This shrimp broccoli stir fry is a kind of dishes I like making after I need one thing fast however nonetheless satisfying. The shrimp keep tender, the broccoli retains its crunch, and all the things will get coated in a easy savory sauce that doesn’t overpower the substances. It’s a straightforward weeknight dish that goes completely with a bowl of scorching steamed rice.

Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry is a fast and simple seafood dish that brings tender shrimp and crisp broccoli collectively in a savory oyster sauce. This recipe takes lower than half-hour from begin to end.

 

I’ve been making this for years, particularly on weeknights after I need one thing wholesome however nonetheless filling. The blanching step may seem to be additional work, however it retains the broccoli vibrant inexperienced and crispy.

What’s Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry?

Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry is a Chinese language-inspired dish the place shrimp and greens are cooked shortly over excessive warmth with garlic, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. The secret’s cooking quick so the shrimp stays tender and the broccoli stays crisp.

Stir frying is among the most typical cooking strategies in Asian kitchens. You cook dinner all the things in a scorching wok or pan with just a bit oil, protecting substances shifting continuously. This system seals in taste and retains greens from getting mushy.

I realized this recipe from my mother years in the past. She at all times mentioned the key is having all the things prepped earlier than you activate the range. When you begin cooking, there’s no time to cut or measure. Every part occurs quick.

Why This Recipe Works

• Blanching the greens first means they’re already partially cooked after they hit the wok. This retains them crisp and prevents overcooking the shrimp whereas ready for the broccoli to melt.
• Shaoxing cooking wine provides depth. This Chinese language rice wine brings out the pure sweetness in shrimp and cuts by means of any fishy scent. If you happen to can’t discover it, dry sherry works too.
• The cornstarch slurry creates a shiny sauce that adheres to the shrimp and greens as a substitute of pooling on the backside of your plate. It’s what makes restaurant stir fries look so good.
• Ending with sesame oil provides that nutty aroma proper on the finish. By no means cook dinner with sesame oil as a result of warmth destroys the flavour. All the time add it final.

Components for Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry0.

Major Components:

• Shrimp (1 lb., peeled and deveined) – Use medium to giant shrimp. The 31/40 rely works properly, which means 31 to 40 shrimp per pound. Recent or frozen each work effective. If utilizing frozen, thaw fully and pat dry earlier than cooking. Moist shrimp gained’t sear correctly and can steam as a substitute.
• Broccoli Florets (3 cups) and Stalks (¾ cup, sliced) – Don’t throw away the stalks. They’re simply pretty much as good because the florets when you peel off the robust outer layer and slice them skinny. The stalks take a bit longer to cook dinner, which is why we add them 1 minute after the florets when blanching.
• Carrot (1 medium, sliced) – Provides sweetness and coloration. Slice them skinny so that they cook dinner on the identical velocity because the broccoli stalks. In case your carrots are thick, reduce them on an angle for greater slices that also cook dinner shortly.
• Garlic (5 cloves, minced) – Recent garlic makes an enormous distinction right here. Pre-minced garlic from a jar doesn’t have the identical punch. I exploit a garlic press to avoid wasting time, however chopping works too.
• Shaoxing Cooking Wine (2 tablespoons) – This Chinese language rice wine is offered in most Asian grocery shops. It’s often close to the soy sauce. If you happen to can’t discover it, dry sherry is the closest substitute. Don’t use common consuming wine as a result of it’s too acidic.
• Floor White Pepper (¼ teaspoon) – White pepper has a sharper, extra pungent taste than black pepper. It’s conventional in Chinese language cooking. If you happen to solely have black pepper, use it, however the taste can be barely totally different.
• Cooking Oil (3 tablespoons) – Use a impartial oil with a excessive smoke level like vegetable oil, canola, or peanut oil. Olive oil doesn’t work for stir frying as a result of it burns at excessive warmth.

