Five spice powder is a magical blend of sweet and savory notes used in Chinese cuisine that transforms simple vegan ground “beef” into an irresistible flavor bomb. Tossed with tender broccoli florets, noodles, and a luscious peanut sauce, this dish is a plant-based explosion of taste and texture you’ll want to make on repeat. I make this dish whenever I am craving something salty and flavorful. Five spice “beef” and broccoli noodles comes together in under 30 minutes if you cook the pasta, broccoli, and beef at the same time. Its also a super high protein dish with the vegan beef, peanut butter, and pasta!
HOW TO MAKE FIVE SPICE "BEEF" AND BROCCOLI NOODLES
The first thing I always recommend doing for any recipe is to get all the ingredients out that you’ll need and to prep your veggies by washing and chopping them. This should be quick since we only have 1 vegetable and minimal ingredients.
Next, you’ll want to start boiling your salted water for the pasta since this can take some time. Then start boiling a couple of inches of water in your double boiler.
However, if you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a steaming basket or a colander that fits inside a pot with a couple inches of water in it.
Next, you can heat up your pan on a medium high heat and cook your vegan ground “beef” according to the package’s instructions and add the five spice powder when it starts to brown, indicating that is it nearly done cooking.
Once the water for the pasta is boiling, cook your pasta according to the instructions on the package. Before draining, be sure to reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water – we’ll use it to create a luscious sauce.
While the pasta cooks, whisk together all the ingredients for the savory peanut sauce in a separate bowl.
Once everything is cooked, it’s time for the grand finale! Drain the pasta (reserving the water) and add it to the skillet with the cooked “beef.” Pour in the peanut sauce, and use the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency. Stir in the broccoli florets ensuring everything is coated in that delicious peanutty goodness.
Finally, plate your pasta dish and top with green onions, chopped peanuts, and sesame seeds.
INGREDIENTS IN FIVE SPICE "BEEF" AND BROCCOLI NOODLES
Vegan ground beef: I used Impossible ground beef in this recipe, but feel free to replace it with vegan ground beef of your choice or minced mushrooms, lentils, or textured vegetable protein (TVP) for a healthier option.
Five spice powder: Five spice powder is a sweet and savory mixture of five spices that typically include cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise, and Sichuan pepper although some recipes vary.
Broccoli: I used about one and half heads of broccoli including the stems. To eat the stem of the broccoli, just trim the tough outer coating and chop the stem into small bite sized pieces. I steamed the broccoli for about 7 mins before they became tender enough, but check on them after about 5 minutes. The stems may take longer to cook than the florets.
Noodles: I used regular pasta noodles for this recipe because I want to keep this recipe pretty simple, using pantry ingredients. Feel free to swap this out for your favorite noodles, including gluten-free options!
Savory Peanut Sauce: This sauce uses ingredients that most vegan kitchens should have on hand. And if you need to purchase some ingredients to make this, you can put this sauce on repeat because it is sooo good! It can be used as a sauce for pastas, for cooking tofu or tempeh, a dip for dumplings, or even as a salad dressing! To make it gluten-free, swap out the soy sauce for tamari.
WHY YOU'LL LOVE FIVE SPICE "BEEF" AND BROCCOLI NOODLES
30-Minute Meal: This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want a delicious and satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
Simple Ingredients: Most of the ingredients are pantry staples, so you likely have most of what you need on hand.
Unique Spice Blend: The Chinese five-spice powder adds a complex and fragrant flavor profile that’s both sweet and savory.
Savory Peanut Sauce: The rich and creamy peanut sauce, with its touch of heat and tanginess, complements the five-spice “beef” and broccoli perfectly. It’s a flavor combination that’s both familiar and exciting.
High in Protein: The combination of vegan “beef,” peanut butter, and noodles provides a substantial amount of protein, making it a filling and satisfying meal.
Nutrient-Rich: Broccoli adds a boost of vitamins, minerals, and fiber to the dish.
STORAGE TIPS FOR FIVE SPICE "BEEF" AND BROCCOLI NOODLES
This dish can last for several days in the refrigerator, so it’s great for meal prep. If the pasta has absorbed too much of the sauce, you can make new sauce to add to it. To make it even simpler, just add a little bit of water and mix it in to make it creamy again.
Five Spice "Beef" and Broccoli with Savory Peanut Sauce
Equipment
- Double boiler or steam basket or colander
- Large pot
- Pan
Ingredients
- 8 oz noodles half a standard pack, sub for gluten free if desired
- 12 oz broccoli about 1.5 heads with stems
- 12 oz Impossible beef or your favorite plant-based beef substitute
- 2 tbsp five spice powder
Peanut Sauce
- 1/2 cup peanut butter smooth or crunchy
- 1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari for gluten free
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or sugar or agave
- 1 tbsp sriracha or more to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ginger powder
Toppings
- green onions
- crushed peanuts
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Chop up your broccoli into bite-sized florets. Trim the tough parts off the stem, and cut the soft part of the stem into bite-sized pieces.
- Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a boil for the noodles.
- While the pasta water heats, prepare your steamer – either a double boiler, steaming basket, or a colander set over a pot with a few inches of simmering water.
- Once the water for the steamer is boiling, add the broccoli. Cover and steam for 5 - 7 minutes. Check after 5 minutes to see if the broccoli and the stems are tender. Set aside when they are done.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the vegan ground "beef" according to the package instructions. As it begins to brown, add the five spice powder.
- Once the pasta water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sriracha, maple syrup, garlic powder, and ginger powder.
- Add the pasta and broccoli to the pan with the vegan ground "beef". Add in the peanut sauce, and use the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Divide the noodles among your serving bowls and top with green onions, crushed peanuts, and sesame seeds.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
If you made Five Spice “Beef” and Broccoli Noodles with Savory Peanut Sauce, I would really appreciate it if you could comment and leave a rating below. You can also share a photo and tag me on Instagram @thesunshinevegankitchen. I would love to hear all about your experience. Thank you so much!
Tried this for the first time today. Incredibly delicious and easy to make as advertised. We eat a lot of noodle dishes and this is now one of our favorites! Thank you Sunshine Vegan Kitchen!
You’re so welcome!! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