Can't find gluten-free Chinese food nearby? Don't worry; this gluten-free beef and broccoli stir fry is ready faster than delivery would be.
Chinese food is something we've always loved. Here is a funny story when my husband and I were still dating, and he was doing the single guy days, he would order Chinese food multiple days a week; not even kidding.
Of course, fast-forward a decade, and now I can't have my go-to gluten-filled Chinese food, at least takeout-wise. Maybe one day, I will find gluten-free Chinese food near me again. That hasn't stopped me from enjoying my favorite beef and broccoli because I realized just how easy it was to make it at home. Now I can make my own gluten-free beef and broccoli, and so can you.
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Is Chinese food gluten-free?
While you can usually find a few gluten-free Chinese recipes, a lot of them contain soy sauce traditionally made with wheat, which makes it not gluten-free. If you are lucky, you can find a restaurant that will use gluten-free soy sauce. If not, it is okay because I'll show you just how easy it is to make gluten-free Chinese food at home.
Ingredients.
Here is what you need to make a gluten-free beef and broccoli stir fry.
- Steak - See below to find out what steak is best for beef and broccoli.
- Broccoli - I prefer fresh broccoli, but you can use frozen.
- Beef Stock - Most beef/ broth is gluten-free, but check the labels.
- Brown Sugar
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Sesame Oil
- Gluten-free Soy Sauce - If you want to make this a soy-free stir fry, you can use coconut aminos instead of gluten-free soy sauce.
- Corn Starch - To make this a grain-free stir fry, you can use arrowroot starch instead of corn starch.
- Sesame Seeds - Optional for topping.
- Red Pepper Flakes - Adding a few red pepper flakes to your gluten-free stir fry sauce adds a little heat if you like your Chinese food to have some spice.
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What is the best cut of steak for making beef and broccoli?
My go-to cut of beef for beef and broccoli is flank steak. I like that it is relatively lean and yields a beautiful, tender piece of steak when it's thinly sliced.
You can also use the following:
- Top Sirloin
- Top Round
- Tri-Tip
Tips for cutting steak thin for beef stir fry.
- Freeze the steak for about 30 minutes - This makes it easier to cut slices of steak.
- Cut against the grain - It will yield a more tender piece of steak and make it less chewy.
- Ensure your pan is HOT before adding the steak to help seal in the flavor and juices.
- Do NOT overcrowd the pan - If there are too many steak pieces, it will steam, leading to more chewy steak. Work in batches if your steak does not all fit spread out in the pan.
Steps.
Step 1: Slice and prepare the steak.
- Thinly slice the steak.
- Dust the sliced steak with a little bit of cornstarch.
- Let the steak rest while you prepare the broccoli and the gluten-free stir-fry sauce.
Step 2: Cook the broccoli.
My favorite way to cook broccoli for making this gluten-free beef and broccoli is to actually cook the broccoli in the air-fryer because I like my broccoli to be tender-crisp. You can cook your broccoli how you prefer it. You can steam it, roast it or even cook it along with the beef before adding the stir-fry sauce.
Step 3: Make the gluten-free stir-fry sauce.
- Combine the gluten-free stir-fry sauce ingredients in a bowl and set it aside.
Step 4: Make the gluten-free beef stir fry.
- Heat your wok or skillet to medium-high heat.
- Add the sesame oil and steak to the skillet and cook until it's almost done.
- Pour the gluten-free stir-fry sauce over the steak.
- Allow the gluten-free sauce to thicken over the steak.
- Toss the broccoli into the steak and stir fry sauce.
Serving suggestions.
I like to keep things simple and serve beef and broccoli over jasmine rice and extra sesame seeds. If you don't want rice, you can serve this over some cauliflower rice or just eat it by itself.
Make ahead.
The good thing about beef and broccoli is that it reheats really well. This makes it the perfect recipe to make ahead of time for easy on-the-go lunches for school or work.
Gluten-free Chinese food FAQ
You can keep this gluten-free beef stir fry in a container in the fridge for about four days. You can also freeze it in portions as desired for up to two months.
Beef and broccoli is relatively healthy because it is high in protein and low in carbs.
Soy sauce is often made with wheat, but there are several gluten-free soy sauce substitutes that can be used to make Chinese food gluten-free.
Tamari - Tamari is made similar to soy sauce, but wheat is not used. Tamari still contains soy, so people with a soy allergy should not use tamari.
Coconut Aminos - Coconut aminos are gluten-free and soy-free. Coconut aminos are also considered Paleo and Whole30 for those on specific diets.
Bragg Liquid Aminos - Bragg liquid aminos are similar to coconut aminos but are made from soybeans and water and is considered gluten-free. Just like with tamari, Bragg liquid aminos should be avoided by anyone with a soy allergy.
More quick and easy gluten-free dinners.
📖 Recipe
Gluten-free Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients
For the gluten-free stir fry.
- 1 Pound Flank Steak Or you steak of choice.
- 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch You can also use arrowroot starch.
- 2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil
- 1 Pound Broccoli About 4-5 cups.
- 2 Teaspoons Sesame Seeds Optional for topping.
- 2 Cups Rice or Cauliflower Rice For serving.
For the gluten-free stir fry sauce.
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 2 Teaspoons Minced Ginger
- 3 Cloves Minced Garlic
- ⅓ Cup Gluten-free Soy Sauce See notes for options.
- ¼ Cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch You can also use arrowroot starch.
- ½-½ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes Optional if you like your Chinese food with a little spice.
Instructions
Prep serving side dish.
- Start your rice or cauliflower rice, so it is ready.2 Cups Rice or Cauliflower Rice
Slice and prepare the steak.
- Thinly slice the flank steak into strips.1 Pound Flank Steak
- Dust the sliced steak with a little bit of corn starch.1 Tablespoon Corn Starch
- Let the steak rest while you prepare the broccoli and the gluten-free stir fry sauce.
Cook the broccoli.
- Chop and cook the broccoli to your liking. You can steam or roast it. If you prefer to cook the broccoli with the beef, see the steps below.1 Pound Broccoli
Make the gluten-free stir fry sauce.
- Combine the sesame oil, ginger, garlic, beef stock, brown sugar, gluten-free soy sauce, and corn starch into a small bowl. Add the red pepper flakes if you want a little extra heat.1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil, 2 Teaspoons Minced Ginger, 3 Cloves Minced Garlic, ⅓ Cup Gluten-free Soy Sauce, ¼ Cup Dark Brown Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch, ½-½ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
Make the gluten-free beef and broccoli.
- Heat your wok or skillet to medium-high heat.
- If you prefer to cook your broccoli with the steak, add it with a little bit of extra sesame oil and let it cook for about 4-5 minutes, and then remove it before adding your steak.
- Add the sesame oil and steak to the skillet and let it cook till it's almost done. Depending on the size of your skillet, you might need to work in batches to make sure you are not overcrowding your pan.2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil, 1 Pound Flank Steak
- Pour the gluten-free stir fry sauce over the steak once the steak is almost fully cooked.
- Allow the gluten-free sauce to thicken over the steak.
- Return the broccoli to the pan and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Serve your gluten-free beef and broccoli warm over your favorite rice or cauliflower rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired, and enjoy!2 Teaspoons Sesame Seeds
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