Quick Broccoli With Oyster Sauce

By
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/25/21
Quick Broccoli With Oyster Sauce

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
77 Calories
3g Fat
12g Carbs
4g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 77
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 592mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 74mg 368%
Calcium 89mg 7%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 374mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Broccoli with oyster sauce is a common Chinese side dish that makes a savory addition to any meal. Not only is this recipe easy to prepare, but it's also incredibly fast to cook, perfect after a busy day. It's the ideal dish to offer those who refuse to eat their vegetables; one bite of this tasty recipe is sure to change any picky eater's mind.

Although oyster sauce is made from shellfish, it does not have a fishy taste. Instead, it combines brininess with sweetness, offering true umami flavor. Serve the broccoli with oyster sauce alongside any of your favorite Chinese main dishes, such as General Tso's chicken or char siu (barbecued pork). Or make it part of a vegetarian meal featuring a variety of dishes.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound broccoli florets

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth

  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce

  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

  • Salt, to taste

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

  • 4 teaspoons water

  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Quick broccoli with oyster sauce ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and blanch for 2 to 3 minutes, until tender but still crisp.

    Blanch broccoli in a large pot of water

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Remove the broccoli and plunge briefly into ice-cold water.

    Broccoli in cold water

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Drain the broccoli well. Set aside in a serving bowl.

    Drained broccoli in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. In a small saucepan, bring the chicken broth, oyster sauce, ​dark soy sauce, granulated sugar, and sesame oil to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add salt to taste.

    Chicken broth, oyster sauce, ​dark soy sauce, granulated sugar, and sesame oil in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch into the water to create a slurry.

    Cornstarch and water mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce and stir constantly until thickened.

    Cornstarch mixture added to the sauce

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Pour the sauce over the blanched broccoli.

    Sauce poured over broccoli

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  9. Serve garnished with the sesame seeds.

    Quick broccoli with oyster sauce on a plate with sesame seeds

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  10. Enjoy.

Tip

The heat from the sauce should warm up the broccoli, but if it is too cool for your taste, place everything back into the saucepan and gently warm over medium-low heat. Be careful not to overcook or else the broccoli will become mushy and lose its bright green hue.

Health Benefits

Broccoli is full of vitamins such as A, B1, B6, E, C, and K, which help to regulate mood and cholesterol. Broccoli is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower inflammation in the body. The combination of vitamin K and calcium makes this vegetable an excellent food to maintain healthy bones. Broccoli also is great for lowering blood sugar naturally. It’s considered a "good carb" that's high in fiber, making it an especially good side dish for diabetics.


Oysters are also loaded with essential minerals such as zinc, selenium, copper, and iron. They also contain many of the same vitamins as broccoli, making this meal even more nutritious.

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
    1. Shivaprya Manchali et al. “Crucial facts about health benefits of popular cruciferous vegetables." Journal of Functional Foods, vol. 4, no. 1, 2012, pp. 94-106.