fried beef with cabbage

How to Stir-Fry Beef with Gai Lan: A Complete Guide

Stir-fried beef with gai lan (Chinese broccoli) is a quick, nutritious dish that balances tender beef and crisp, slightly bitter greens. Here’s a simple yet flavorful recipe to master it at home.

Ingredients: 300g beef sirloin, sliced thin against the grain; 500g gai lan, washed and trimmed; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 1 tsp soy sauce; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; salt to taste.

Steps:

1. Marinate the beef: In a bowl, mix beef with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tsp sugar, cornstarch, and 1 tbsp oil. Let it sit for 15 minutes to tenderize.

2. Prepare gai lan: Blanch gai lan in boiling water with a pinch of salt for 1-2 minutes until bright green. Drain and set aside.

3. Stir-fry beef: Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok over high heat. Add beef and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside.

4. Cook the greens: In the same wok, add remaining oil and garlic. Sauté until fragrant, then return beef to the wok. Add gai lan, oyster sauce, remaining soy sauce, and sugar. Toss everything together for 1 minute.

Serve hot with steamed rice. The key to perfect gai lan is blanching it briefly to retain its crunch, while marinating the beef ensures it stays tender. Enjoy this classic Chinese dish that’s both healthy and delicious!