Beef and Broccoli with Black-Bean Garlic Sauce

This quick and easy stir-fry features skirt steak and one of our favorite under-the-radar store-bought condiments, Chinese black-bean garlic sauce.

Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4

Better than takeout? We think so! What really sets this beef-and-broccoli stir-fry apart is the addition of black-bean garlic sauce, a savory Chinese condiment made with fermented black beans, garlic, and chilis. It's rich in flavor, and when combined with ginger and sesame oil, creates a silky sauce that coats the steak and broccoli florets superbly.

Beef and Broccoli with Black-Bean Garlic Sauce recipe
Yuki Sugiura

Ingredients

  • 1 pound skirt steak, cut into ½-inch-thick slices

  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch

  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth

  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger (from a 2-inch piece)

  • 2 tablespoons black-bean garlic sauce, such as Kikkoman or Lee Kum Kee

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

  • 4 cups small broccoli florets (from 1 head)

  • 3 scallions, white and light-green parts thinly sliced (½ cup), plus darker greens, sliced, for serving

  • Cooked rice, for serving

Directions

  1. Pat meat dry, then toss with 3 teaspoons cornstarch. Stir together broth, ginger, black-bean sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and remaining 1 teaspoon cornstarch in a bowl. Measure 2 tablespoons water in a separate small bowl and set aside.

  2. Heat a large, heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) or wok over high for 3 minutes. Swirl in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Working in batches to avoid crowding pan, brown meat, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate.

  3. Swirl in remaining vegetable oil and add broccoli. Cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Add reserved water and toss until broccoli is bright green and tender, 1 to 2 minutes more.

  4. Add white and light-green parts of scallion to skillet along with meat and any accumulated juices. Stir in black-bean-sauce mixture and toss until evenly coated and sauce has thickened, about 30 seconds. Serve with rice, sprinkled with scallion greens.

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, October 2019

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