Recipe #8: Beef Broccoli- My fave Chinese dish

It was Richard's college graduation in 2007. I was 5 months pregnant and had a feisty appetite. After a long wait for Richard to take his diploma (it was pretty long since his last name begins with an "O"), I was ready to eat a horse. To celebrate, Daddy took us to a Chinese restaurant in Malate, close to where he works. "Hap Chan". It is one of his favorite Chinese restos. I do not remember everything we ordered, but I do remember two things which made an impression: the sweet and sour hotpot and tender beef broccoli (And since this is a post about oyster sauce, i won't be talking about the hotpot). I had never eaten broccoli ever in my life and was surprised at how good it was. I remember thinking that it was like cauliflower, only fluffier, and had a sweet milky taste to it after you've ground it in your mouth.

Ever since, I make sure to order beef broccoli in every Chinese resto I go to, especially in Chowking where it's a load more affordable. It was mommy who first tried imitating the dish. After watching her cook her version several times, I thought to myself..."that's easy. I can do that too!"

You'll need
About half a kilo of beef sirloin
garlic, crushed
Onions, diced
oyster sauce
water
salt
pepper
broccoli

How to:

• In a hot pan, saute the garlic and onions,
• Add the beef sirloin strips
• sprinkle with salt and pepper and allow to brown on both sides.

• Add water, reduce heat and cook covered until meat is tender (about 45m-1h)
• Pour about 6-7 globs of oyster sauce (adjust to taste)

• stir in and simmer covered for another 10 minutes
• Add broccoli, stir it in for about 2 minutes
• add more salt and pepper accdg to preference

Serve.

Kain na!

This is a perfect ender to our aphrodisiac month. Isn't it a wonder how many things you can do with oyster sauce? I am yet to be a fan of the actual oyster, but for now at least I am a worshiper of its extract. And as for me, as long as it brings out flavors that make my husband happy, then it is ipso facto, an aphrodisiac!

Your hot cook,
Hahan