Recipe: Beef and Broccoli Bowls (2024)

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Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

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updated Feb 5, 2020

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Recipe: Beef and Broccoli Bowls (1)

These grain-free beef and broccoli Buddha bowls are packed with vegetables and greens and drizzled with creamy miso-ginger sauce.

Serves4Prep10 minutes to 15 minutesCook20 minutes to 25 minutes

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Recipe: Beef and Broccoli Bowls (2)

Think of these lunch bowls as the wholesome, nourishing version of everyone’s favorite takeout dish: saucy beef and broccoli stir-fry. They have all the same umami-rich, savory flavors, but they’re packed with green vegetables and built on a base of broccoli stems, which I find to be totally underrated and underutilized. Although broccoli stems can be enjoyed in a number of ways, here they’re processed into rice-like grains and quickly sautéed for a tender bite with a mild-mannered flavor.

Meal Prep This Bowl

With some upfront prep, this recipe rewards you with takeout-inspired bowls to get you through the week. Best of all, the components can all be cooked and prepped in advance during a weekend meal prep session. Everything from the beef to the broccoli rice, medley of veggies, and creamy sauce can all be made and assembled in advance. When getting a head-start, it’s a good idea to swap the bowl for a lidded container, like the kind you use for meal prep (this one is our favorite meal prep container!).

Get to Know Riced Broccoli

Riced broccoli is no more than chopped broccoli stems that have been blitzed in the food processor to break this totally edible part of the vegetable into small “grains” that resemble rice. When making your own, peel away the tough outer layer of the stem first. It makes a big difference, leaving you with rice that’s tender rather than tough and chewy.

Portion the broccoli rice between the containers, top it with some beef, and finish with the shredded vegetables, kimchi, sprouts, and scallions. While this version calls for broccoli, you can certainly substitute cauliflower rice, or use a mix of the two.

Keep the creamy miso-ginger sauce stored in a separate container, and drizzle it over the bowl before heading out in the morning (if you’re taking it for lunch) or just before serving. And to keep them crunchy, wait to sprinkle the sesame seeds on top right before you dig in.

About the Buddha Bowls Cookbook

The Buddha Bowls cookbook features 100 one-bowl recipes (including plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free bowls!), 13 essential sauce recipes (with variations for each one), and tons of tips and make-ahead moments. It will help you stock your week with wholesome, nourishing meals, get more veggies on the table, and fill your belly with delicious food. The book is currently available in bookstores and on Amazon.

Buy the book: Buddha Bowls: 100 Nourishing One-Bowl Meals

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Beef and Broccoli Buddha Bowls

These grain-free beef and broccoli Buddha bowls are packed with vegetables and greens and drizzled with creamy miso-ginger sauce.

Prep time 10 minutes to 15 minutes

Cook time 20 minutes to 25 minutes

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the Miso-Ginger Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup

    raw unsalted cashews, soaked overnight and drained

  • 1/4 cup

    rice vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons

    white miso paste

  • 2 tablespoons

    water

  • 1 tablespoon

    chopped peeled fresh ginger

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons

    toasted (Asian) sesame oil

  • 1 teaspoon

    honey

  • 1 clove

    garlic, chopped

  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the bowls:

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons

    avocado or extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 1 pound

    lean ground beef

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons

    coconut aminos, divided

  • 1/4 cup

    chopped Thai basil leaves

  • 16 ounces

    riced broccoli

  • 1

    large or 2 medium heads bok choy, thinly sliced crosswise

  • 2 cloves

    garlic, minced

  • 1 cup

    shredded radicchio

  • 4

    medium scallions, thinly sliced

Garnish options:

  • Kimchi

  • Bean sprouts

  • Sesame seeds

Instructions

Make the miso-ginger sauce:

  1. Place all the ingredients in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment or a blender and season with pepper. Process continuously until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Thin with additional water if needed to make a pourable sauce.

Make the bowls:

  1. Heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the coconut aminos and cook for 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil; set aside. Meanwhile, cook the riced broccoli.

  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a separate large skillet over medium heat. Add the riced broccoli, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is slightly softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Divide between 4 bowls.

  3. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the bok choy, garlic, and a pinch of salt, and sauté, tossing occasionally, until just wilted. Stir in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon coconut aminos and cook 1 minute more. Divide over the riced broccoli.

  4. Divide the beef mixture, radicchio, scallions, kimchi, and bean sprouts among the bowls. Drizzle with the miso-ginger sauce and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Recipe Notes

Substitutions: Riced cauliflower can be substituted for riced broccoli.

Make ahead: The sauce, beef mixture, riced broccoli, and bok choy can be made up to 1 day in advance and refrigerated in separate airtight containers.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Reprinted with permission from Buddha Bowls by Kelli Foster, copyright (c) 2018. Published by Harvard Common Press.

