This is a recipe for the Chinese Broccoli dish that is one of the most popular vegetable dishes at Yum Cha (Dim Sum). Steamed Chinese Broccoli (called Gai Lan) drizzled with a fabulous garlic ginger Oyster Sauce. Despite what you may read in other recipes, it’s not just plain Oyster Sauce – you need other flavourings!
Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Real “restaurant style” Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce is NOT just oyster sauce (despite what you will read in many recipes claiming it is that simple!).
A sauce made with just oyster sauce will just taste of that – plain oyster sauce dolloped on greens. And if you’re happy with that, then there’s no need to read further because this recipe for real Restaurant Style Chinese Greens with Oyster Sauce has more than 1 ingredient in the sauce!
What it tastes like – Steamed Chinese Broccoli tastes like broccolini stems with spinach leaves. Smothered in a sweet-savoury garlic ginger sauce that will make anything delicious, it’s no wonder this is the most popular vegetable dish at Yum Cha!
This is the steamed Chinese Greens dish that is pushed around in rattling trolleys at Yum Cha!
Chinese Broccoli (“Gai Lan”)
Here’s a good look at the Chinese broccoli, raw. The Chinese name is Gai Lan.
It’s called Chinese broccoli because the stem has the same texture as broccoli. The leaves look and taste like spinach leaves – but they’re thicker.
Chinese Broccoli needs to be cooked before eaten and is most commonly steamed (this recipe) or stir fried (like in this Vegetable Stir Fry and Pad See Ew Thai Stir Fried Noodles).
What goes in the Oyster Sauce
Here’s what you need for the Oyster Sauce.
The Chinese cooking wine (aka Shaoxing wine) is the key ingredient that adds depth of flavour and complexity to the sauce. Substitute with Mirin or Dry Sherry. If you can’t consume alcohol, substitute with chicken stock.
Restaurants typically use quite a bit of oil when serving this dish – you can usually see it pooled on the plate. I have significantly reduced the amount of oil used, and believe me, you won’t miss it at all. It is the sauce that is the star of this dish. You don’t need oil (well, not very much).
How to make Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Here’s how to make it. I tend to microwave steam vegetables, for sheer convenience. But feel free to use any method that’s most convenient for you.
What to serve with Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
I make this as a side dish to Asian meals quite regularly because it’s so fast to prepare and will pair with any Asian cuisine. I also like that I can make a scaled up batch of the Sauce and keep it in the fridge (around 5 days) and I use it to douse any plain steamed vegetables!
Here are some meal suggestions incorporating these Chinese greens:
- Make a meal out of dumplings like Potstickers, Shumai or Gyoza with a side of this Chinese Broccoli and some Fried Rice;
- Add it as a vegetable side for stir fries that are low on vegetables, like Honey Pepper Beef, Vietnamese Caramel Pork Bowls or Asian Beef Bowls;
- Serve alongside Asian mains like Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork), Crispy Chinese Pork Belly, Vietnamese Caramel Chicken, Sticky Chinese Wings.
There’s certainly no shortage of possibilities! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Restaurant Style Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 bunch Chinese broccoli ("Gai Lan") (Note 1)
Oyster Sauce
- 3/4 tsp corn flour / corn starch
- 3 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (not dark soy)
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (sub Mirin or Dry Sheer, Note 1)
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil (or canola or peanut)
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 clove garlic , finely grated
- 1 tsp ginger , finely grated
Instructions
- Trim ends off Chinese Broccoli. If any stems are super thick, cut them in half (you want all stems approximately the same width).
- Steam Chinese Broccoli using whatever method you want - I microwave in a steamer on high for 4 minutes. The stem should be just cooked - not super soft and floppy.
- Stack the Chinese broccoli together and cut into 4"/10cm lengths, then stack neatly on top of each other.
Oyster Sauce
- Combine water and corn flour in small saucepan, mix to dissolve.
- Then add remaining ingredients, turn stove onto medium and bring to boil. Boil for 30 seconds to allow to thicken, then remove from stove.
- Drizzle over Chinese broccoli and serve. Best served warm.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published 2014, updated with new photos and video in February 2020.
Life of Dozer
Appropriate that this is one of this favourite toys!
Always wanted to know how they made this at chinese restaurants! It was exactly as delicious and so simple. Ha! Thanks so much….!
I had a bag of tricolor coleslaw. All that is is shredded green and purple cabbage with carrots. So I steamed that briefly and used this sauce. It was a hit with the fam!
Spectacular with tofu over rice or noodles. We like spicy, so we’re going to add some chilli-garlic sauce tonight!
Perfect Leigh! N x
Amazingly easy to follow recipe. Simple and delicious. Thank you
Thanks alot Nagi..this recipe is very savoury and delicious..i think this even matches more with the fish rather than the sauce from the Chinese fish steam recipe..
5 star recipe! Tastes just like the restaurant version. I steamed Gai Lan and fresh green beans on the stovetop rather than the microwave. Still turned out great. I used regular soy sauce, but I think low sodium may work better next time because it is fairly salty. Thanks for the fantastic recipe, Nagi!
Hi Michelle, sorry you found it too salty, just reduce the amount of soy in it for your own taste (it’s usually quite strong as it dilutes the flavour once poured onto the greens) N x
Great recipe! I make a version usually with garlic-soy sauce instead of oyster sauce for my family. Both are great. Hope more people eat Chinese broccoli!
Thanks so much! N x
Hi,
I plan to try this dish today for our Passover holiday.
will update with the results.
Can you tell me how much time you put it in the microwave, please?
I hope you love it Aya! You can find all the directions listed in the instructions of the recipe 🙂 N x
Do you have a link to the microwavable steamer basket you used ?
Hi Kay – they are in almost EVERY Asian grocer 🙂 N x
I am such a huge fan of yours Nagi.. until I started following you I never really was into following a recipe to the T. Every recipe of yours that I have tried I simply love. This was my first cooking Chinese Broccoli and I’m in love with this vegetable and this sauce. I love experimenting and I’m going to try this Sauce on some of my other creations… I’m thinking Salmon😏
Yum!! as a “bad” eater when it comes to veg, I now make a double batch of this to have on greens (making them taste bearable!) Thanks
LOVE hearing this Sue!!!
Hi chef ,,I have eaten this dish in Japanese and Chinese restaurants for years and the sauce I could not reproduce ,,,,Great now I can thank you
You’re so welcome Joseph – Enjoy!
Ok, firstly, this is life changing. I’ve been overcooking Asian greens for years and never getting the sauce right. Tonight was different!
Secondly, just wanted to let you know that your website has helped me so much with meal planning & budgeting. I now use your site to plan 3 months worth of meals to get value out of a Costco shop – it’s saving me hundreds! Thank you – I’ve loved every one of your recipes.
Woah, that’s great Elisha! I’m so happy you’re enjoying the site 🙂
I’ve been wondering for a long time how to cook the Chinese whole fish and this receipe did definitely hit the spot. Thank you very much !
Wahoo that’s great Siham!
Thank you Nagi. I have wanted to know this for years and I now make it often. We have a big home garden and we have an abundance of purple sprouting broccoli which looks a bit like gai lan and is delicious with this sauce. I agree that Plain oyster sauce is not nice
Hi Sue was great to see you grow sprouting broccoli I just planted seed ,,Yodeled Fat a Chinese Broccoli,and purple Choy a great source for seed is Bakers Creek and Victory Seed ,Heirloom seeds also planted Mizuna green and red ,,,
Wahoo! Perfect Sue!!!
Great way of cooking greens- never knew this method, so quick and easy. Sauce is tasty too. Had this as a side to the Char Sui Pork…… Whoa……. Delicious combination. Mmmmmm….. 😋 😋
The perfect combo Kyra!
Just made it tonight. It was great!! Family approved. It had more flavor than the ones I’ve tried in restaurants. Thanks!
Great to hear, Jasmin! – Nx
I picked broccolini and snap peas from the garden, added these to Gai Lan and this Oyster Sauce to make a delicious easy and quick dinner meal served with dumplings. Thanks Nagi 😘
Sounds great Lisa!