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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Restaurant Style Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 bunch Chinese broccoli ("Gai Lan") (Note 1)
Oyster Sauce
- 1 tsp corn flour / corn starch
- 6 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1/2 tsp dark soy sauce
- 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!
Can you share what brand of microwave steamer you use?
Hi John, the brand is Decor. I’m in Australia.
Thank you.
Best recipe for char siu pork I’ve ever made – even those who don’t eat pork (including myself) love it.
The sauce is yummy.
Wait, what? You microwave your gai lan?! That’s completely blown my mind. I always stir fry or boil and both are always substandard. That decor dish is perfect- what size is it?
Really good recipe. Thank you!
Mmm this is delicious, and tastes just like I remember it from living nine years in Taiwan and Hong Kong. My kids and husband liked it too! Gai Lan grows wonderfully here in Virginia, your recipe is going to be a weekly standby for my family.
This was delicious! It had much more ginger kick than the sauce at our local yum cha place but that only made it better. I need to get a larger/longer microwave steamer like yours, Nagi, because rather than steam the gai lan, then cut it in half, I had to cut it in half, then steam it – in two batches! Can you recommend a microwave steamer for this? I definitely want to make this dish again.
Love using this sauce as a base for our beef and broccoli stir fry. We double the recipe and add the ginger and garlic after the sauce has been thickened for extra flavour.
Thank you for this recipe, Nagi! I’ve always loved this dish, but cried at the price tag it gets in restaurants ($20+!!!). I’ve made this twice now, and it’s just delicious.
Love the recipes. Very basic and clear.
I love this recipe and the sauce is delicious. My family are always asking me to make this dish
Easy to put together, fast and fabulous!
Delicious! Finally a recipe that will make my kids eat something green! I made this as a side to the Char Siu Pork – also amazing!
Very easy, and absolutely 😋 yummy!
Great recipe, tastes so much the sauce they use at my local dim sum restaurant. Definitely bookmarking this so I can make it again.
What brand of oyster sauce do you like to use Nagi?
This sauce is everything! Perfectly rounded flavor and what I’ve been looking for.
Holy crap! This was amazing!! I used regular broccoli this time and plan to circle back to try it with gai lan! So quick and delicious, thank you!
Great sauce used it on frozen broccoli cooked in microwave and pork fried rice with my own homemade Char Siu.
This has been added to My best recipes. Thank you. (I used Shaoxing Wine)
Very good sauce but mine was very salty.
Hi JohnS… I used rice wine vinegar so mine tasted it! What was the other clear liquid you used..? (just curious!) Annette
I would love a stove top alternative to cooking the broccoli. Boil or steam for how long?