Satisfy your cravings with this easy shrimp and broccoli stir fry recipe. Ready in 30 minutes, it's perfect for busy weeknights.
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This dish features succulent shrimp and crunchy broccoli florets tossed in a savory sauce. The flavors of this dish are well-balanced, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a healthy yet flavorful meal.
Just like with shrimp skewers, the seafood's natural sweetness complements the green vegetables' earthy notes. Plus, with minimal cooking time, you'll have a delicious meal in a flash. There's no need to rely on takeout when you can create your restaurant-quality dish right at home.
This shrimp and broccoli stir fry will become your go-to dinner option whenever you crave something satisfyingly savory. So grab your skillet and get ready to dive in.
Reasons to Love
- Bursting with flavors. Combining juicy shrimp, crisp broccoli, and perfectly balanced seasonings creates a taste explosion in every bite.
- The recipe is simple and versatile. It's easy to make and can be customized to suit your taste preferences.
- It's a healthy and satisfying dish. Shrimp is a great source of protein, while broccoli contains essential vitamins and minerals.
Ingredients
If you already do a lot of Asian-style dishes, you may already have most of the ingredients needed for the stir-fry and ginger garlic sauce.
Here are the items used in the recipe.
- shrimp
- fresh broccoli
- red onion
- red bell pepper
- fresh ginger
- garlic
- ginger powder
- garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- green onions (for garnish)
- sesame oil
- oil for cooking
- chili garlic sauce
- light brown sugar
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- cornstarch
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
Gather all the ingredients and cut the vegetables, ginger, and garlic. Then follow the step-by-step directions below to make this easy broccoli and shrimp recipe.
Season both sides of the shrimp with garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Set aside then blanch the broccoli florets.
In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and set aside. Pan-fry the shrimp until no longer translucent and transfer to a plate.
In the same skillet, stir-fry garlic and ginger for 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant. Add red onions and red bell peppers then continue to stir-fry until crisp-tender.
Pour half of the ginger-garlic mixture, salt, and ground black pepper. Continue to stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, combine cornstarch and water to make a cornstarch slurry.
Add the shrimp back into the pan.
Add the broccoli and the remaining sauce mixture.
Give everything a quick toss. To thicken the sauce, stir in the cornstarch slurry, adding one tablespoon at a time. Stir quickly until the sauce thickens. Transfer to a plate to serve and garnish with cut green onions.
Variations
Stir-fry recipes like this shrimp one are highly customizable. Here are a few modifications you may want to try.
- Swap out the protein. If you're not a fan of shrimp, you can easily swap it out for another protein such as chicken or tofu.
- Add other vegetables. Other vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or snap peas can be added to add more nutrients to the flavor profile.
- Make it gluten-free. Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free option.
Tips
If you've never made a shrimp and broccoli stir-fry before, follow these tips for the best results.
- Make sure to devein and clean the shrimp thoroughly before cooking. This can easily be done by using a sharp knife to cut along the back of each shrimp and removing the dark vein.
- Cut the broccoli into small, bite-sized pieces for even cooking. If you prefer your broccoli to be more tender, blanch it in boiling water for a minute or two before adding it to the stir fry.
- Use high heat when cooking and add the ingredients in stages, starting with the aromatics like garlic and ginger, followed by the vegetables, and finally the shrimp. This will help ensure that everything cooks evenly without overcooking or burning.
- Adjust seasonings to your taste preferences. Feel free to use other seasonings or omit the ones you don't like.
Serving suggestions
One way to serve this shrimp and broccoli stir fry recipe is over a bed of steamed white or brown rice. The rice will soak up the flavors of the sauce and add some bulk to the dish, making it more filling. It's also delicious over rice noodles.
If you want to add some crunch to the dish, consider sprinkling sesame seeds or chopped peanuts on top before serving. This will give it some texture and nuttiness that pairs well with the flavors in the stir fry.
Garnish your dish with sliced green onions or cilantro for a pop of color and freshness. To start your meal with an appetizer, try roasted cabbage steaks or air fryer cabbage wedges wrapped in bacon.
Storage
If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When reheating, make sure to heat it thoroughly until piping hot.
It's not recommended to freeze shrimp and broccoli stir fry as the texture of both shrimp and broccoli may become mushy upon thawing. It's best to enjoy this dish when it's freshly made.
Related Recipes
Want to try more dinner recipes that cook up in thirty minutes or less? Check out some of these other dishes:
- Chicken chop suey combines both American and Chinese cuisines.
- Broccoli and beef is a fast dinner recipe with Asian-inspired seasonings.
- Sheet pan salmon and veggies is a quick and easy dinner idea.
- Black pepper chicken recipe has a nice kick of flavor.
- Steak and pasta are combined in a rich Alfredo sauce.
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Recipe
Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 8 pieces large shrimp 200 grams, peeled, deveined, retain tails
- 1 ½ cups broccoli 1 small head, cut in florets
- ½ cup red onion 1 small, thinly sliced
- 50 grams red bell pepper 1 small, cored, deseeded
- ⅓ cup fresh ginger 2 thumbs, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup garlic 8 large cloves, thinly sliced
- ⅛ teaspoon ginger powder
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- fresh spring onions green onions for garnishing
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 to 3 tablespoons oil
GINGER GARLIC SAUCE:
- ⅛ teaspoon ginger powder
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 4 to 5 tablespoons water
CORNSTARCH SLURRY:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 to 4 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Pat dry shrimp. Season both sides with garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Set aside.
- Blanch broccoli florets in boiling water for 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer broccoli florets to a bowl of ice water for 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer broccoli to a plate. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the ginger garlic sauce - ginger powder, garlic powder, chili garlic sauce, light brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and water. Stir well. Set aside.
- In a heated skillet (or wok) with oil, pan-fry shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Remove shrimp once they start to curl up or when the color is no longer translucent. Do not overcook. Transfer to a plate. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, stir-fry garlic and ginger for 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add red onions and red bell peppers then continue to stir-fry until crisp-tender.
- Pour half of the ginger-garlic mixture, salt, and ground black pepper. Continue to stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine cornstarch and water to make a cornstarch slurry. Mix well.
- Toss in shrimp and broccoli. Pour the remaining ginger-garlic mixture. Give it a quick toss.
- To thicken the sauce, stir in the cornstarch slurry, adding 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir quickly until the sauce thickens.
- Transfer to a plate. Garnish with fresh spring onions (green onions). Serve immediately.
Liz
This was so good and I loved how easy it was! I'll be adding this stir fry to our regular rotation!
Jenn
This recipe really came in handy at my parents house, as they loved it so much! It looked so pretty, and my kids wanted seconds. (They ate the broccoli too!)
Kat
Thank you for the tip about de-veining the shrimp. This was the first time I used fresh shrimp and with your instructions, the recipe turned out perfect. Great flavors!
Michelle
This recipe was so easy to make and tasted amazing, all the flavours go perfectly together, will be making again!
Jane
I love shrimp and broccoli stir fry. It's so easy to make, and it's so full of flavor!
Jane
This is delicious! I love the shrimp and broccoli combo, and the sauce is savory without being too salty.