Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use tamari instead of soy sauce, which usually contains sodium benzoate.

Make sauce

Cook noodles and set aside

Cook beef and set aside

Add vegetables and cook until tender

Return beef and noodles to the pan and add sauce

Beef and broccoli lo mein

Ingredients:

1 (8-ounce/227 g) package lo mein noodles

Salt

3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced

¼ cup (60 ml) soy sauce

¼ cup (60 ml) dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons (30 ml) canola or grapeseed oil

1 pound (454 g) chuck or rib steak, thinly sliced against the grain

1 (1-inch/2.5-cm) piece of ginger, peeled and cut into rounds

¼ teaspoon (1 ml) black pepper

¼ teaspoon (1 ml) red-pepper flakes

1 head broccoli, cut into small florets (about 3 heaping cups)

2 carrots, shredded

3 scallions or green onions, thinly sliced

2 to 3 teaspoons (10 to 15 ml) sesame oil (optional)

1 lime, cut in wedges, for serving

Preparation:

Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling, salted water until tender, about 4 minutes, or according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Meanwhile, stir together the garlic, soy sauce and brown sugar, and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of the oil in a large wok or skillet until hot and shimmering. Add the beef, ginger, black pepper and red-pepper flakes, and cook until crisp on the outside but still pink inside, 2 minutes. Season with salt, and move to a plate.

Add remaining oil to the wok and heat until shimmering. Add the broccoli and cook, tossing until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Add ¼ cup (60 ml) water and steam the broccoli until bright green and some of the liquid has evaporated, 2 minutes more. Add the noodles, beef, ginger, carrots and soy sauce mixture to the pan, and toss over medium heat until coated and thickened a little, about 1 to 2 minutes. Salt to taste. Sprinkle with scallions, and drizzle with sesame oil, if using. Toss to coat and serve warm, with lime. Serves 4.

From the New York Times