Tag: main course
Beef and Broccoli
Beef and Broccoli
Beef and broccoli is one of the most popular Chinese American takeout menu items. It is also one of the easiest dishes to prepare; ready in 5 minutes. The broccoli gets steamed for a minute. Then beef gets sautéed for a couple minutes. The broccoli gets tossed back in with the sauce and cooked for another minutes. Serve with steamed rice.
Ingredients
- 1 lb top sirloin, flank, or skirt steak thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Sauce
- 1 cup beef stock
- 2 tbsp shaoxing cooking wine
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Stir Fry
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 head broccoli cut into florets
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp ginger minced
Instructions
- Marinate the beef in the soy sauce, oil, and cornstarch for 10 minutes.
- Mix together the sauce ingredients. Set aside.
- Bring a 1/4 cup of water to a boil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Add in the broccoli. Cover and steam for 1 minute. Remove from the pan and wipe clean.
- Heat up cooking oil in the same pan. Add in the beef in a single layer. Cook for 30 seconds a side.
- Add in the garlic and ginger. Cook for 30 seconds.
- Add in the broccoli and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Pour in the sauce. It will thicken quickly in less than a minute.
Beef Mechado
Beef Mechado
Traditionally, the beef in mechado is studded with small pieces of pork fat; making this beef stew rich. I chose to not do that to keep the calories down. The beef is simmered in a sauce of calamansi juice, tomato sauce, and soy sauce; with potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
- 2 medium carrots peeled and cubed
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup calamansi juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 cups water
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 small green bell pepper cubed
- 1 small red bell pepper cubed
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat up the vegetable oil in a Dutch over medium high heat. Sauté the potatoes and carrots for 8 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from the pot.
- Add in the onions and garlic. Sauté for 4 minutes.
- Add in the beef. Brown for 6 minutes.
- Pour in the calamansi juice and soy sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and water. Add in the bay leaves. Cover. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
- Add the carrots and potatoes back in. Simmer for 20 more minutes.
- Add in the bell peppers. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Lebanese Peas and Carrots Stew
Lebanese Peas and Carrots Stew
In Arabic cultures, beef stews are quite popular. This recipe is a Lebanese stew called bazella w riz: “peas and rice”. Beef stew meat is browned, then stewed with onions, garlic, peas, and carrots in a tomato based sauce. The stew is served over Lebanese rice with warm pita.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef stew meat
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp Lebanese 7 spice
- 1 small onion diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup carrots diced
Instructions
- Heat up cooking oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Sauté the beef for 5 minutes; seasoning with the 7 spice, salt and pepper. Remove from the pan.
- Add in the onions, garlic, and cilantro. Sauté for 3 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, water, beef, peas, and carrots. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
- The liquid should reduce to less than half the amount.
Lebanese Rice
Rice with fine vermicelli noodles didn’t start in San Francisco. This style of rice is a staple in the Arabic world; eaten with most meals. The base of this recipe is only 3 ingredients: rice, vermicelli, and olive oil. Additions of cinnamon and parsley enhance the flavor. Sometimes you will find almonds or pine nuts used as a garnish.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup dry vermicelli
- 2 cups basmati rice washed
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
Instructions
- Heat up cooking oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Sauté the vermicelli for 3 minutes until browned.
- Add in the rice. Sauté for 5 minutes. Season with salt and cinnamon.
- Pour in the water. Bring to a boil.
- Cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
