Crisp tender broccoli in a garlicky sauce with umami flavours! This easy broccoli with garlic sauce is ready in 10 minutes with minimal ingredients. A healthy vegetable side dish to get in fiber!
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This Chinese broccoli dish features delicious broccoli coated in a rich garlic sauce made of oyster sauce, garlic, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, a touch of sugar and sesame oil!
If you're looking for more delicious ways to get in some fiber, this is it! It serves well as a fantastic side dish to your main meal in Chinese cuisine and the best part is that it's so easy to make in one pan with simple ingredients!
Not a fan of broccoli? This garlic sauce can be served with other vegetables, like bok choy, gai-lan, cauliflower or choy sum.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Whole Broccoli Crown: broken into florets. Frozen broccoli florets can work too but don't overcook them.
Garlic sauce
- Fresh Garlic
- Oyster sauce: or substitute with vegetarian stir fry sauce if you don't like oysters. If you're gluten-free: substitute with a gluten-free version.
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce.
- Shaoxing wine: a Chinese rice cooking wine. Or substitute with Dry Sherry. For a non-alcoholic or gluten-free version, substitute with any broth.
- Sesame oil
- Cornstarch: or substitute with potato starch
- White granulated sugar
- Cold water
Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients or check Amazon.
Expert Tips
- Source fresh vibrant green broccoli. This will make all the difference. Avoid any broccoli that is limp, yellow or not sturdy. These are old.
- Use fresh garlic for best taste. This will ensure a garlicky taste to your sauce instead of using pre-minced garlic in a jar. However, if that's all you have, feel free to use that and perhaps add a bit more.
- Do not over blanch your broccoli. This can lead to very soft broccoli that will crumble, unless you enjoy that. Usually in Chinese cooking, we only blanch until the vegetable turns vibrant green and remains crisp.
- Feel free to add broccoli into sauce as it thickens. Another way to enjoy this dish and to add the blanched broccoli right into the sauce as it simmers in your wok and mixing it! This allows for the sauce to cover every piece.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make broccoli with garlic sauce:
Wash Broccoli and Make Sauce
Wash your broccoli florets until the water runs clear and strain them.
In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients. Set aside.
Blanch and Transfer Broccoli
In a wok or large pan filled halfway with water, bring to a boil. Once it boils, blanch broccoli for 2-3 minutes or soft and vibrant green.
Strain cooked broccoli and transfer to a serving plate.
Simmer and Pour Sauce on Broccoli
Dry the wok or pan and set it over medium heat. Once wok is hot, pour sauce and allow this to simmer to thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
Once sauce is thick, pour sauce over broccoli. Serve & enjoy!
Storage
- Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.
- Freezer-friendly? I wouldn't recommend freezing this dish since it's has sauce which will make the broccoli mushy.
Pairing Suggestions
This Chinese vegetable dish serves well with:
- starters like egg rolls, crab rangoons, egg drop soup, hot and sour soup
- white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, fried rice, chow mein, lo mein, plain noodles, soup noodles
- protein dishes like Mongolian Beef, Orange Chicken, Bang Bang Shrimp, Gochujang Chicken, Soy Garlic Tofu, Chinese Braised Tofu and more!
FAQ
This Chinese garlic sauce can be used on other green vegetables such as bok choy (check out my Chinese Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce recipe), gai lan, yu choy sum, and more!
Yes, feel free to steam the broccoli in a steamer pot or bamboo steamer until vibrant green and crisp.
Yes, this broccoli with garlic sauce can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To enjoy, reheat it in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop on medium heat.
Other recipes you may like
- Chinese Broccoli Stir Fry
- Steamed Garlic Bok Choy
- Stir Fried Snow Pea Leaves
- Choy Sum with Sizzling Oil
- Easy Garlic Green Beans
📖 Recipe
Easy 10-min. Chinese Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz broccoli florets washed and strained
Garlic Sauce:
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or sub with vegetarian stir fry sauce
- 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 1.5 tablespoon shaoxing wine or sub with Dry Sherry Wine
- 1.5 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1.5 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¾ teaspoon white granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water cold
Instructions
- Wash your broccoli florets until the water runs clear and strain them.
- In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients.
- In a wok or large pan filled halfway with water, bring to a boil. Once it boils, blanch broccoli for 2-3 minutes or crisp and tender.
- Strain broccoli and transfer to a serving plate.
- Dry the wok or pan and set it over medium heat. Once wok is hot, pour sauce and allow this to simmer to thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
- Once thick, pour sauce over broccoli. Serve & enjoy!
vidya dev
very nice
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making it!
Abbyloo
Can I skip shaoxing wine?
Christie Lai
Yes or feel free to replace with a broth of your choice like chicken, beef or vegetable broth.
Abbyloo
Can I eat this broccoli with sauce with a fork by itself?
Christie Lai
Yes, of course!
Maxa
Excellent, fast & easy!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Maxa! So happy it was excellent, fast and easy!
Anne
I made it already 4 times and its ALWAYS a winner. Thank you 🙂
christieathome
Thank you so much Anne! I am so happy you like this recipe so much! Have a lovely day! 🙂
Maria
It was good - nice and light yet had good flavor. I added chicken broth instead of water.
christieathome
Thanks so much for the review Maria! Glad you enjoyed it.