Who wants take-out when you can make this healthy version of Beef and Broccoli Filipino Style at home, in 20 minutes?! This recipe is quick and easy, better than a take-out, one-pot meal recipe your family and friends will love! Unlike a restaurant-style Beef and Broccoli, this Filipino-style recipe is low in sodium and has no added sugar. And good news! It only has 272 calories per serving.
This guilt-free recipe will satisfy your craving for take-out! And furthermore, it’s HEALTHY!!! And it's quick and easy to make!
Jump to:
- What Makes This Beef and Broccoli Recipe Gluten-Free
- What Is The Best Cut Of Beef To Use
- Top Tips For The Most Tender And Flavorful Beef
- Ingredients Needed
- How To Make This Dish Ahead of Time
- Do I Need To Marinate The Meat
- How To Make A Healthy Beef and Broccoli Dish
- How To Make The Easiest Savory Sauce
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Beef Recipes You May Like
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Reviews
What Makes This Beef and Broccoli Recipe Gluten-Free
I know you’re probably wondering what a gluten-free version of this dish compares to regular stir-fry Beef and Broccoli tastes like and what makes this recipe gluten-free. Here’s a comparison for you:
- Coconut Aminos - do not taste like coconut at all. Soy sauce will give you a bolder and saltiness flavor. Coconut aminos are savory and have a milder, slightly sweeter, and delicious umami taste. Take note that when using coconut aminos in comparison to soy sauce, the 1:1 ingredient ratio would be substantial. Consider, however, that since the taste is slightly different when it comes to saltiness, you may want to adjust the taste to your preference.
- Corn Starch - is naturally gluten-free. It is a great alternative to flour. Corn starch much like flour is very neutral in taste.
What Is The Best Cut Of Beef To Use
I've always used Sirloin cut every time I make Beef and Broccoli because it's tasty and turns out tender all the time. However, there are other great options to use like Strip Steak, London Broil, Skirt Steak, Flank Steak, Hanger, and Rump Steak.
Note that these steaks are tougher and leaner cuts of meat. The key to ensuring you have a tender beef for your dish is to cut the meat very thin and consider letting it marinate in the coconut aminos (or soy sauce) and lemon juice for at least one hour prior to cooking.
Top Tips For The Most Tender And Flavorful Beef
- Thinly slice the beef - make sure it is still partly frozen and use a very sharp knife. If the meat has thawed, put it back in the freezer for at least 30 minutes prior to slicing.
- Sear the meat in a very hot skillet to seal in the flavor and juices of the meat.
- Cook the meat in batches so they all brown evenly and cook at the same time.
- Do not overcrowd the pan - doing so will produce too much liquid and will dilute the flavor of your Beef and Broccoli dish.
- Cook the meat in high heat and for a short amount of time. High and Fast is the name of the game when cooking any type of stir-fry dish. Simply put, you want to cook the meat as high a heat as possible and quickly for a short amount of time.
- Do not overcook the meat - cooking the meat longer will produce very sinewy meat and will make it chewy to eat.
Ingredients Needed
This Filipino Style Beef and Broccoli dish always make it in our regular weekly rotational because it is so quick and easy to make. All the ingredients you will need to make this dish are most likely available in your own pantry. And you can omit the potatoes in this recipe if you’d like to cut down on carbs. I added some potatoes because I’m so used to making the Filipino version of this dish called Bistek. That beef recipe is what inspired me to make this dish actually.
- Sirloin Steak - thinly cut (allows for the marinade to penetrate into the meat making this a very succulent and tasty dish)
- Broccoli - cut in florets so they all cook quickly and evenly. The broccoli can be steamed or stir-fried before adding to the meat.
- Potatoes - this is an optional ingredient.
- Onion - thinly sliced regularly or in rings.
- Coconut Aminos or Tamari for a gluten-free version. Or substitute Soy Sauce.
- Lemon - juice, and seeds removed. The seeds will make your dish bitter.
- Olive Oil
See the recipe card for exact ingredient measurements.
How To Make This Dish Ahead of Time
- Marinate the beef the night before, stored and sealed in a plastic bag or glass container.
- Cut up all the ingredients and have it all prepared and ready for cooking the next day (see picture below). This saves you a lot of time and is perfect for making a successful Stir Fry Beef and Broccoli recipe.
Do I Need To Marinate The Meat
No, you do not need to marinate the meat to make Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry. The addition of coconut aminos (soy sauce) and lemon juice will act as a natural meat tenderizer. And the meat will be thinly sliced so there’s no need to marinate the meat. And….as an added bonus, skipping the marinating process will save you a lot of time!
