This speedy Asian Broccoli recipe gives your plain boiled broccoli a flavor upgrade!
Easy, fast, and family-approved.
Asian Broccoli
About this Chinese broccoli recipe
Broccoli, a year-round supermarket staple, offers tons of health benefits. However, steaming or boiling them can be a bit bland for those aiming for long term healthy eating.
Give the taste a boost by adding the garlic sauce – it brings out the broccoli’s natural sweetness.
And oh, let’s not forget the bacon! It adds a delicious smoky, meaty flavor to the sauce, taking the taste to a whole new level of yumminess!
While developing and testing this recipe, I enjoyed every version, whether with or without bacon.
Sometimes, I pair it with rice, and dinner is sorted. It works great as a side dish too.
How to Choose the Best Broccoli
- Color:
- Look for fresh green broccoli. Avoid yellowish or flowering ones, as they may be over-mature or stored for too long.
- Fresh, light green leaves are a sign of freshness.
- Tightness:
- Select broccoli with tight flowers. Loose ones might be over-mature or stored for too long.
- Stem Cut:
- Examine the stem cut. If it looks too dry, it might have been stored for an extended period.
- Prefer stems with a lighter color, as darker ones can be too tough.
What to do with broccoli stalks
Broccoli stalks are an integral part of the vegetable, but they have a tough outer layer that needs peeling.
Some can be easily peeled by hand, or you can use a knife to trim them.
Once peeled, the stalks can be sliced and cooked along with the flower parts.
Ingredients
- Broccoli: Chop the broccoli into smaller pieces to quicken the cooking time and allow more sauce to coat them evenly.
- Garlic: finely chop them to enhance the garlic flavor in the sauce. You can batch cook fried garlic, saving you from frying it every time.
- Bacon: I use smoky ones as they complement the recipe perfectly. Using prosciutto can make it taste even better than bacon, but it comes at a higher cost. Since bacon releases some water when pan-fried, it’s best not to fry it with garlic. (Yes, I’ve tried 🤓)
- Oyster sauce: Oyster sauce has become a substitute for MSG in modern Chinese cooking. If you don’t have it, you can use an equal amount of soy sauce as a replacement.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is added to thicken the sauce, ensuring it coats the broccoli. Be sure to stir the sauce well before pouring it into the frying pan.
Instructions
Step one: Boiling broccoli
- Add a pinch of salt and a splash of olive oil to the boiling water. Boil the broccoli for approximately 3-5 minutes, then drain.
Step two: Frying Bacon
- Toss bacon pieces into the frying pan with oil and cook until they become crisp and golden brown. Set aside.
Step three: Preparing garlic sauce
- Add garlic to the remaining oil and cook until golden brown.
- While frying the garlic, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and water to make the sauce.
- Stir the sauce well and pour it into the frying pan. Stir for about 10 seconds.
Step four: Adding broccoli and bacon
- Toss in the broccoli, making sure it’s thoroughly coated with the garlic sauce.
- Add the bacon, and it’s ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
- Saltiness: Bacon can vary in saltiness, and in this recipe, I use two strips. If you choose to add more, decrease the soy sauce to avoid it becoming overly salty.
- Prevent excess water: Be sure to thoroughly drain the broccoli, or the sauce may become watery.
- Enhance the flavours: Adding chili flakes for a hint of spice or a touch of sugar if you prefer a slightly sweet sauce.
This is Asian broccoli that rocks your taste buds. It’s the perfect partner for protein like stir-fried chicken, pork belly or Tofu.
But honestly, it’s so good, you might just want to eat it by the bowlful.
If you enjoy this recipe, show some love with a 5-star rating! 😍
Asian Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 broccoli (cut into small pieces)
- bacon 2 strips (cut into small pieces, more or less to your liking)
- 3 tablespoon oil
- 4-5 clove garlic (finely chopped)
- 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Boiling broccoli: Add a pinch of salt and a splash of olive oil to the boiling water. Boil the broccoli for approximately 3-5 minutes, then drain.
- Frying Bacon: Toss bacon pieces into the frying pan with oil and cook until they become crisp and golden brown. Set aside.
- Preparing garlic sauce: Add garlic to the remaining oil and cook until golden brown.While frying the garlic, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and water to make the sauce.Stir the sauce well and pour it into the frying pan. Stir for about 10 seconds.
- Adding broccoli and bacon: Toss in the broccoli, making sure it’s thoroughly coated with the garlic sauce. Add the bacon, and it’s ready to serve.
Recipe Notes:
-
- Broccoli: Chop the broccoli into smaller pieces to quicken the cooking time and allow more sauce to coat them evenly.
- Garlic: finely chop them to enhance the garlic flavor in the sauce. You can batch cook fried garlic, saving you from frying it every time.
- Bacon: I use smoky ones as they complement the recipe perfectly. Using prosciutto can make it taste even better than bacon, but it comes at a higher cost. Since bacon releases some water when pan-fried, it’s best not to fry it with garlic.
- Oyster sauce: Oyster sauce has become a substitute for MSG in modern Chinese cooking. If you don’t have it, you can use an equal amount of soy sauce as a replacement.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is added to thicken the sauce, ensuring it coats the broccoli. Be sure to stir the sauce well before pouring it into the frying pan.
- Saltiness: Bacon can vary in saltiness, and in this recipe, I use two strips. If you choose to add more, decrease the soy sauce to avoid it becoming overly salty.
- Prevent excess water: Be sure to thoroughly drain the broccoli, or the sauce may become watery.
- Enhance the flavours: Adding chili flakes for a hint of spice or a touch of sugar if you prefer a slightly sweet sauce.
Nutrition Information:
You May Also Like:
