Like a lot of people, we have fond memories of eating classic beef with broccoli from our neighborhood Chinese restaurant growing up. It’s a take-out standard. It also happens to be an easy meal to throw together at home. However, this version has zero refined sugar, yet it doesn’t lack that sweet-salty-umami balance. The balanced flavor is achieved by adding naturally sweet ingredients, such as coconut aminos and mirin, while also keeping the salty soy sauce. We prefer Coconut Secret brand coconut aminos because it has only 90 mg of sodium. We’ve encountered some with as much as 490 mg of sodium, which can cause the dish to become too salty and throw off that sweet and salty balance. It’s not the Chinese take-out version, but it might be even better!
PrintClassic Beef with Broccoli, Refined Sugar Free
This version of beef with broccoli has zero refined sugar, yet it doesn’t lack that sweet-salty-umami balance. It’s not the Chinese take-out version, but it might be even better!
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Stir Fry
- Cuisine: Chinese American
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
- 3 tablespoons mirin
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/8 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- 8 ounces beef top sirloin steak partially frozen so it can be sliced thin
- 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
- 1 large bunch broccoli, cut into florets and stems cut into bite size pieces. See note after step 2.
- 1” segment of freshly peeled ginger, sliced thin
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, ghee or a combo
- salt and white pepper to taste
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup beef broth or water, depending on desired sauce thickness
Instructions
- Combine tamari, coconut aminos, mirin, rice vinegar, garlic, cinnamon and sesame oil. If using chili flakes, add at this time. Mix well.
- Next, take 2 tablespoons of the sauce mixture and add it to the sliced beef. Let marinate for 30 minutes to a few hours. Do not leave overnight. Note: We usually start with these two steps, then cut and rinse the broccoli and ginger (if using) while the beef marinates.
- Add 2 tablespoons of oil into a pan and heat on medium-high. When the oils get hot, but not smoking, add broccoli (and ginger if using). Stir fry until the broccoli turns bright green. Season with salt and white pepper, then remove from pan.
- Then, add tapioca flour to the beef that’s marinating and mix to coat evenly. Add 2 more tablespoons oil in the same pan broccoli was cooked in. When hot, add the beef in a thin layer covering the pan. Leave untouched until the beef is browned on one side, about 3-4 mins. Don’t worry if it sticks. Turn down the heat if it starts to burn. After it browns, flip and brown the other side. When all the beef has been seared, add 1/4 cup beef broth or water and scrap up all the brown bits to create a pan sauce. Add additional broth if the sauce is too thick.
- Now, add in rest of the sauce mixture from the beginning along with broccoli. Stir fry until all items are evenly coated and broccoli is cooked to desired texture. We like ours on the crunchy side. Serve over rice or noodles.
Make it your own
This classic beef with broccoli recipe can be modified in many ways. It’s great with fried tofu or chicken instead of beef. The broccoli can also be replaced with cauliflower or baby bok choy. For a more savory version, you can also use a 1/8 teaspoon of Chinese five spice seasoning instead of the cinnamon. Tell us how you’ve made this recipe your own!
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FAAY: This angled edge spatula had us tossing out all our straight edge spatulas. The slight slant helps scrape up any corner pan bits with ease, and the blade tapers down to a nice thin edge that’s great for flipping pancakes or eggs. Its slim smooth handle fits comfortably in your hand and makes it a breeze to pull out of a crowded cooking utensil holder. Because this spatula has an angled edge, make sure to select the appropriate handedness when purchasing.
