beef and broccoli
{{Short description|American Chinese dish}}{{Infobox food|image=Beef and broccoli stir fry.jpg|type=Stir-fry|region=United States of America|associated_cuisine=American Chinese cuisine|course=Main course|name=Beef and broccoli|main_ingredient=Beef, broccoli}}
Beef and broccoli, also sometimes called broccoli beef, is a Westernised Chinese dish.
Origins
Beef and broccoli was likely developed in the diaspora of Chinese immigrants in 19th century America.{{Cite web |title=How to Make Beef and Gai Lan {{!}} Cook's Illustrated |url=http://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/articles/5070-chasing-beef-and-broccoli |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.americastestkitchen.com |language=en}} It became an established feature of American Chinese restaurants during the 1920s.{{Cite web |last=Mathews |first=Monte |date=2017-04-09 |title=Beef with Broccoli and Fried Rice – C H E W I N G T H E F A T |url=https://chewingthefat.us.com/2017/04/beef-with-broccoli-and-fried-rice.html |access-date=2023-05-22 |language=en-US}} By the 1950s, it had become ubiquitous and it is one of the most popular American Chinese dishes in the 21st century.{{Cite news |last=Sifton |first=Sam |date=2018-04-04 |title=The Best Beef and Broccoli, No Delivery Required |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/magazine/best-beef-broccoli-no-delivery-chinese-americans.html |access-date=2023-05-22 |issn=0362-4331}} It is based on a Chinese dish that used gai lan but this was replaced with broccoli,{{Cite web |date=2008-06-02 |title=History and Culture: Chinese Food {{!}} New University {{!}} UC Irvine |url=https://newuniversity.org/2008/06/02/history_and_culture_chinese156/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Dan |title=10 'Chinese' food items you won't actually find in China |url=https://www.insider.com/10-chinese-food-items-you-wont-actually-find-in-china-2017-9 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Insider |language=en-US}} a vegetable which was originally popularized in the United States by Italian immigrants.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-02 |title=Has the time come to finally give up ever so tasty beef with broccoli? |url=https://www.straight.com/food/has-time-come-to-finally-give-up-ever-so-tasty-beef-with-broccoli |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en}}File:Szechwan beef broccoli food dinner.jpg
Preparation
The dish is prepared by stir-frying sliced steak and broccoli florets with oyster or soy sauce and aromatics such as garlic and ginger. Sugar or honey may be used to sweeten the sauce.{{Cite web |title=No wok? Skillet-version of Beef and Broccoli recipe will work |url=https://www.reporternews.com/story/life/columnists/laura-gutschke/2022/01/25/no-wok-skillet-version-easy-beef-and-broccoli-recipe/6609127001/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Abilene Reporter-News |language=en-US}} Corn starch is commonly used to tenderize the beef and thicken the sauce.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=This Is Our Favorite Homemade Version Of Beef & Broccoli |url=https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a24489879/beef-and-broccoli-recipe/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Delish |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Beef & Broccoli {{!}} Traditional Stir-fry From United States of America {{!}} TasteAtlas |url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/beef--broccoli |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.tasteatlas.com}}