Broccoli and Beef

I love stir fry. But it can be tricky to make it wonderful instead of just OK. I consider it a quest of my lifetime to work on the perfect stir fry. Here is one version of a classic stir fry dish. I will include all the details I can because it can be  helpful and this one turned out above average. So first you will need to turn on NPR, I can't cook without it on.

Some of the ingredients used.

Then assemble your ingredients. First I cut up the veggies (I used broccoli and snow peas) and store then in separate bowls.

Then I cut up the beef (I used a T-bone) place it in a bowl and sprinkle corn starch on it, this creates that stir fry beef yumminess. (I do the same with chicken if using it).

This is the sauce in a bowl, the cornstarch makes is cloudy.

 Now I make the sauce.  I put everything in a bowl. Here are the ingredients:

Stir Fry Sauce:
3 Tablespoons GF Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Vinegar - use Seasoned Rice Vinegar (ingredients are vinegar, sugar, salt. I get mine at the Asian Store)
about 1 inch of fresh grated ginger
1 tsp Garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon dried onion (fresh is fine too, but if using fresh, cook it with the veggies)
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Chicken Stock (never use water, it dilutes too much)
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon corn starch

Ok you have everything ready, here is how to cook it all:
1. Heat 3 Tablespoons of oil in wok, stir fry beef till no longer pink. Then set aside on a plate.
2. Scrape bottom of pan clean, add 3 more tablespoon of oil and stir fry the broccoli. If you are using other vegetables  I cook things "hard" vegetable first (broccoli, green beans, carrots, etc) then as they cook I add the faster cooking vegetables (snow peas, nappa cabbage, etc.). The idea is to not overcook or under cook any one vegetable  This can take some trial and error. Also be generous with the oil, it helps. After the broccoli is partially cooked add the snow peas, when they are partially cooked add the beef followed by the sauce. Mix all together.  The sauce will thicken quickly, so stir to coat all the meat and veggies. Ideally once the sauce is thick all the veggies are cooked just right. Serve right away.

Just the Broccoli first

Broccoli with Snow Peas

Add the beef

Add the sauce

Mix all till thick. Serve right away.