Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

This slow cooker version of Beef & Broccoli is made using the same ingredients as the authentic way of making this but the quantities have been adjusted to make it suitable for slow cooking. Making this in a slow cooker means you can use a budget cut of beef and it makes it meltingly tender. AND it's freezer friendly!

Ingredients

• 500 g / 16 oz chuck steak or other beef cut suitable for slow cooking
• 300 g / 16 oz broccoli florets ((about 6 cups, 1 giant broccoli or 2 medium))
• 2 tbsp corn flour ((corn starch))
• 1 cup water ((see note 2))
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp finely sliced fresh ginger ((note 1))
• 3 tbsp soy sauce ((normal dark soy sauce))
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 4 tsp Chinese cooking wine (rice wine) or dry sherry ((note 5))
• 1 tsp sesame oil ((optional))
• 1 tsp sugar
• 4 dashes white pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Cut the beef into thin slices against the grain (which means at 90 degrees to the direction of the fibres in the meat).

2. 2

   Place beef in slow cooker.

3. 3

   Mix the corn flour with the water, then add to the slow cooker.

4. 4

   Add the Sauce ingredients to the slow cooker.

5. 5

   Cook on HIGH for 3 hours (or pressure cook on high for 40 minutes).

6. 6

   Steam or boil broccoli until "tender crisp" (just cooked, still bright green and still crisp).

7. 7

   Add to beef and sauce, toss to combine. Serve over rice.

8. 8

   Let the beef and sauce cool.

9. 9

   Meanwhile, blanch the broccoli very briefly, then run under cold water or plunge into ice water to stop from cooking further.

10. 10

    Drain broccoli, then combine with the beef and sauce.

11. 11

    Place into ziplock bags or airtight containers and freeze or refrigerate.

12. 12

    To cook, thaw then reheat in the microwave, covered. Be careful not to heat for too long because otherwise the broccoli will overcook.

13. 13

    Serve with rice.