Broccoli with Garlic Sauce and Bacon Recipe
This Broccoli with Garlic Sauce & Bacon recipe offers a delicious, savory side dish combining crisp-tender broccoli with a rich garlic-infused sauce and smoky bacon. Perfect for a quick yet flavorful addition to your meals, the dish balances fresh vegetables with the deep umami flavors of soy and oyster sauces, enriched by the crispy texture of bacon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 broccoli (cut into small pieces)
Meat
- 2 strips bacon (cut into small pieces, adjust to taste)
Sauce & Seasoning
- 3 tablespoons oil (for frying)
- 4–5 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Boiling Broccoli: Bring a pot of water to a boil with a pinch of salt and a splash of olive oil. Add the broccoli pieces and boil for 3-5 minutes until just tender yet still crisp. Drain thoroughly to prevent excess water in the sauce.
- Frying Bacon: Heat some oil in a frying pan and add the bacon pieces. Cook until they become crisp and golden brown. Remove and set aside, leaving some oil in the pan for the garlic.
- Preparing Garlic Sauce: Add the finely chopped garlic to the remaining oil in the pan. Fry the garlic until it turns golden brown and fragrant. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and water, stirring well to dissolve the cornstarch.
- Cooking the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the frying pan with the garlic. Stir constantly for about 10 seconds until the sauce starts thickening and becomes glossy.
- Combining Ingredients: Add the boiled broccoli to the pan and toss thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly with the garlic sauce. Return the crispy bacon pieces to the pan and mix gently to combine everything. Serve immediately for best taste and texture.
Notes
- Chop broccoli into smaller pieces to reduce cooking time and ensure even sauce coating.
- Finely chop garlic to maximize flavor infusion in the sauce; you can prepare fried garlic in batches to save time.
- Use smoky bacon for the best flavor; prosciutto is a more premium alternative but costlier.
- Avoid frying the bacon and garlic together as bacon releases water that can affect the crispiness and garlic frying.
- Oyster sauce enhances umami and is a popular MSG substitute; if unavailable, double the soy sauce.
- Stir the cornstarch-based sauce thoroughly before adding to prevent lumps and ensure even thickening.
- Adjust soy sauce quantity if increasing bacon amount to control saltiness.
- Drain broccoli well after boiling to prevent watery sauce.
- Optional enhancements: add chili flakes for spice or a pinch of sugar for sweetness.
Keywords: Broccoli with garlic sauce, bacon broccoli stir fry, garlic broccoli side dish, Chinese broccoli recipe, savory broccoli with bacon
