Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce is a classic Chinese cuisine. And, many authentic Chinese restaurants serve this delicious gai lan (芥蘭) vegetable dish like yu choy sum as a dim sum item. Learn how to cook this tasty gai lan recipe in 15 minutes!
Love authentic Asian food? Check out theses stir fried water spinach, soy sauce chicken, Thai mango sticky rice and Japanese beef bowl recipes.
What is Chinese broccoli?
Chinese broccoli is brassica oleracea var. alboglabra. Some call it Chinese kale. But, most common name people call it gai lan (芥蘭) or kai lan in Cantonese. In mandarin, it is called jie lan.
Besides, gai lan is a leafy vegetable. It’s thick, flat and glossy green leaves with thick stems. Also, the florets are similar to regular broccoli, but much smaller.
What gai lan (芥蘭) tastes like?
The flavor is very similar to broccoli, but slightly bitter than regular broccoli.
How to cook kai lan?
Gai lan is often used in Chinese cuisine. Most common ways to cook them are boiling, steaming or stir frying with ginger and garlic and serving with oyster sauce.
Personally, I like to boil gai lan and serve with garlic oyster sauce because it's simple and easy.
What are the ingredients for Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce?
The main ingredients are gai lan, garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil and brown sugar.
Cooking tips for how to cook Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce:
- Boil gai lan with some salt and vegetables oil can make and keep a bright nice green color.
- Make sure they are completely immersed in water.
- Don’t over boil them it takes around 2-3 minutes.
- Cook the sauce and simmer for a minute.
- Pour the sauce over when it is ready to serve.
FAQs:
How to wash gai lan?
Soak them in water for 15 minutes and wash them a few times to remove dirt or sand.
How long does Chinese broccoli last?
If it is stored in the refrigerator it lasts about 3-5 days. The best to wrap with newspaper and store them in the refrigerator can last up to a week.
How do I make kai lan not bitter?
To reduce the bitterness, we normally add some sugar in the sauce.
Is choy sum the same as Chinese broccoli?
They look similar because they are leafy vegetables. However, gai lan leaves are bigger and stems are thicker. The taste is a little bitter.
Instructions for how to cook Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce:
1. First, minced 4 garlic cloves and set them aside.
2. Next, soak 1.5 pounds kai lan in water for 15 minutes and wash them a few times. Then, boil a pot of water. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil and washed gai lan. After that, make sure kai lan is completely immersed in water and boil gai lan for 2-3 minutes.
3. After, take them out and put them on a plate.
4. In a container, add 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and mix them well.
5. Put 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil into a pan and minced garlic. Then, stir fry them a little bit.
6. Pour the oyster mixture sauce and keep stirring the sauce and let it simmer for a minute.
7. When it is ready to serve, pour the sauce over and sprinkle 1 tablespoon fried shallots.
Enjoy this simple and tasty gai lan or Chinese broccoli recipe! Also, check out these baby bok choy, eggplants and pork stir fry, beef and broccoli and braised Chinese mushroom recipes.
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Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds Chinese broccoli (gai lan)
- some Water for boiling Chinese broccoli
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil 1/2 tablespoon add to water to boil gai lan and 1/2 tablespoon add to garlic
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Fried shallots for topping
Sauce mixture:
- 2 tablespoons Oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Sesame oil
Instructions
- First, minced 4 garlic cloves and set them aside.
- Next, soak 1.5 pounds kai lan in water for 15 minutes and wash them a few times. Then, boil a pot of water. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil and washed gai lan. After that, make sure kai lan is completely immersed in water and boil gai lan for 2-3 minutes.
- After, take them out and put them on a plate.
- In a container, add 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and mix them well.
- Put 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil into a pan and minced garlic. Then, stir fry them a little bit.
- Pour the oyster mixture sauce and keep stirring the sauce and let it simmer for a minute.
- When it is ready to serve, pour the sauce over and sprinkle 1 tablespoon fried shallots.
Video
Notes
Cooking tips for how to cook Chinese broccoli:
- Boil gai lan with some salt and vegetables oil can make and keep a bright nice green color.
- Make sure they are completely immersed in water.
- Don’t over boil them it takes around 2-3 minutes.
- Cook the sauce and simmer for a minute.
- Pour the sauce over when it is ready to serve.