Broccoli with Garlic Sauce & Bacon Recipe
This Broccoli with Garlic Sauce & Bacon recipe delivers a delicious Asian-inspired side dish that combines tender boiled broccoli with a rich and savory garlic sauce, topped with crispy smoky bacon. It’s quick, easy, and packed with flavor, perfect as a side for stir-fried meats or tofu, or enjoyed on its own by the bowlful.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
- Diet: Diabetic, Low Calorie
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 broccoli head, cut into small pieces
- 2 strips of bacon, cut into small pieces (adjust to taste)
- 3 tablespoons oil (olive or cooking oil)
- 4–5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon oyster sauce (or substitute with soy sauce if unavailable)
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Boiling Broccoli: Bring a pot of water to boil with a pinch of salt and a splash of olive oil. Add the chopped broccoli and cook for 3-5 minutes until tender but still crisp. Drain thoroughly to avoid watery sauce.
- Frying Bacon: Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the bacon pieces and cook until they are crisp and golden brown. Remove and set aside on paper towels to drain excess fat.
- Preparing Garlic Sauce: In the same pan with remaining oil, add the finely chopped garlic and fry until golden brown and fragrant. Meanwhile, mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and water in a bowl until smooth. Pour the sauce mixture into the pan with fried garlic and stir continuously for about 10 seconds until it thickens slightly.
- Adding Broccoli and Bacon: Add the drained broccoli to the pan and toss well to coat evenly with the garlic sauce. Add the crispy bacon pieces back to the pan and give it a gentle toss to combine all flavors.
- Serving: Once everything is combined and heated through, transfer to a serving dish and enjoy immediately as a flavorful side dish.
Notes
- Chop broccoli into smaller pieces to reduce cooking time and allow more sauce coverage.
- Finely chop garlic to maximize garlic flavor in the sauce; batch-fried garlic can be stored for convenience.
- Use smoky bacon for ideal flavor; prosciutto can be used but is more expensive.
- Do not fry bacon and garlic together as bacon releases water which affects frying.
- Oyster sauce serves as a flavor enhancer and MSG substitute; soy sauce can replace it if needed.
- Stir the sauce mixture well before adding to the pan to prevent lumps from cornstarch.
- Adjust soy sauce amount depending on bacon saltiness to prevent the dish from being too salty.
- Drain broccoli thoroughly to avoid watery sauce.
- Add chili flakes for spice or a pinch of sugar for a touch of sweetness, if desired.
Keywords: broccoli with garlic sauce, Asian broccoli recipe, Chinese broccoli, garlic broccoli, broccoli and bacon, side dish, healthy vegetable recipe
