Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

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 components. 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 would possibly seem to be further work, however it retains the broccoli shiny 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 bottom line is 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 prepare dinner all the things in a scorching wok or pan with just a bit oil, retaining components 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. All the things 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 any fishy scent. In the event you can’t discover it, dry sherry works too.
• The cornstarch slurry creates a shiny sauce that adheres to the shrimp and greens as an alternative 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 prepare dinner with sesame oil as a result of warmth destroys the flavour. At all times add it final.

Elements for Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry0.

Most important Elements:

• Shrimp (1 lb., peeled and deveined) – Use medium to massive shrimp. The 31/40 rely works effectively, that means 31 to 40 shrimp per pound. Contemporary or frozen each work high quality. If utilizing frozen, thaw utterly and pat dry earlier than cooking. Moist shrimp gained’t sear correctly and can steam as an alternative.
• 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 prepare 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 in order that they prepare dinner on the similar velocity because the broccoli stalks. In case your carrots are thick, reduce them on an angle for larger slices that also prepare dinner shortly.
• Garlic (5 cloves, minced) – Contemporary garlic makes an enormous distinction right here. Pre-minced garlic from a jar doesn’t have the identical punch. I take advantage of a garlic press to avoid wasting time, however chopping works too.
• Shaoxing Cooking Wine (2 tablespoons) – This Chinese language rice wine is bought in most Asian grocery shops. It’s normally close to the soy sauce. In the event you can’t discover it, dry sherry is the closest substitute. Don’t use common ingesting 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. In the event you 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 Elements:

• Sesame Oil (1 ½ teaspoons) – That is for taste, not cooking. Add it on the very finish for that nutty aroma. Slightly goes a good distance, so don’t use greater than the recipe requires or it turns into overpowering.
• Soy Sauce (1 ½ tablespoons) – Common soy sauce works high quality. In the event you’re watching sodium, use low-sodium soy sauce and modify the salt within the blanching water.
• Oyster Sauce (2 tablespoons) – This thick, savory sauce is what provides the dish its umami depth. It’s constructed from oyster extract and is a staple in Chinese language cooking. Search for Lee Kum Kee model within the Asian aisle. In the event you’re vegetarian, they make mushroom-flavored oyster sauce that works simply as effectively.
• 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.

Make Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

1. Make the Sauce

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

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

2. Blanch the Greens

1. Convey 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 must be shiny 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 effectively and put aside.

3. Saute The Garlic

1. Warmth 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a wok or massive pan over medium-high warmth.
2. As soon as the oil shimmers, add the minced garlic. Stir continuously and prepare 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 prepare dinner one other minute till they’re pink throughout and now not translucent.

Don’t overcook or they’ll get rubbery.

5. Add the Cooking Wine

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

You’ll scent the alcohol prepare dinner off and the shrimp can 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 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 an alternative 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 depart 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 – If you would like one thing easy that gained’t compete with the stir fry flavors. The sauce soaks into the rice fantastically.
• Asian Rooster Stir Fry – Make each and serve them collectively for a much 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 primary dish.
• Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry – Good for when you could have 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 normally picks at greens, really ate all her broccoli. I feel 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 sooner than ordering takeout.