Easy Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
This simple yet nutritious Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry is not only visually appealing and flavorful, but also incredibly satisfying. Whether enjoyed on its own or as a side dish, it's a light and delicious choice.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
Simple and Easy: The ingredient list is short—just broccoli, shrimp, green onions, ginger, and other basic ingredients. It's super easy to make.
Quick and Time-Saving: The cooking time is short, making it perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or a quick lunch.
Nutritionally Balanced: Shrimp is high in protein, and broccoli is rich in vitamin C, making this dish both healthy and delicious.
Preserving Ingredient Flavors: By blanching and stir-frying, the natural taste and texture of the ingredients are preserved at their best.
Prep Ahead: If you're short on time, opt for pre-cut broccoli and peeled shrimp to save both time and effort.
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
Main Ingredients
Shrimp: Choose large shrimp, peeled and deveined — Fresh or frozen shrimp can be used.
Broccoli: Fresh or frozen is fine, but fresh is recommended.
Accessories
Ginger: Fresh ginger cut into strips, which helps remove the fishy smell and adds fragrance.
Green Onion: Cut into segments, adds aroma and serves as garnish.
Egg White: Used for marinating the shrimp, keeping the shrimp tender.
Seasonings
Salt: For seasoning.
Cooking Wine: For marinating the shrimp, removing fishiness and enhancing fragrance.
Pepper: Adds fragrance and a hint of spiciness.
Cornstarch: Makes the shrimp surface firmer and adds texture.
Cooking Oil: Used for cooking, especially when frying the shrimp.
Sugar: Balances the overall flavor with a touch of sweetness.
Cornstarch Slurry: Used for thickening the sauce.
Sesame Oil: Added at the end to enhance the unique fragrance.
Substitutes
Shrimp: Can be replaced with other seafood like clams or ribbonfish.
Broccoli: Can be replaced with cauliflower or other preferred leafy greens.
Cornstarch: Can be replaced with cornstarch or potato starch.
Sesame Oil: Can be replaced with other vegetable oils, though it will lack the fragrance.
The Importance of Blanching Broccoli
Eliminates Odors and Enhances Color: Blanching broccoli helps remove some of its natural grassy taste while making it brighter and more vibrant in color, preserving its appealing green hue.
Maintains Crispness: After blanching, broccoli retains its crunchy texture, preventing it from becoming too soft during stir-frying. This method also helps lock in nutrients, keeping the vegetable fresh and crisp.
Reduces Cooking Time: By blanching the broccoli first, the cooking time is greatly reduced, making it easier to absorb flavors during stir-frying. This also prevents overcooking and losing texture.
Preserves Nutrients: Though a small amount of water-soluble vitamins may be lost during blanching, the short time spent in hot water ensures that the majority of broccoli’s nutrients, especially vitamin C and minerals, are preserved.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
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·200g shrimp
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·1 head broccoli
Additional Ingredients
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·10g ginger
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·10g green onion
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·½ egg white
Seasonings
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·3g salt
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·5ml cooking wine
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·A pinch of pepper
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·5g cornstarch
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·10ml cooking oil (for blanching)
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·Small amount of oil (for frying the shrimp)
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·To taste cornstarch slurry
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·2g sugar
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·A few drops sesame oil
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Cut 1 head of broccoli into small florets and wash them thoroughly.
Step 2
Slice 10g of green onion into sections and julienne 10g of ginger.
Step 3
Place 200g of shrimp into a bowl, add 3g of salt, 5ml of cooking wine, and a pinch of pepper, and mix well.
Step 4
Add half an egg white and 5g of cornstarch to the shrimp, mix again, and set aside to marinate.
Step 5
In a pot, bring 1 liter of water to a boil, add 10g of salt and 10ml of vegetable oil. Once boiling, blanch the broccoli until tender, then remove.
Step 6
In a pan, heat enough oil to fry. Add the shrimp and fry until they turn pink, then remove.
Step 7
Leave some oil in the pan, add the blanched broccoli, and stir-fry with 3g of salt.
Step 8
Add cornstarch slurry and a small drizzle of oil, stir to combine, then remove and set aside.
