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A quick, healthy stir fry featuring lean ground beef and crisp-tender broccoli in a light soy-honey-ginger sauce, ready in about 13 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ cup reduced sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 pound ground beef, 93% lean
  • ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 large head broccoli, cut into florets and blanched
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 3 medium scallions, sliced on the bias

Instructions

  1. Whisk together soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and cornstarch in a small bowl; set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil; add broccoli florets and cook 2–3 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender, drain and plunge into an ice bath, then drain well.
  3. Heat sesame oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Add ground beef and chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is nearly cooked through (about 5 minutes).
  5. If the pan is overly greasy, drain off excess fat.
  6. Pour the sauce into the skillet, stir to combine, and cook about 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Add the blanched broccoli and cook about 1 minute until warmed through but still crisp-tender.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed (add more honey for sweetness or a splash of rice vinegar to balance).
  9. Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan 1–2 minutes, then sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and sliced scallions over the stir-fry.

Notes

Choose lean ground beef (90–95% lean) to reduce grease; drain any excess fat when necessary., Whisk the sauce ingredients thoroughly to avoid lumps in the sauce., Do not overcook broccoli to maintain bright color and crisp texture., Cook beef until almost done before adding sauce to keep it juicy., Use a large pan and avoid overcrowding to ensure proper browning., Adjust sauce seasoning to taste by adding honey or rice vinegar if desired., Toast sesame seeds before garnishing to enhance nutty aroma., Swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or thinly sliced steak if preferred., Serve over rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option., Add other blanched vegetables such as asparagus, bell peppers, or zucchini as desired., For gluten-free version, use tamari and gluten-free cornstarch alternatives like arrowroot., To thicken sauce further, add a slurry of 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water if needed., Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container for 3-4 days; freeze for up to 2-3 months., Reheat gently on stovetop with a splash of water or broth or in microwave in intervals, stirring between., Make beef and sauce up to two days ahead; keep broccoli separate to maintain crispness when reheating.

Nutrition