Shrimp and Broccoli: Easier Than Takeout
Here’s a secret: if you have shrimp on hand in your kitchen at any time, you can make a delicious meal that cooks up quickly. That’s certainly what you’ll find here with this takeout-style shrimp and broccoli recipe. This quick and easy dinner is something you can make after even your busiest day without breaking a sweat, on your table in just 25 minutes. Shrimp and broccoli are like peas and carrots…they go so perfectly together. These healthy ingredients make for a one-bowl meal that you’re going to love.
Marinade Helps the Shrimp Shine
Using a quick marinade from Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, salt, and white pepper, it brings out the fresh taste of your shrimp and keeps it with a juicy and tender texture without overcooking it.
Conveniently Steam the Broccoli
As for the broccoli, you’ll steam it in the same pan instead of blanching it. This speeds up the cooking process without compromising texture or flavor. All you need is to add a lid and then drain it out before moving on to the next step. At this stage it’s important not to overcook the broccoli. Pay attention to the color – it will be a nice vibrant green when it’s at peak flavor.
Sauce and Aromatics Tie it All Together
The flavors of the sauce come from Chinese kitchen staples that include oyster sauce, soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Don’t have dark soy sauce? You can just add a little more of the regular stuff. That oyster sauce is the key to boosting the flavors in this shrimp and broccoli dish. So too are the fresh aromatics that include garlic and ginger. Sure, you can use garlic powder and ginger powder from your spice rack, but using fresh will give you a flavor that surpasses that of your favorite takeout place.
Use Chili Oil to Take it Up a Notch
Want an extra kick? Add homemade chili oil to the shrimp and broccoli to bump up the spice factor and depth of flavor. My recipe for making it homemade only takes 5 minutes and is a wonderful asset to any dish, Chinese or otherwise, when adding a little heat. If you’ve got a few extra minutes, consider making a batch! It’s great to have on hand and will stay good in the fridge for months.
More Easy Takeout-Inspired Meals
Easy Chinese Curry Chicken Classic Egg Foo Young Real-Deal Szechuan Beef Stir Fry Home Style Tofu
Lilja Walter is a part of the Omnivore’s Cookbook team and worked closely with Maggie to develop and test this recipe.
