Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
on Feb 15, 2019, Updated Apr 24, 2024
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
How to make broccoli with garlic sauce
First, mince up your garlic with a knife or garlic mincer and measure out â…“ 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!
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.
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.
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.
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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Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- â…“ 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
- In a large skillet, add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and heat to medium
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 3 – 5 minutes, stirring often, until garlic begins to brown
- Add the 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)
- Serve over unsalted white rice (see notes below)
I eat on the keto plan what can I use as a thicker instead of corn starch?
can you have arrowroot starch? I have not tried it in this recipe, but hear that it is similar to cornstarch. You can look up the conversion amount
I only had regular tamari and it was WAY too salty. They flavor was fantastic and I am going to try again with low salt tamari. I think I will add cashews next time too. Sooo good. Thanks for the recipe
Make sure you’re using enough stir fry to sauce ratio too! Although the sauce amount is small, it is highly concentrated and goes a long way!
Would this be horrible if I used jarred minced garlic? I have a Costco jar of it but I don’t have any fresh garlic to use.
I have not tried it personally so I can’t guarantee results.
Just made for the first time. Delicious! Going to try with eggplant next time, then fresh green beans. The sauce really works. No more takeout.
I made this tonight. It was awesome! The best! Thank you.
thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
What is a batch of stir fry sauce?
The recipe is linked! It’s a 3 ingredient homemade one: https://buildyourbite.com/3-ingredient-homemade-stir-fry-sauce-recipe/
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 1/4 of the stir fry sauce and used avocado oil to fry the garlic and it’s still delicious! THANK YOU!!!!!
You’re welcome, so glad you loved the recipe!
It came out much too salty! I did have to use garlic powder :/, could that be the problem? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Garlic powder would definitely not work the same in this recipe, it’s intended to use fresh garlic and be served over white unsalted rice 🙂
How do you make your stir fry sauce
Here is the recipe!
https://buildyourbite.com/3-ingredient-homemade-stir-fry-sauce-recipe/
This was incredible and so easy!