How to Make Perfect Beef with Broccoli at Home: Master the Secret Technique

TLDRLearn the secret technique for tenderizing beef in Chinese American dishes like beef with broccoli, resulting in velvety pieces of meat. This technique not only tenderizes the meat but also helps retain its juices and creates a silky texture.

Key insights

🥩The secret technique used in Chinese American restaurants to tenderize meat is called velveting.

🌿Velveting helps retain the juices in the meat and creates a silky texture.

🔪To velvet beef, cut it into thin slices and marinate it in a mixture of baking soda, soy sauce, salt, dark soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch.

🍛Beef with broccoli is a popular Chinese American dish made with tenderized beef and blanched broccoli.

🍽️To make beef with broccoli at home, stir-fry the velveted beef, blanched broccoli, and a savory brown sauce.

Q&A

Why does beef with broccoli at Chinese takeout taste so tender?

—Chinese restaurants use the secret technique of velveting to tenderize the meat, resulting in the tender and silky texture.

What is the key to tender beef in beef with broccoli?

—The key to tender beef is velveting, which involves marinating the beef in a mixture of baking soda, soy sauce, salt, dark soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch.

Can I use this velveting technique for other meats?

—Yes, you can use the velveting technique to tenderize various meats like pork, chicken, and more.

How long should I marinate the beef for velveting?

—It is recommended to marinate the beef for about 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate and tenderize the meat.

What kind of sauce is typically used in beef with broccoli?

—Beef with broccoli is typically cooked with a savory brown sauce made with ingredients like oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and chicken broth.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Beef with broccoli is a popular Chinese American dish known for its tender meat and blanched broccoli.

00:22The secret technique used in Chinese restaurants to tenderize meat is called velveting.

01:20To velvet beef, cut it into thin slices and marinate it in a mixture of baking soda, soy sauce, salt, dark soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch.

06:22Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 60 seconds to retain a slight crunch and vibrant color.

10:51Use a carbon steel pan for high heat retention and control when cooking the beef and aromatics.

11:20Cook the beef quickly on high heat for about 1 to 1.5 minutes, then strain it.

12:05Stir-fry the velveted beef, blanched broccoli, and the savory brown sauce in the carbon steel pan.

12:48Serve the homemade beef with broccoli for an authentic Chinese American dish.

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