So many interesting brassicas, so little time! Sometimes I avoid the veg that I’m not familiar with, thinking I might not know what to do with it. But when I take the bull by the horns, I’m never disappointed. Stick with me to find out How to Cook Chinese Broccoli, a vegetable that for the longest time, I wasn’t sure what to do with. Turns out it’s super simple, super-tasty – and super-healthy as well.
What is Chinese Broccoli?
Gai lan or kai-lan (芥藍) in Chinese is the vegetable known as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale in English. It’s a member of the brassica family, with thick, flat dark leaves and small broccoli-like florets. It tastes very similar to broccoli, but with a stronger flavor, and a slightly bitter backnote. Broccolini is in fact a hybrid between regular broccoli and Chinese broccoli, so if you have eaten broccolini before, you will have some idea what to expect.
It is a nutrient-rich vegetable with high levels of vitamins A, C, E, and K, plus minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Plus it’s also low-calorie, so you can eat as much as you like, guilt-free!
How to Cook Chinese Broccoli
Although you can eat Chinese broccoli raw, its bitter flavor is mellowed and softened by cooking, and it’s much more palatable when heated. The leaves soften relatively quickly when cooked, so you’re not going to be boiling it for a long time. Stir-fries and quick braises are the way forward. Here are my nine favorite recipes using Chinese broccoli:
1. Easy Chinese Broccoli
A simple stir-fry turned into something extraordinary with mushrooms added as well. It’s a fantastic veg-heavy recipe, easily made vegan with vegan oyster sauce.
Recipe by: Omnivore’s Cookbook
2. Chinese Broccoli with Sesame Soy Sauce
Such a rich flavor from the sesame and reduced soy sauce. Lots of sautéed garlic completes the picture. This is technically a side dish, but honestly, I could eat this just by itself.
Recipe by: Oh Snap, Let’s Eat
3. 10 Minute Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauce is the best way to gently soften the bitterness of Chinese broccoli. The rich umami flavor and saltiness is a great pairing, bringing out the taste and making it palatable.
Recipe by: A Pinch of Saffron
4. Beef with Chinese Broccoli
Most recipes for Chinese broccoli are for side dishes, but this one pairs it with beef and ginger for a full meal in its own right. A really delicious, quick and easy stir-fry dish.
Recipe by: The Cantonese Cook
5. Asian Broccoli Stir-Fry
Add hoisin sauce, garlic and sesame for a delicious stir-fry recipe. It works just as well with regular broccoli as well as Chinese broccoli.
Recipe by: Bake, Eat, Repeat
6. Chinese Broccoli Salad
This recipe serves Chinese broccoli cold in a salad. The vegetable is briefly sautéed to soften it, and dressed with a spicy sriracha sauce, for a more unusual dish.
Recipe by: Pinch and Swirl
7. Chinese Broccoli Tempura
Just like almost any other vegetable, you can dip Chinese broccoli in tempura batter and fry it until golden and crisp. It makes a great addition to a mixed tempura veggie platter.
Recipe by: Just One Cookbook
8. Chinese Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
Totally delicious, and a complete meal with just a bowl of rice on the rice. Even better, it’s a super-healthy choice, being packed with vitamins from both the Chinese broccoli and lots of garlic.
Recipe by: Pickled Plum
9. Asian Vegetable Stir-Fry
Add Chinese broccoli into any Asian stir-fry recipe, for its interesting flavor and great nutritional profile. It pairs well with any other vegetable, to create a colorful medley on your plate.
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
Conclusion
Now you know how to cook Chinese broccoli, get stir-frying and splash-happy with the soy and oyster sauce! For such a simple ingredient, it really packs a big flavor punch. How do you like to cook yours?
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