Origin of beef and broccoli

Beef and broccoli is inspired by Chinese cooking, especially Cantonese cuisine, but the version most people know today actually became very popular in North America through Chinese-American restaurants. Traditional Chinese cuisine often uses Chinese broccoli, called “gai lan,” instead of the regular broccoli commonly used in Western versions. Immigrant Chinese cooks adapted the dish using local ingredients available in the United States and Canada, and it eventually became one of the most famous Chinese-style takeout dishes in North America.