How To Make A Healthy Beef and Broccoli Dish
- STEP 1: Slice the beef thinly and marinate in half of the coconut aminos and lemon juice, with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Set aside in a bowl or sealed plastic bag.
- STEP 2: Brown the potatoes in the medium-heat skillet. Once the potatoes are done set them aside on a plate.
- STEP 3: Caramelize the onions then set aside with the potatoes.
- STEP 4: Steam or stir-fry the broccoli then set aside with the onions and potatoes.
- STEP 5: Sauté the beef slices in batches.
- STEP 6: Add the broccoli, potatoes, and onions back into the skillet with the beef. Add the reserved marinade. Season with more coconut aminos or lemon juice if needed.
See the recipe card for specific cooking instructions.
How To Make The Easiest Savory Sauce
The sauce for the recipe only calls for two ingredients. And that is coconut aminos and lemon juice. As previously mentioned, I used coconut aminos so I can make this gluten-free. You can also substitute Tamari sauce as another gluten-free option. However, if you do not have any allergy to gluten, you can use regular or low-sodium soy sauce. You may want to try this recipe for Filipino Beef Steak which uses regular soy sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken, shrimp, or tofu will also work well for this recipe.
Any vegetables will work well in this dish. I have made this recipe using vegetables like asparagus, baby corn, bean sprouts, bokchoy, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chayote, eggplant, green beans, green or red bell peppers, mushrooms, napa cabbage, opo squash, potatoes, red onions, scallions, snap peas, spinach.
Yes, however, note that potatoes do not freeze very well. They tend to get a grainy texture if frozen and then reheated. So you can either omit them in this recipe or remove them then just add some freshly fried potatoes when reheating.
A wok and metallic spatula will be your best tools for stir frying. However, if you do not have a wok, a skillet will do.
Other Beef Recipes You May Like
📖 Recipe Card
Ingredients
For the marinade:
- ½ cup Coconut Aminos
- 1 Lemon (juice)
For the beef:
- 2 T Olive Oil
- 2 lb. Sirloin Steak
- 1 head Broccoli cut into florets
- 2 medium Potatoes cut into wedges
- 1 medium Onion cut into rings
Instructions
- Slice the beef thinly. Place them in a big bowl, or gallon-sized sealable bag, along with half the marinade and 1T olive oil. Let the beef marinate for at least an hour or overnight. See notes.
- Brown the potatoes in the medium-heat skillet for 2 minutes on each side. Set aside on a plate.
- Caramelize the onions for 2 minutes. Set aside on a plate.
- Stir-fry the broccoli for 2 minutes. Set aside on a plate.
- Add more oil to the skillet as needed. In medium-high heat, stir-fry the meat a few slices a few at a time. 3 to 4 minutes of cooking time should do it.
- Add the beef, broccoli, potatoes, and onions back to the skillet, and now add half of the reserved marinade, and mix everything thoroughly. Plate and serve.
Notes
- Slicing the beef thinly helps in letting the marinade penetrate into the meat and also allows for the meat to cook quickly and evenly.
- If you're not going to cook the potatoes right away, soak them in water so they don't turn brown. Then dry them on paper towels so they don't splatter when you brown them in hot oil in the skillet.
- The ideal marinating time for the beef in this recipe is 30 minutes or overnight. Marinating the beef for more than 24 hours breaks down the muscle fibers which then turns the texture of the meat to become too mushy.
- I have made this dish without marinating and it turned out just as tasty!
- Another alternative to cooking broccoli is by blanching or steaming. This will allow the broccoli to cook to your preference.
- Cooking the meat a few slices at a time will keep the meat savory and tender.
- Enjoy this beef with broccoli, potatoes, and onion dish as is or with a side of steamed white or brown rice or noodles.
Aida
Simple, Easy and Delicious take on the traditional Filipino Bistek and loved the easy recipe and instructions. I was looking online for another beef recipe and found your recipe. It looked familiar but different version, the end result was unique, tasty and healthier.
Jocelyn Wilhelm
Thank you, Aida! I appreciate your review of my Beef and Broccoli recipe. I hope you try out my other recipes too. I love Filipino food and I always try to make it healthier without compromising any of the flavors. So thank you for your kind words. ❤️
Katy
This is so easy to make with ingredients that are readily available in my grocery store. I made it by marinating the meat with the soy sauce and lemon the night before and then cook the whole thing the next day. Super delicious and the meat was so tender. My kids really enjoyed it too. I will be making this again for sure!
Jocelyn Wilhelm
Thank you Katy! Isn't it the best when the kids enjoyed it as well? And love that you made it much easier to make by marinating the night before. I'm all about easy peasy!!!