Broccoli with Garlic Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

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Chinese broccoli with garlic sauce recipe. Make takeout at home in your kitchen with this easy to make recipe which includes a homemade garlic stir fry sauce!

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Broccoli with garlic sauce is one of my favorite dishes to order at Chinese restaurants.

We have a local sit down Chinese place that my favorite thing to order is just a big old plate of broccoli marinated in that finger licking good garlic stir fry sauce.

Every time I go there, I always order the same thing.

Garlic sauce is my very favorite thing about takeout, and I decided to recreate that same amazing lick-the-plate-clean taste in my own kitchen!

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My dad used to order Chinese every single Sunday when I was growing up, and we always got some form of garlic sauce in our meal.

Everyone loved it, and my favorite was the tofu and broccoli with garlic sauce.

If you have ever tried my stir fry sauce recipe, you know that it has changed my life!

It is only 3 ingredients, and transforms boring stir fry into holy wow this is amazing stir fry!

I write all about how it’s the perfect sauce in my post about How do You Thicken Stir Fry Sauce?

I’m using that same incredible stir fry sauce to make this chinese broccoli not only crazy good, but crazy easy to make!

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Ingredients to make broccoli with garlic sauce

  • fresh minced garlic
  • sesame oil
  • raw broccoli florets
  • stir fry sauce
  • white rice, to serve

That’s it!

So simple and it took me less than a half hour to make!

My kitchen smelled heavenly.

I’m already so excited to make this recipe again!

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I can see this easily becoming our own Sunday tradition in my little family!

This recipe is very similar to my broccoli tofu stir fry recipe, but minus the tofu.

I wanted to create a stand alone recipe for anyone who loves broccoli in garlic sauce as a side dish or a main dish!

To make it a full meal, you could add your favorite protein of choice!

Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables to put in stir fry.

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How to make broccoli with garlic sauce

First, mince up your garlic with a knife or garlic mincer and measure out ⅓ of a cup.

You need lots of garlic because we are making garlic sauce, so it is the star!

Tip for buying fresh garlic

I used probably around 2 heads of garlic.

I recommend buying the pre packaged bags where the garlic is already peeled.

These save so much time, and I always buy my garlic this way now.

Note: I am talking about the already peeled garlic that comes in bags, not the pre minced jar stuff.

We definitely want fresh for this recipe!

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How to make the best sticky rice

While you are getting everything chopped up, get your rice cooking.

I highly recommend investing in a rice cooker, because the flavor and texture is perfect every time.

If you do not have a rice cooker, just cook your rice on the stove.

Make sure you do not salt the rice, as the sauce from the broccoli has more than enough salt in it to flavor the rice.

Next, chop up your broccoli into florets.

You can use between 8 and 9 cups for this recipe.

Next, shake together a batch of 3 ingredient stir fry sauce and set aside.

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Cooking your broccoli

Grab a big skillet or jumbo cooker and add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and heat to medium.

Add the garlic and cook for 3 – 5 minutes, stirring often, until it begins to brown.

Be careful not to burn the garlic.

Add the broccoli and stir fry sauce and cook an additional 10 – 15 minutes, stirring often, until broccoli is desired texture.

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This recipes uses my favorite stir fry sauce!

Just 3 ingredients and so simple to make.

I use it in every stir fry recipe I cook.

I personally like my broccoli with a little crunch, so right around 10 minutes was the perfect cook time for me.

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Tips for cooking the broccoli

When cooking broccoli, stir often to ensure it is cooking evenly.

Since broccoli florets are large, they need to be stirred often so all sides cook well.

Next tip: make sure that you do not cook the broccoli too long!

No one likes mushy broccoli.

Texture is important here.

I’ve found the best broccoli I have eaten still has some crunch to it.

It just tastes so much fresher this way!

I have had totally soft broccoli from takeout before and just couldn’t eat it.

The texture is so important!

Once your broccoli with garlic sauce is done, serve it over white rice (or brown rice!) for the ultimate combo.

OMG! I never have to buy this as takeout again! So good! I didn’t have enough sesame oil left, so I was only able to make ¼ of the stir fry sauce and used avocado oil to fry the garlic and it’s still delicious! THANK YOU!!!!! – Stephanie

Hungry for more? Try these delicious stir fry recipes!

  • Stir Fry Vegetables
  • Orange Tofu made with Orange Sauce
  • Teriyaki Sauce
  • Broccoli Tofu Ramen Noodles
  • Asian Mushroom Ramen Noodles
  • Cabbage Stir Fry
  • Tofu Stir Fry Noodles
  • Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
  • Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry
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Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

Be sure to pin this recipe for later and followBuild Your Bite on Pinterestfor all the latest delicious recipes!

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Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!

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Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Easy and delicious Chinese broccoli with garlic sauce that tastes just like your favorite takeout!

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup minced fresh garlic
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 8 - 9 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 1 batch of homemade stir fry sauce
  • unsalted white rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and heat to medium
  2. Add minced garlic and cook for 3 - 5 minutes, stirring often, until garlic begins to brown
  3. Add broccoli florets and stir fry sauce to the skillet and cook an additional 10 - 15 minutes, stirring often, until broccoli is desired texture (I prefer mine with a little crunch, so right around 10 minutes was perfect)
  4. Serve over unsalted white rice (see notes below)

Notes

This recipe and amount of sauce is intended to be served over unsalted white rice for even distribution of saltiness and flavor.

