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White serving plate filled with sauteed Chinese broccoli in soy sauce and garlic.
4.95 from 20 votes

Chinese Broccoli Recipe (Gai Lan)

Perfectly tender-crisp Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) is made with simple ingredients including fresh garlic and soy sauce. Ready in under 15 minutes, enjoy this flavorful vegan side dish with all your favorite chicken, beef, or pork recipes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 149kcal
Chef: Jessica Randhawa

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan)
  • 2 tablespoon canola oil - (or other vegetable oil)
  • 2-6 Thai chilis - (optional), substitute with 1-2 tsp crushed red chili flakes
  • 6 cloves garlic - minced
  • 2-4 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • sesame seeds - to garnish

Instructions

  • Prepare the Chinese broccoli for cooking. Trim 1-inch from the ends of each stalk and discard. Slice any especially thick stalks in half. Rinse under cold running water and gently shake out excess water. Set aside to dry.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large wok or skillet set over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the Thai chilis (whole, chopped, or none at all depending on your own personal heat preference). Allow the chilis to cook in the oil for 5-10 seconds before adding the minced garlic. Stirring continuously, cook the garlic for 30 seconds, or until fragrant (reduce heat if necessary to prevent the garlic from burning).
  • Add the soy sauce and the Chinese broccoli to your wok or skillet. Stir-fry the Chinese broccoli in the oil and soy sauce, mixing continuously and thoroughly to coat. Continue to mix, coat, and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until stalks are tender (cover with a lid if you have one). Drizzle with sesame oil, if using, and mix thoroughly to combine.
  • Remove to a clean plate. Garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.

Notes

  • Season with additional soy sauce, to taste.
  • If your Chinese broccoli tastes a little bitter, add 1-2 teaspoons of brown sugar or honey to the sauce.
  • If you can't find Chinese broccoli, substitute it with broccolini.
  • Replace the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to make this recipe gluten-free.

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 402mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4014IU | Vitamin C: 211mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 2mg
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