Are you craving a quick, delicious, and healthy side dish that will transform your ordinary vegetables into a restaurant-worthy masterpiece? Look no further than this mouthwatering Stir-Fried Broccoli with Oyster Sauce! In just 15 minutes, you'll create a vibrant, crisp, and incredibly flavorful dish that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds. This classic Chinese recipe is not just a side dish – it's a culinary adventure that proves vegetables can be the star of any meal.
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Cuisine: Chinese
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccoli, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the broccoli florets thoroughly under cold running water and drain completely. Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve better stir-frying results.
- Peel and finely mince the garlic cloves. Set aside near your cooking station for quick access during stir-frying.
- Heat a large wok or wide skillet over high heat. Add vegetable oil and swirl to coat the cooking surface evenly.
- When the oil is hot and slightly shimmering, add minced garlic. Stir quickly for 15-20 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add broccoli florets to the hot pan. Toss and stir continuously to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- Stir-fry the broccoli for 3-4 minutes until the florets become bright green and start to develop slight char marks, indicating they are becoming tender-crisp.
- Pour oyster sauce over the broccoli, continuing to stir and coat the florets evenly.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting the seasoning as needed.
- Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until broccoli reaches desired tenderness while maintaining a crisp texture.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a serving plate immediately to prevent overcooking.
- Serve hot as a side dish or as part of a larger meal, garnishing with additional ground pepper if desired.
Tips
- Dry is Key: Always thoroughly pat your broccoli dry before stir-frying. Excess moisture prevents proper charring and can make your dish soggy.
- High Heat is Essential: Use a wok or a wide skillet and ensure it's blazing hot before adding oil. This guarantees those perfect, slightly charred edges on your broccoli.
- Garlic Timing Matters: Add minced garlic quickly and watch carefully – it should be fragrant but not burnt, which can make the dish bitter.
- Continuous Movement: Keep your broccoli moving constantly while stir-frying to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- Oyster Sauce Pro Tip: Add the oyster sauce towards the end of cooking to preserve its rich, umami flavor and prevent it from burning.
- Don't Overcook: Aim for bright green, tender-crisp broccoli. Overcooking will make it lose its vibrant color and nutritional value.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 75kcal
Carbohydrates: 8g
Protein: 4g
Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
