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:
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Make a meal out of dumplings like Potstickers, Shumai or Gyoza with a side of this Chinese Broccoli and some Fried Rice;
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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;
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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!
I have been pouring a bottle of oyster sauce over Chinese broccoli for years and wondering why it doesn’t taste anything like what we get at a restaurant. This is a game changer! Thank you!
You’re in the know now Georgia!!! 👏 N x
Thank you Nagi, you are my go to food blog. Your efforts continue to make my family think I know what I’m doing. I take you camping with us (when we’re able to travel) & have adapted many, many of your recipes to open fire / camp oven cooking. But now we’re in lockdown, caught in the Covid net. I’ve meant to comment so many times but there’s usually no phone service. However, this recipe is (another) The Bomb! That sauce!! Well done 👏 👏
I’ve made this recipe many times now. It’s my favorite for Chinese broccoli, which is also one of my favorite vegetables. I often leave out the beef for a vegetarian dish. Sometimes I’ll use shrimp or lobster instead. Thank you for sharing!
Hola Nagi, I am making your oyster sauce recipe for the second time tonight. My wife loves it. I serve it over a prawns and rice,with assorted veggies. Wish I could post a picture, it looks as lovely as it tastes
Hi nagi your receipes sound amazing I’m not on Facebook so will just follow you on google thanks for the easy receipes not that I’ve tried any but will soon
I hope you do and love them Gail, thanks so much for taking the time to comment!! N x
Hola Nagi, I am making your oyster sauce recipe for the second time tonight. My wife loves it. I serve it over a prawns and rice,with assorted veggies. Wish I could post a picture, it looks as lovely as it tastes
Sorry there, I forgot to give the stars.
I used the gai lan receipe last night using my home grown (success for the first time) gai lan. It was very good but I would steam it for six minutes. My gai lan was thin (about 3/8″) and with gorgeous leaves. In the past, I have just used oyster sauce over the cooked gai lan, Thanks for a wonderful recipe.
delish and SO EASY!!! Will def make again and add to my go to recipes!
So delicious and very easy to make! This recipe is on our menu at least once a week!
FANTASTIC AND AUTHENTIC YUM!!
Love, love, love this dish. I used broccolini. This will become a regular side dish. Thank you.
I love your recipes and you make me smile and I love that you love Dozer soo much xx
Hi Nagi! I am very happy that I found your IG account and recipe website! I really can’t wait to try all of your recipe. I did try however the chicken biryani from your recipe and it’s really awesome! I used to cook chinese broccoli with the sauce in it but really can’t seem find the perfect taste. I am so happy to find this chinese broccoli sauce and can’t wait to try it myself. By the way, I have found and bought my chinese cooking wine double phoenix last night from Aldi store! 🙂
Oh sorry, bought it from SpudShed not Aldi!