Stir-Fried Beef, Broccoli and Pecans in Garlic Sauce

This Asian-flavored recipe is adapted from a mailing I got from The Splendid Table, a recipe program on National Public Radio. The original used walnuts rather than pecans and dry sherry rather than mirin. I actually marinated the beef in the soy sauce-mirin mixture a couple hours before cooking. Be sure to use TOASTED sesame oil--it is used for its taste and regular sesame oil is just not the same.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 lb  flank steaks or 3⁄4 lb  round steak, sliced thin
• 2  teaspoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 2  teaspoons mirin
• 1  tablespoon  minced garlic
• 1  tablespoon  minced fresh ginger
• 2  tablespoons  minced scallions
• 1⁄8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 5  teaspoons  oil
• 1⁄4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 1 1⁄2 lbs broccoli florets, broken into bite size pieces stalks peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick pieces

• Garlic Sauce

• 3  tablespoons mirin
• 3  tablespoons low sodium chicken broth
• 2  tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  toasted sesame oil
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  minced garlic
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. Combine the garlic sauce ingredients in a jar; set aside.
2. Toss the beef with the soy sauce and mirin in a medium bowl.
3. Combine the garlic through red pepper flakes and 1½ tsp oil in a small bowl.
4. Toast the pecans over medium-high heat 2-3 minutes until aromatic; transfer to a bowl and set aside.
5. Heat 2 tsps oil in a skillet or wok; add beef w/ soy sauce marinade & sauté, stirring, 2-3 minutes until well browned; remove beef from the skillet.
6. Heat 1½ tsps more oil in the skillet, add the broccoli with ½ cup water, cover and cook 1-2 minutes until broccoli turns bright green.
7. Uncover and stir-fry 2-4 minutes until the liquid evaporates and broccoli is crisp-tender.
8. Push aside the broccoli, add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook 45 seconds, mashing with back of spoon to release fragrance.
9. Stir together the broccoli and garlic, add the beef and toss to combine.
10. Shake garlic sauce in its jar and add to the skillet.
11. Remove the pan from the heat and toss to coat the beef and broccoli.
12. Sprinkle with toasted pecans.
13. Serve hot over rice.