1 food pair you definitely have to try

May 1, 2015 10:15 PM

Simple, pan-seared steak and roasted broccoli are a classic pair.

Steak and broccoli

Most people think of beef as an unhealthy food, but red meat does deliver an energizing punch of iron.

“Iron-rich foods are absorbed into the blood more readily when a food that's high in vitamin C is eaten at the same time,” explains Sarah Krieger, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Try out this stir fry ginger beef broccoli and mushrooms, and here's how.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons peanut oil or canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced or grated fresh ginger, divided
Salt to taste
2 teaspoons minced or crushed garlic
About a dozen medium mushrooms, sliced
1 medium bunch broccoli, coarsely chopped (peel and include as much of the stalks as feasible)
3/4 pound sirloin steak or flank steak, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 cups cooked white rice
Dark sesame oil, drizzled to taste
Chili flakes to taste

Directions:

1. Place a wok or large, deep skillet over medium heat and wait about a minute. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Turn the heat to high, add the onion and half the ginger, and stir-fry for about a minute. Sprinkle lightly with salt, if using.

2. Add 1 teaspoon of the garlic and all of the mushrooms, and salt lightly (if using). Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms soften.

3. Keeping the heat high, toss in the broccoli, salt lightly again, and stir-fry for about 3 minutes, or until the broccoli is bright green, but still crisp. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl, and return the wok or skillet to the stove over high heat.

4. Wait 30 seconds, then add the other tablespoon oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the strips of beef and the remaining ginger, salting lightly. Stir-fry for just 1 to 2 minutes for medium.

5. During the last 20 seconds or so of cooking, sprinkle in the remaining teaspoon of garlic and the balsamic vinegar, then add the vegetables back in, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, and serve right away, over rice.