Step 9
In the same pan, heat 10ml of oil. Add the ginger and green onion, sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.
Step 10
Add the fried shrimp to the pan and stir well.
Step 11
Season with 2g of salt, 2g of sugar, and a pinch of pepper.
Step 12
Add cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce and stir-fry until the sauce thickens.
Step 13
Drizzle a few drops of sesame oil to finish, and stir well.
Step 14
Pour the shrimp over the broccoli, mix well, and serve on a plate.
More recipes worth trying
Stir-Fried Garlic Chinese Lettuce
Stir-fry Tips
Stir-frying Vegetables on High Heat
Using high heat to quickly stir-fry broccoli helps retain its vibrant green color and crisp texture. It enhances the freshness and visual appeal of the broccoli. On the other hand, using too low heat can cause the broccoli to lose its crunch and become too soft, affecting the overall texture.
Patting Shrimp Dry
Before stir-frying shrimp, patting them dry helps achieve a better sear. Removing excess moisture allows the shrimp to change color quickly while maintaining a firmer texture, preventing them from becoming soggy and losing their desired quality. Ensuring the shrimp’s surface is dry is key to achieving that crispy outside and tender inside.
Avoid Crowding the Pan
When stir-frying the broccoli and shrimp, avoid overcrowding the pan. Use a larger wok or skillet to ensure each piece of food has enough space to cook evenly. This way, the ingredients won’t overlap and soften, preserving their original crispness.
Vegetable Pairing
Stir-frying isn't just about one ingredient; adding other vegetables from the fridge can make the dish more interesting. Carrots, bell peppers, and other veggies can be added to the broccoli stir-fry to enhance the color, nutritional value, and flavor of the dish.
Preparation and Storage
I completely agree that freshly stir-fried dishes taste the best, so I wouldn't recommend making this dish entirely in advance. However, prepping ingredients ahead of time is a great way to save time, especially on busy weekdays. Here's how you can do it:
Marinate shrimp in advance: You can marinate the shrimp and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. This not only helps the shrimp absorb more flavor, but it also saves you time during cooking.
Prepare broccoli in advance: Cut the broccoli into small florets, wash it thoroughly, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It's best to blanch the broccoli on the day you cook to keep it fresh and crisp.
If you end up making too much, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, it's best to stir-fry them quickly in a pan to maintain the crisp texture of the vegetables and shrimp.
Recipe Variations
Using seafood sauce instead of stir-fry sauce: To simplify the dish, you can replace the stir-fry sauce with seafood sauce. Its sweet flavor will enhance the shrimp and broccoli, adding a deeper umami taste and fragrance. If you prefer a slightly sweeter flavor, start with 1 tablespoon and adjust according to your preference. This substitution is quicker and more convenient than using traditional sauces.
Adding other vegetables: If you enjoy a variety of vegetables, consider adding mushrooms and carrots. These vegetables absorb the sauce's flavors during stir-frying, enriching the overall taste. You can add them during the stir-frying of ginger and green onions, allowing them to cook slightly before adding the broccoli and shrimp.
Using cornstarch instead of cornstarch slurry: If you want a thicker sauce, you can replace cornstarch slurry with plain cornstarch. This substitution helps retain the sauce's consistency while preventing excess moisture, which can affect the dish's texture. Cornstarch integrates more quickly with the sauce, achieving the desired thickness faster during stir-frying.
FAQs:
Frozen broccoli: After thawing, reduce the blanching time to avoid overcooking and becoming too soft. Quickly blanch it in boiling water, and remove it once the color changes.
Pre-cooked frozen shrimp: Thaw the shrimp beforehand and stir-fry only until they are heated through and the color turns red. Overcooking can cause the shrimp to become tough.
The advantage of this method is that the broccoli won't overcook, and the shrimp won't turn tough. To better control the heat, it's recommended to use higher heat when cooking the shrimp, and then reduce the heat to medium-low when adding the broccoli, ensuring an even stir-fry.
Blanching only takes a couple of minutes—simply add the broccoli to boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes until it turns bright green and softens slightly, then remove it from the water.
REVIEWS
