Sweet-and-Sour Beef with Broccoli

Name: Sweet-and-Sour Beef with Broccoli
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened pineapple tidbits; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth; 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce; 2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 2-1/2 cups uncooked instant rice; 2 cups fresh broccoli florets; 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms; 1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned; 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)

Our Test Kitchen recreated the classic Chinese beef and broccoli dish using a beautiful variety of colorful veggies and inexpensive ground beef. Serve over rice noodles--which you can find in the Asian section of your grocery store--for a change from regular rice.

Ingredients

1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened pineapple tidbits
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2-1/2 cups uncooked instant rice
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)

Directions

Drain pineapple, reserving juice; set pineapple aside. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, broth, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and reserved juice until blended; set aside.
Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, stir-fry the broccoli, mushrooms, red pepper and water chestnuts in oil for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender; remove and set aside. In the same pan, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the reserved vegetable mixture and pineapple; heat through. Serve with rice.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups beef mixture with 3/4 cup rice : 385 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 548mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein.

Originally published as Sweet and Sour Beef with Broccoli in Simple & Delicious January/February 2007

Reviews

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Average Rating:

meghabs

Nov 8, 2010

Not very flavorful, and did not taste at all like sweet and sour. I do not recomend this recipe.
ssminn23

Mar 20, 2010

Our family loved this dish! It's easy and healthy and the kids enjoyed it. I can't ask for more than that!
zadok

Feb 13, 2010

It was bland and will not try again.
RD2Cook

Jan 28, 2010

There are so many flavorful components of this recipe, so it was a surprise to find the taste was unbelievably bland. Not bad but not worth keeping.
alifoxx

Jan 22, 2010

This is a great recipe and easy to make. I used the pineapple juice but didn't add the tidbits and it still tasted great!
MargeAZ

Jan 21, 2010

Sweet-and-sour dishes are normally made with chicken or pork. I would substitute cut-up chicken breast for the ground beef.
Virginia Acors

Jan 21, 2010

The ground beef didn't work well. Tried it again with thinly sliced beef round steak. It was much better, but still not as "sweet" as it could be. Might try again, sometime, though.
downundercanadian

Nov 23, 2009

The sweet and sour taste just didn't fit quite right with the ground beef. Not a big hit with anyone in my family.