Filed in:

asian

Beef

Dairy-Free

dinner

Gluten-Free

greens

Recipe: Beef and Broccoli Bowls (2024)

FAQs

What is beef and broccoli sauce made of? ›

Beef and Broccoli Ingredients

Sauces and oils: This beef and broccoli recipe calls for oyster sauce, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Sherry: Cooking sherry adds a sweet, nutty flavor to the beef and broccoli. Sugar: White sugar lends a hint of sweetness. Cornstarch: A teaspoon of cornstarch thickens the sauce.

What is the best cut of beef for beef and broccoli? ›

Flank steak is the classic choice for beef and broccoli. It's marbled with fat, full of beefy flavor, and easy to cut into super-thin, tender slices. But flank isn't the only option. Skirt steak will give you a very similar result, and if you're watching your wallet, sirloin is another great choice.

How do you thicken beef and broccoli? ›

To thicken beef and broccoli, you can mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with a small amount of water to create a slurry. Add the slurry to the simmering sauce and stir until it thickens.

What can you use instead of sesame oil for beef and broccoli? ›

Olive oil is an easy replacement for sesame oil because the two have a similar consistency. Plus, it's commonly found in household kitchens! Go for light, extra light, or virgin olive. These have a milder flavor than extra virgin olive oil.

What is the brown sauce in Chinese food called? ›

There are many Chinese sauces that are brown just a few most common, soy sause, oyster sauce, sweet bean, Hoisin

What is the brown sauce in Chinese restaurants made of? ›

Broth: Many versions of this dish use beef broth, but you can also find it made with chicken or vegetable broth. Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is one of the main ingredients that you'll find in nearly every version of Chinese brown sauce.

How do Chinese get their beef so tender? ›

While there are several ways to velvet, a pound of meat needs about two teaspoons of cornstarch and two teaspoons of oil, says Leung. You may also include two to three tablespoons of water. For beef, add a 1/4-teaspoon of baking soda for tenderizing. Additional seasonings are optional and vary from recipe to recipe.

How do you make stir fry beef so it's tender? ›

How to tenderise beef – easily!
  1. Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts.
  2. Toss with fingers, leave for 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse, pat off excess water.
  4. Proceed with stir fry recipe. It can be marinated with wet or dry seasonings, or cooked plain.
Feb 23, 2019

What can I use instead of beef broth in beef and broccoli? ›

Depending on what you are using the beef broth for you can substitute a well made vegetable broth or chicken broth. Of course, it will change the flavor profile a bit but it is a much better solution to using cubes or powders which are sodium bombs.

What can I substitute for cornstarch in beef and broccoli? ›

All-Purpose Flour

Although it won't produce the same glossy shine as cornstarch, it'll get the job done in a pinch. All-purpose flour contains about half the thickening power of cornstarch, so for every tablespoon of cornstarch required, you'll need to substitute two tablespoons of all-purpose flour.

Is it better to thicken beef stew with flour or cornstarch? ›

Use cornstarch to thicken your stew towards the end of cooking, as cooking it for a long time can break down the starch and your stew will thin out again.

What does cornstarch do to beef? ›

The corn starch helps keep the beef moist and tender while cooking. It's very noticeable when cooking meat tossed with vs. without corn starch — the meat without corn starch will exude liquid as it cooks, whereas meat coated with corn starch will retain its liquid content, making it more tender.

What can I substitute for oyster sauce? ›

What Are Some Good Oyster Sauce Substitutes?
  • Fish Sauce. Fish sauce makes a great substitute because of the flavor backbone similarities. ...
  • Hoisin Sauce. ...
  • Soy Sauce. ...
  • Teriyaki Sauce. ...
  • Black Bean Paste. ...
  • Kecap Manis (Sweet Soy Sauce) ...
  • Mushroom Broth. ...
  • Worcestershire Sauce with Soy Sauce and Sugar.

What oil is Chinese food cooked with? ›

cooking methods are common in Asian cuisines, peanut oil is a popular choice. color, neutral flavor, and is generally used for cooking. Toasted sesame seed oil has a darker color, a stronger aroma, and a distinctively nutty flavor. It's most often used as a seasoning or condiment.

What is the sauce made of from Chinese chicken and broccoli? ›

In a deep 12-inch skillet (you can also use a saucepan or pot), whisk together the broth, sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, ginger, garlic and sesame oil. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, and cook until the sauce has thickened, 3-4 minutes.

What is beef sauce made of? ›

The Ingredients

I have also often done half ground beef and half ground Italian sausage, which is delicious. Onions and Garlic – Classic building blocks for a fantastic sauce! Basil – This is the only herb used in the sauce and I love it, but feel free to throw in a dash of oregano or any other classic herbs you like.

What is the name of brown meat sauce? ›

Espagnole (pronounced like the word for Spanish: español) is a basic brown sauce that is one of the five mother sauces of classical cuisine. It's also the starting point for a rich and deeply flavorful sauce called demi-glace, which is traditionally served with red meats.

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