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 pieces will get coated in a easy savory sauce that doesn’t overpower the elements. 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 appear to be further work, nevertheless 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 hot button is cooking quick so the shrimp stays tender and the broccoli stays crisp.

Stir frying is likely one of the commonest cooking strategies in Asian kitchens. You prepare dinner all the pieces in a scorching wok or pan with just a bit oil, protecting elements shifting always. This method seals in taste and retains greens from getting mushy.

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

Why This Recipe Works

• Blanching the greens first means they’re already partially cooked once 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 via any fishy scent. In case 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. All the time add it final.

Elements for Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry0.

Fundamental Elements:

• Shrimp (1 lb., peeled and deveined) – Use medium to giant shrimp. The 31/40 rely works effectively, that means 31 to 40 shrimp per pound. Recent or frozen each work high-quality. If utilizing frozen, thaw fully and pat dry earlier than cooking. Moist shrimp received’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 powerful 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 shade. Slice them skinny in order that they prepare dinner on the similar pace because the broccoli stalks. In case your carrots are thick, reduce them on an angle for greater slices that also prepare 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 bought in most Asian grocery shops. It’s often close to the soy sauce. In case 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 case you solely have black pepper, use it, however the taste will likely be barely completely 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. A little 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 high-quality. In case you’re watching sodium, use low-sodium soy sauce and regulate the salt within the blanching water.
• Oyster Sauce (2 tablespoons) – This thick, savory sauce is what provides the dish its umami depth. It’s created from oyster extract and is a staple in Chinese language cooking. Search for Lee Kum Kee model within the Asian aisle. In case 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.

Easy methods to Make Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

1. Make the Sauce

1. Mix all of the sauce elements 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 pieces 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 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 shade. Drain effectively 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 always and prepare dinner till it turns mild brown and aromatic, about 30 seconds.

Don’t let it burn or it’s going to style bitter.

4. Cook 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 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 fully, 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 pieces collectively for 1 minute.

The greens are already cooked, so that you’re simply heating them via and mixing all the pieces collectively.

7. Pour within the Sauce

1. Add the sauce combination you ready earlier.
2. Stir all the pieces 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 pieces and provides it a fast stir to distribute.

9. Add with Sesame Oil

1. Drizzle the sesame oil excessive.
2. Give all the pieces 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 repeatedly.

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

11. Serve

1. Switch all the pieces 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 basic pairing. The garlic taste goes completely with the oyster sauce within the stir fry.
• Steamed Jasmine Rice – If you need one thing easy that received’t compete with the stir fry flavors. The sauce soaks into the rice superbly.
• Asian Hen Stir Fry – Make each and serve them collectively for a much bigger meal. Two stir fries with completely different proteins provides everybody choices.
• Egg Drop Soup – A lightweight soup balances out the richness of the stir fry. It’s easy and received’t take away from the principle dish.
• Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry – Good for when you’ve got vegetarian visitors. 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, really ate all her broccoli. I believe the sauce makes all of the distinction.

This Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry has turn out to be one in all my common weeknight dinners. When you get the timing down, it’s quicker than ordering takeout.