A quick and easy broccoli stir-fry with ginger and sesame seeds, this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes. Enjoy as an accompaniment to almost any dish!
Are you getting cravings for broccoli?
Some people get cravings for chocolate. I get cravings for broccoli. Sometimes I think it’s my body’s way of telling me I’ve spread the bacon (or maybe the chocolate!) a little too thick. But honestly, I could eat broccoli any day of the year and wouldn’t get sick of it.
Here’s a quick and easy recipe for broccoli stir-fried with some ginger and sesame seeds. The broccoli florets are first quickly fried and then stewed in a sauce made from broth, sesame oil and soy sauce.
This pressure cooking technique works best with the florets. Don’t throw away the broccoli stalks, peel and slice them thickly and eat them raw like a carrot; The raw stems go great with dips.
What is your favorite way to prepare broccoli? Our daily companion is steamed broccoli, but we’re always looking for ideas.
Fill up this pan
The beauty of this recipe is its versatility and ease. You can add more veggies (like sliced carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts, baby corn, celery) to make it more fun and colorful. Feel free to throw in some protein like thinly sliced beef, chicken, or even shrimp for a more filling dish.
Be sure to use a larger pan when adding more ingredients. You don’t want to push veggies too much and make them too mushy!
The best pan for stir-fries
This isn’t quite a traditional wok recipe. Traditionally, Chinese stir-fries are prepared in a wok over higher heat. This adapts the technique for home cooks who don’t have a wok or access to the high heat of restaurants.
A wok is great if you have one, but absolutely not necessary.
However, you want to use the largest pan you have so the broccoli can cook evenly without becoming overcrowded. If you like a little char on your veggies, feel free to cook the broccoli over high heat for a few more minutes.
What to serve with broccoli skillet
- Ginger Beef Skillet
- Chinese Orange Chicken
- Baked salmon in panco crust
- fireworks chicken
- Air Fryer Chinese Spring Rolls
CONTINUE READING:
From the editors of Simply Recipes
Broccoli stir-fry with ginger and sesame
Based on a recipe in Jack Bishop’s Vegetables Every Day.
ingredients
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1 tablespoon Sesame seeds
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1/2 Cup chicken broth (use vegetable broth for vegan option)
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1 tablespoon soy sauce (use gluten free soy sauce for the gluten free option)
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1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
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peanut oil or rapeseed oil
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1 lb broccoli floretsRinse, pat dry and cut into bite-sized pieces
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1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
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2 cloves garlicchopped (about 1 tablespoon)
method
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Roast sesame:
Toast the sesame seeds by first heating a small skillet without chopsticks over medium-high heat. Add the sesame seeds and shake the pan so they spread into a single layer.
Let them cook until lightly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Don’t walk away from them while cooking, as once they start browning, they can burn easily. Once lightly toasted, remove from heat and place in a small bowl. (Skip this step if using pre-toasted sesame seeds.)
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Mix the broth, soy sauce and sesame oil:
Combine the broth, soy sauce, and dark sesame oil in a small bowl. Put aside.
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Sauté Broccoli, Garlic, and Ginger:
Heat 1 tablespoon peanut or canola oil in a large skillet with lid over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli florets and stir to coat the florets with the oil. Fry them for about a minute.
Make a gap in the middle of the broccoli and add the ginger and garlic. Add a little more oil to the ginger and garlic (about a teaspoon) and sauté for half a minute, stirring only the garlic and ginger, until fragrant. Then mix the garlic and ginger with the broccoli.
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Add the soy mixture and let simmer:
Add the soy and sesame oil mixture to the pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and cover. Cook until broccoli is firm but pierceable with a fork, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from stove.
Place the broccoli in a bowl with a slotted spoon. Put the pan back on the stove. Increase the heat to high and reduce the liquid until only a few tablespoons remain.
Turn off the heat and return the broccoli to the pan. Add the toasted sesame seeds and mix with the liquid. Serve fresh and hot from the stove.
| nutritional information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 129 | calories |
| 9g | Fat |
| 11g | carbohydrates |
| 4g | protein |
