Craving restaurant-quality Chinese broccoli without the takeout price?
Get ready to unlock a simple yet sensational recipe featuring perfectly steamed greens drenched in a luscious oyster sauce – it's so easy, you'll wonder why you haven't made it before!
Ingredients
For this yummy Chinese Broccoli recipe, we will need a few ingredients that'll make it taste just like your favorite restaurant's! First, grab one bunch of Chinese broccoli—Gai Lan, if you wanna get fancy!
Now, let's whip up that oyster sauce. You'll need one teaspoon of cornstarch, six tablespoons of water, one tablespoon of oyster sauce—duh, and half a teaspoon of dark soy sauce.
We're not done yet! Dig up one tablespoon of Chinese cooking wine – Mirin, or dry sherry works, too. Don't forget half a teaspoon each of sesame and vegetable oil!
A little sweetness? Half a teaspoon of sugar. Grate one clove of garlic and one teaspoon of ginger—smells amazing, doesn't it? Now it's time to cook!
Instructions
All right, with our ingredients prepped and ready—I'm excited to get cooking! First things first, let's get that Chinese broccoli handled. Trim the ends—bye-bye, tough bits! And if any stems are super thick, just slice them in half, we want them all playing on the same level.
Now, let's get steamy! Use your favorite steaming method. I usually microwave it in a steamer for about 4 minutes. You're looking for that "just cooked" feel—not too soft! Interestingly, this quick method stands in contrast to a stir-fried chicken recipe, which requires a different approach to cooking.
Here are the final touches I like to add:
- Stack that broccoli like you're building a tiny fort.
- Cut it into about 4-inch lengths—easy peasy.
- Stack 'em neatly again; presentation counts, right?
- Drizzle that oyster sauce all over!
And there you have it! Chinese broccoli, ready to steal the show! Seriously, I can't wait for you to try it.
Recipe Notes
Regarding the Recipe Notes, here's what I think—substitutions are totally fine by me! Cooking should be fun, so swap ingredients if needed.
Don't have Chinese cooking wine? No stress! Use Mirin, cooking sake, or dry sherry instead. I promise it'll still taste amazing. If you're avoiding alcohol altogether, skip the wine and use chicken broth—it adds a great flavor boost. Don't forget that keeping soy sauce stocked will enhance the authentic umami flavor.
Want to make sure everything's perfect? Keep an eye on the Chinese broccoli while it steams. You want it cooked—but not mushy! Slightly crunchy stems are the goal. I would say the stems should be *just* cooked—not soft and floppy.
Trust me; with these little tweaks, you'll nail this dish every time—it is not hard! I believe in you!
Nutrition Information
Now, let's explore into the nutrition facts – because knowing what you're eating is just as important as enjoying it! I've broken down the key nutrients per serving, so you're totally in the know! Here's what you get:
- Calories: Just 91 – that's less than a handful of chips, folks!
- Carbs: 8.7 grams, so you've got some energy without a huge carb overload.
- Protein: At 4.5 grams, plenty to keep you satisfied post-broccoli feast!
- Vitamins: Whoa, get this! A whopping 380% of your daily Vitamin A! I'd start investing in carrots.
It's not only delicious but a nutritional powerhouse. Remember, these figures are estimates, and your actual values may vary slightly. I think these little greens are great!
Short Recipe Version
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
- 1 pound Chinese broccoli
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions:
- Steam Chinese broccoli until tender-crisp (5-7 minutes).
- Combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, water, and cornstarch.
- Heat oil in a pan, add garlic, and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Pour sauce mixture into the pan and cook until thickened.
- Pour sauce over steamed Chinese broccoli and serve.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving, Estimated):
- Calories: 150
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 13g