Sauce Components:

• Sesame Oil (1 ½ teaspoons) – That is for taste, not cooking. Add it on the very finish for that nutty aroma. A bit goes a great distance, so don’t use greater than the recipe requires or it turns into overpowering.
• Soy Sauce (1 ½ tablespoons) – Common soy sauce works effective. If you happen to’re watching sodium, use low-sodium soy sauce and alter the salt within the blanching water.
• Oyster Sauce (2 tablespoons) – This thick, savory sauce is what provides the dish its umami depth. It’s made out of oyster extract and is a staple in Chinese language cooking. Search for Lee Kum Kee model within the Asian aisle. If you happen to’re vegetarian, they make mushroom-flavored oyster sauce that works simply as properly.
• Cornstarch Slurry (1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch + ¼ cup water) – Combine these collectively proper earlier than utilizing. Don’t make it forward as a result of the cornstarch settles. That is what thickens the sauce and makes it cling to the shrimp and greens.

The best way to Make Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

1. Make the Sauce

1. Mix all of the sauce substances in a small bowl. Add the water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar.
2. Combine properly and put aside.

Having this prepared earlier than you begin cooking is necessary as a result of when you’re on the range, all the things strikes quick.

2. Blanch the Greens

1. Deliver 1 quart of water to a rolling boil in a cooking pot.
2. Add the salt, then the broccoli florets. Boil for precisely 1 minute. Add the broccoli stalks and carrots.
3. Proceed boiling for an additional minute. The greens needs to be vibrant inexperienced and nonetheless crisp.
4. Drain instantly and plunge them right into a bowl of ice-cold water for 3 minutes. This stops the cooking and locks within the coloration. Drain properly and put aside.

3. Saute The Garlic

1. Warmth 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a wok or giant pan over medium-high warmth.
2. As soon as the oil shimmers, add the minced garlic. Stir continuously and cook dinner till it turns gentle brown and aromatic, about 30 seconds.

Don’t let it burn or it should style bitter.

4. Prepare dinner the Shrimp

1. Add the shrimp to the wok. Unfold them out in a single layer if potential.
2. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes till they begin turning pink. Flip them over and cook dinner one other minute till they’re pink all through and now not translucent.

Don’t overcook or they’ll get rubbery.

5. Add the Cooking Wine

Pour within the Shaoxing cooking wine. Hold stirring and cooking till the liquid evaporates fully, about 1 minute.

You’ll scent the alcohol cook dinner off and the shrimp could have absorbed the flavour.

6. Add the Greens

1. Toss in all of the blanched greens.
2. Stir-fry all the things collectively for 1 minute.

The greens are already cooked, so that you’re simply heating them by means of and mixing all the things collectively.

7. Pour within the Sauce

1. Add the sauce combination you ready earlier.
2. Stir all the things to coat the shrimp and greens evenly. Let it bubble for about 30 seconds.

8. Season with White Pepper

Sprinkle the bottom white pepper over all the things and provides it a fast stir to distribute.

9. Add with Sesame Oil

1. Drizzle the sesame oil excessive.
2. Give all the things a toss to distribute that nutty aroma.

10. Thicken with Slurry

1. Mix 1/4 cup water with cornstarch.
2. Give your cornstarch slurry a fast stir (it settles quick).
3. Pour it into the wok.
4. Stir instantly and constantly.

The sauce will thicken in about 1 minute and switch shiny. That is what makes the sauce cling to all the things as a substitute of being watery.

11. Serve

1. Switch all the things to a serving plate.
2. Serve scorching with steamed rice.

The sauce is ideal for pouring over rice, so don’t go away any behind within the wok.

What to Serve with Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

• Garlic Fried Rice (Sinangag) – The traditional pairing. The garlic taste goes completely with the oyster sauce within the stir fry.
• Steamed Jasmine Rice – In order for you one thing easy that gained’t compete with the stir fry flavors. The sauce soaks into the rice superbly.
• Asian Rooster Stir Fry – Make each and serve them collectively for an even bigger meal. Two stir fries with totally different proteins provides everybody choices.
• Egg Drop Soup – A light-weight soup balances out the richness of the stir fry. It’s easy and gained’t take away from the principle dish.
• Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry – Good for when you’ve vegetarian friends. The tofu provides protein with out meat.

Extra Stir Fry Recipes

I made this final week for my household and everybody went again for seconds. My daughter, who often picks at greens, truly ate all her broccoli. I believe the sauce makes all of the distinction.

This Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry has turn into certainly one of my common weeknight dinners. When you get the timing down, it’s quicker than ordering takeout.