.

Then when it comes to smashing the garlic together with the salt, it’s just easier with a mortar and pestle, if you happen to have one.

Roasted Broccoli and Olives

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and gently crushed
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 
  • 2 ¼ â€“ 2.5 lbs. broccoli, washed, drained, and patted dry
  • ½ cup mixed unpitted olives
  • Flaked sea salt
  • ½ lemon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with a silicone baking mat or parchment; set aside.
  2. In a small bowl combine garlic and 1/2 tsp. of the kosher salt. Using the back of a spoon, muddle garlic and salt until garlic begins to release its oil. (Or use a mortar and pestle like I did.) Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in olive oil. Set aside.
  3. Trim broccoli stems; cut stalks lengthwise into halves and/or quarters. Place in prepared baking pan. Pour garlic oil and olives over; toss well. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. Roast 20 to 25 minutes, tossing occasionally, until tender but al dente. Transfer to a serving dish.
  4. To serve, sprinkle with flaked sea salt; drizzle with additional olive oil. Squeeze lemon juice over.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Adapted from a recipe by Scott Peacock for Better Homes & Gardens