Vegan Beef & Broccoli
This veganized version of the classic Beef and Broccoli is about to become one of your favorite easy weeknight meals! I used Beyond Steak for mine, but feel free to use your favorite brand, or even swap this out for vegan chicken! This is a simple comfort food that leaves you feeling full and satisfied, and gets in a dose of veggies, protein and healthy carbs, as well!
When you’re opting for animal-free meals, there are several ways to go. Consuming, minimally processed, whole food heavy dishes is a great, healthy option, but there’s a reason why we have vegan meat substitutes! Every individual has their own reasons for avoiding animal products, and rarely ever will you hear someone’s reason being that they just don’t enjoy the taste of meat. Nine times out of ten, it’s usually due to ethical, environmental or health-related reasons.
Realistically, we live in a very non-vegan world. There are many reasons for that, one of them being that animal-based products generally taste good. They have to, or else no one would eat them! And so, it makes sense that even people who choose not to consume animals still enjoyed the way that they tasted. They most likely have just decided to prioritize their ethics or their health concerns over their taste buds. This is one very good reason that meat substitutes exist. So we can all enjoy our favorite dishes, while still being healthy and ethically conscious!
Vegan Beef: I used Beyond Steak for this recipe, but it works well with any vegan steak, or even vegan chicken! The flavors from the plant-based meat meld together with the rest of the ingredients to give the entire dish a hearty taste.
Broccoli: Fresh or frozen broccoli can be used for this recipe. When I’m purchasing vegetables for hot, cooked recipes such as this stir-fry, or even chilis, soups or curries, I often purchase frozen. Frozen vegetables are cheaper than fresh, and they are just as nutritious! Plus, when you’re storing your vegetables in the freezer, you don’t need to worry about using them up quickly before they go bad.
Garlic Cloves: Adding garlic provides extra flavor and depth that takes your Vegan Beef and Broccoli to another level! It also ups the nutritional profile of this savory dinner, as garlic is a potent superfood with antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and supports immune function.
Soy Sauce or Liquid Aminos: I prefer to use liquid aminos in my cooking, as it’s just a lower sodium replacement for soy sauce. Either one you use will negate the need for additional salt, and both provide plenty of salty flavor!
Sesame Oil: Only a small amount of sesame oil is needed to cook the garlic, broccoli and vegan steak in. Sesame oil specifically also has a high smoke point, making it suitable for stir-frying at higher temperatures without compromising its nutritional benefits.
Cornstarch: The cornstarch will be mixed beforehand with water in a small, separate bowl. Cornstarch and water creates a thin paste that thickens sauces and dishes that it’s added to. It also helps to bind the flavors together and coat the stir-fry ingredients in the soy sauce/liquid aminos, for a wonderful, balanced marinade feel.
Brown Rice: Brown rice takes a bit longer to cook, but in addition to being more nutritionally dense than white rice, it has a deeper flavor that is enjoyed by many. Brown rice retains its bran and germ layers, which is stripped from it when creating white rice. By opting for brown rice instead of white, you’re using rice that has those layers intact, which provides more fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Optional Garnish: For my Vegan Beef and Broccoli, I used sesame seeds and green onions to garnish. I like adding a fresh element with the green onions, and sesame seeds and an interesting and enjoyable texture contrast! Plus, they’re an easy way to make the dish look that much nicer!
Ingredients
(Makes 4 servings)
1 package of Beyond Steak or other vegan beef substitute
2 C broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
2 garlic cloves, minced
⅛ C soy sauce or liquid aminos
1 T sesame oil
1 T cornstarch + 2 T water
2 C cooked brown rice, measured uncooked
Optional Garnish: Sesame seeds, green onions
Instructions
1. Begin by adding the cornstarch and water to a small bowl and mixing together. Set aside.
2. Next, rinse the brown rice under cold water to remove any excess starch and prevent it from being mushy when cooked. Once rinsed, transfer the rice to a large pot and add four cups of water. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid and allow the rice to simmer until the water is fully absorbed, about 30-45 minutes. As it’s simmering, check on the rice occasionally and give it a gentle stir to ensure even cooking.
3. While the rice is cooking, prepare the stir-fry. Heat a large pan or wok over medium heat and add a bit of oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and sauté it for about 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant.
4. Add the Beyond Steak, or vegan steak of choice to the pan with the garlic. Allow the vegan steak to heat throughout and begin to brown on all sides, being mindful of the package instructions for cooking, typically taking around 10 minutes to cook fully.
5. Once the vegan steak has been cooking for the first 3 or so minutes, add the broccoli florets. Stir the garlic, vegan steak and broccoli together, and allow the flavors to begin to meld.
6. Once the mixture has cooked throughout and lightly browned, drizzle on the soy sauce or liquid aminos. Then, add the cornstarch and water mixture and stir gently. As the sauce simmers, it will thicken slightly. Continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to reach the desired consistency.
7. Once the stir-fry is ready, spoon the Vegan Beef and Broccoli into bowls over the cooked rice. Garnish with optional sesame seeds and green onions, or your choice of toppings.
Stefanie is the founder of Life, Veganized, and a passionate vegan and animal advocate. She creates vegan recipes for all palates and resides in Los Angeles with her adorable puggle, Zeus.
