Shrimp and broccoli stir-fry is a delicious and easy-to-prepare dish. It is flavorful and nutritious, perfect as a stand-alone meal or served with noodles, spaghetti, or steamed rice. The flavor of shrimp pairs well with broccoli, and the garlic sauce perfectly elevates the flavor. I am eager to share this recipe with you.

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Ingredients required to prepare the shrimp and broccoli stir-fry

• Shrimp. I like using medium-sized shrimp because they have better texture and visual appeal than small shrimp. It is best to use fresh shrimp, but frozen shrimp can simplify the process since they are already clean with shells removed.
• Broccoli. Besides the regular broccoli, you can also use broccolini or the Chinese broccoli called Gai Lan. They are all interchangeable in this recipe. I will avoid using pre-cut broccoli florets, which are frozen, as they will not yield the crisp-tender texture I want. Always use fresh broccoli.
• Seasoning. The seasoning used to prepare the stir-fry sauce is quite simple. It involves a combination of light soy sauce, sesame oil, ground white pepper, and oyster sauce. These are all common seasoning ingredients in traditional Cantonese cooking. Some recipes include red pepper flakes, rice vinegar, Hoisin sauce, and sugar. I will leave out these sauce ingredients for an authentic Cantonese flavor.
• Garlic. Garlic enhances the flavor of shrimp and eliminates any fishy odor. The amount of garlic can vary based on personal preference, but it can never be too much.

How to prepare shrimp and broccoli stir-fry

I use minimal ingredients to create this flavorful dish, which is ideal for everyday meals, particularly when time is limited. 

a. Preparation

1. First, remove the head, shell, and legs of the shrimp. Then, make a small cut at the back of the shrimp to remove the digestion tract (vein). You can keep the tail on if you prefer, as it can enhance the presentation, but it’s entirely up to you.
2. Next, clean the deveined shrimp and wash thoroughly with cold running water. Then, let them drain in a colander. Once drained, dry the shrimp with a dry cloth or paper towel. This step is crucial as we want to keep the shrimp as dry as possible to avoid splattering when pan-frying.
3. Season the raw shrimp with salt, ground white pepper, and vegetable oil. Mix well and set it aside.
4. Use a knife or scissors to separate the broccoli florets from the stem. Cut the florets into smaller pieces, and slice the stem diagonally or into large cubes.
5. Combine the light soy sauce, sesame oil, ground white pepper, oyster sauce, salt, and water. Dark soy sauce can be included if you prefer the color to be darker.
6. Lastly, prepare some cornstarch slurry, which is required to thicken the sauce before serving.

b. Cook the broccoli and shrimp

I cooked the shrimp and broccoli separately because they have different cooking times.

1. Heat some vegetable oil in a pan or wok. Next, pan-fry the shrimp in a single layer in a wok or a large skillet until it is golden brown on both sides. Once the shrimp is done, remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon and leave the remaining oil in it. Please use medium to medium-high heat and stop cooking as soon as the surface of the shrimp starts developing charred marks. This will ensure the shrimp are perfectly cooked, with a golden-brown exterior and a juicy interior.
2. Then, saute the garlic in the remaining oil until it becomes aromatic.  Add the broccoli and stir-fry until it is crisp and tender. It only takes a minute if you have already blanched the broccoli (more about this in the Tips and Variation section below). If not, add some water after stir-frying for two minutes and then cover it for another one to two minutes until the broccoli is crisp and tender.
3. Prepare the stir-fry sauce by mixing all the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl. After that, add the stir-fry sauce to the broccoli. Give it a good stir, so all the broccoli florets are coated with the sauce. 
4. Make a slurry by combining two teaspoons of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Drizzle the cornstarch slurry into the wok to thicken the gravy. Add just enough cornstarch slurry to thicken the gravy to the desired consistency.
5. Finally, return the cooked shrimp to the pan, drizzle a tablespoon of Shaoxing wine, and mix well. It is now ready to be served.
6. You may garnish it with cut green onions and toasted sesame seeds, but it is optional.

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Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-fry

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Easy shrimp and broccoli stir-fry prepared with traditional method, season with Cantonese stir-fry sauce and chopped garlic. 

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Ingredients

Ingredients A (season the shrimp)

• 250g shrimp (see note)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
• 1 tsp vegetable oil

Ingredients B (stir-fry sauce)

• 2 tsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp water

Ingredients C (others)

• 180g broccoli (weight is after cut)
• 4 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
• 1 tsp cornstarch (make 1 tbsp cold water to form the cornstarch slurry)

Instructions

Prepare the shrimp and broccoli

1. First, remove the head, shell, legs and devein.
2. Clean the deveined shrimp thoroughly with cold running water. 
3. Drain in a colander, then use paper towels to remove excess moisture.
4. Season the shrimp with ingredients A.
5. Cut the broccoli florets into smaller pieces.
6. Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for two minutes, remove, and drain.

Cooking

1. Heat some vegetable oil in a pan or wok. 
2. Pan-fry the seasoned shrimp over medium-high heat until slightly brown on both sides.
3. Remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon and leave the remaining oil in it.
4. Saute the garlic in the remaining oil until it becomes aromatic. 
5. Add the blanched broccoli and stir-fry until it is crisp and tender.
6. Prepare the stir-fry sauce by mixing all the seasoning ingredients in B.
7. Add the stir-fry sauce to the broccoli. 
8. Make a cornstarch slurry by combining two teaspoons with two tablespoons of cold water. 
9. Drizzle the cornstarch slurry into the wok to thicken the gravy. 
10. Finally, return the cooked shrimp to the pan, drizzle a tablespoon of Shaoxing wine, and mix well; it is now ready to be served.

Notes

Note: The weight of the shrimp after removing the shell and head is only 145g.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 369Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 264mgSodium: 2412mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 32g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 10/19/2023

Tips and variations to prepare the shrimp and broccoli stir-fry

• There are several ways to devein the shrimp, and I usually use one of the following two methods. The first one is to remove the head and pull out the vein. This is the easiest method if the vein is visible after removing the head. The second method is to make an incision on the back of the shrimp and then insert a toothpick underneath the vein to pull it out.
• The sauce in this recipe can be used in various stir-fry recipes. Furthermore, you can adjust the ingredient quantities to suit your taste preferences. If unsure, you can follow the amount I used in my recipe.
• Including a few slices of fresh ginger beside the garlic is another option.
• Other ingredients that can be added to this recipe include snow peas (snap peas) and baby corn.
• I blanch the broccoli for 2-3 minutes before stir-frying. This method has the advantage of precooking the broccoli, especially if you intend to make a larger batch of shrimp and broccoli stir-fry. After blanching, remove the broccoli from the boiling water, transfer the florets to a pot of cold water to stop cooking, drain, and set it aside for later use. This method also allows you to control the doneness of the broccoli more precisely.

Other related stir-fry recipes

This broccoli recipe is easy to prepare and can be ready in 15 minutes, making it an excellent option for the whole family due to its universal flavor. Here are a few more quick and easy recipes for you since you like this easy shrimp stir-fry recipe.

• Honey garlic shrimp stir fry- Another great shrimp recipe that can be ready in fifteen minutes once you have completed the preparation.
• Broccoli stir-fry recipe with beef– Swap the beef for shrimp and cook a similar dish using the same method. This recipe is so delicious and worth trying.
• Chinese garlic shrimp– This Chinese shrimp recipe involves using crispy fried garlic for maximum garlicky flavor.