If you serve this over salted rice or noodles, it will be far too salty. Or alone without rice, it will be too salty. The sauce is very concentrated and goes a long way!

I do not recommend using powdered garlic or jarred garlic for this recipe.

Frozen broccoli is also not recommended as it would be mushy and watery in this recipe.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 228Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 138mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 9gSugar: 3gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

Broccoli with Garlic Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

How to make broccoli taste good without making it unhealthy? ›

Healthiest Way to Cook Broccoli

Lightly sauteed with garlic and a splash of water. It's that simple. Cooking broccoli in this way retains most of its colour, nutritional value along with that crunch that results in a delicious side dish that even my youngest and pickiest eater enjoys.

How to cook broccoli healthiest? ›

Stir-frying and stir-frying/boiling, the two most popular methods for most homemade dishes in China, cause great losses of chlorophyll, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C, and glucosinolates, but the steaming method appears the best in retention of the nutrients in cooking broccoli.

How do you eat broccoli as a snack? ›

Eat raw broccoli plain or with a dip for a healthy and tasty snack. Prepare a head of broccoli by washing it and separating it into bite-sized florets. Eat them plain, or dip them in your favorite vegetable dip or salad dressing. You could try making a homemade ranch dressing to dip the broccoli in for a tasty snack.

What is chicken and broccoli sauce made of? ›

What's In the Sauce for Chicken and Broccoli? Basic stir-fry sauce is made up of aromatics like ginger and garlic, dark and regular soy sauces, sesame oil, oyster sauce, sugar, Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing wine) and white pepper. Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce enough to coat the chicken and vegetables.

Why does restaurant broccoli taste so good? ›

How do restaurants make broccoli taste so good? As with everything made by chefs, they have unexpected (read: unhealthy) additions to their meals — mostly butter, oil and heaps of salt. An excellent tip for the perfect broccoli is the blanching step.

What to add to broccoli for flavor? ›

Garlic and butter help make broccoli taste irresistible. Simply sautee the broccoli in a pan with just a little butter, some onions and grated garlic and voila! Add a drizzle of lemon if desired.

Is it OK to eat cooked broccoli everyday? ›

With its significant vitamin K and calcium content, broccoli supports bone health. Vitamin K is essential for bone metabolism and helps maintain bone density. Consuming broccoli every day can contribute to stronger bones and reduce the risk of conditions like osteoporosis.

Is it healthier to boil or bake broccoli? ›

Steamed broccoli may be one of the healthiest ways to cook broccoli because it's quick and nutrients and vitamins won't be lost in the cooking water, as can be the case with boiled broccoli.

How to remove gas from broccoli? ›

Cooking: Raw broccoli is a common component of vegetable/dip platters at parties and events, of course, but eating it raw is actually more likely to lead to gas. Instead, by steaming or microwaving it, your body will have an easier time breaking it down.

Why does broccoli burn belly fat? ›

Broccoli contains carotenoids, a natural plant compound that can help stimulate fat burning and thereby aid in weight reduction. With 90% water content, broccoli is an excellent food for promoting healthy metabolism and staying hydrated. A healthy metabolism is vital for burning calories efficiently.

What is the best tasting way to eat broccoli? ›

Cooking broccoli in high heat, caramelizes the outside, creating crispness and a sweet, nutty flavor. The crisp caramelized outside of the broccoli contrasts well with the tender inside of the florets.

What does your body need when you crave broccoli? ›

Yes, sometimes we do crave fresh food and vegetables like kale or broccoli. Many times this desire for fresh ingredients appears when your body needs more Vitamin C, calcium, iron or magnesium.

How do Chinese restaurants get broccoli so crispy? ›

The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.

What is broccoli sauce made of? ›

🍴Why you will love this recipe

In fact it is made from the simplest of ingredients - broccoli, lemon, walnuts and olive oil. It is a sauce quickly whizzed up in a blender or food processor, so there's no faffing with flour or stirring until your arm aches!

Why is Chinese broccoli so good? ›

Like many leafy green vegetables, Chinese broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients. It contains high amounts of beta carotene. Beta carotene helps prevent age related macular degeneration (ARMD), which causes vision loss and eventually blindness. Additionally, Chinese broccoli is a good source of vitamin E.

How do you neutralize the taste of broccoli? ›

Blanching broccoli in a large pot of salt water releases bitter acids from the plant cells and rinses them away, an action that steaming doesn't provide because of the low level of water involved. Additional measures for neutralizing broccoli's bitterness include tossing it with salt and citrus sauce.

How do you make broccoli soft without losing nutrients? ›

That's why steaming is one of the best ways to maximize nutrients. It turns out that's especially true for broccoli. When in doubt, microwave. That's because microwaving uses little to no water, and can heat the vegetable quickly, thus preserving nutrients such as vitamin C that break down when heated.

How do you cook broccoli so it is not bitter? ›

Just a quick dip in boiling water extracts enough of the bitterness and jumpstarts the cooking. Blanching is an extra step, but it makes the broccoli rabe much more palatable and ready for salads, pastas, or, my favorite — a quick sauté.

How do you perk up broccoli? ›

You can soak the broccoli in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes or more to help it regain its firmness. Another method is to slice off a portion of the stem and place the remaining stem and crown in a pot with a cup of water. Store it in the fridge overnight, and the broccoli will be crisp and fresh in the morning.

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