Name: Kids Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1½ teaspoons cornstarch; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; 1 tablespoon plus ¼ cup water , measured separately; 1 pound flank steak; ¼ cup hoisin sauce; 2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 6 cups broccoli florets , cut into 1-inch pieces; 4 garlic cloves , peeled and minced

Why This Recipe Works

This simple stir-fry comes together in less than an hour and makes for a filling dinner when paired with fluffy rice. It gets its punchy flavor from savory soy sauce; sweet hoisin; and spicy chili-garlic sauce. This recipe uses a technique called “velveting”—coating the beef with a mixture that includes cornstarch to keep the meat juicy and tender and also make the sauce thick and glossy. Kids can try this simple activity to see cornstarch’s special thickening power up close: Whisk together ¼ cup room-temperature water and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Ask kids to describe what the mixture looks like. Then, microwave the cornstarch mixture until bubbling (about 1 minute). Have kids carefully stir the heated mixture and describe what it looks like again (it should appear thicker). Cornstarch causes liquids to thicken when they’re heated up—so we can thank cornstarch for the sauce’s thick texture. (After step 3, but while the beef is still sitting, is a good time to do this!)

Before You Begin

Serve this stir-fry with rice.

Instructions

In medium bowl, whisk soy sauce, cornstarch, baking soda, and 1 tablespoon water until combined.

Use chef’s knife to cut steak into ¼-inch-thick slices following photos, “Step-by-Step: How to Cut Beef for a Stir-Fry,” below. Add sliced beef to bowl with soy sauce mixture. Wash your hands. Use rubber spatula to stir to coat. Let beef sit for 15 minutes.

While beef sits, in second medium bowl, whisk hoisin sauce, chili-garlic sauce, and remaining ¼ cup water until combined.

When beef is ready, heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute (oil should be hot but not smoking). Use rubber spatula to carefully add beef to skillet and spread it into even layer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is lightly browned on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes. Turn off heat and use clean rubber spatula to transfer beef to large plate.

Add hoisin mixture, broccoli, and garlic to skillet and return to medium high-heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and broccoli is tender, about 5 minutes.

Stir beef and juices on plate back into skillet and cook for 1 minute. Turn off heat. Serve.