Today’s shrimp and broccoli recipe produces an easy and healthy dish that comes together in 22 minutes. Juicy plump shrimp are stir-fried with broccoli and coated in a savory sticky sauce, then served over a bed of hot rice or noodles to create a nutritious and fulfilling meal.
Is Shrimp and Broccoli Healthy?
Yes, it is.
A serving of this shrimp and broccoli with rice contains 499 calories. This dish is proof that it’s possible to make a nutritious and healthy meal even when you’re short on time and energy.
Shrimp provides generous amounts of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E. Protein and calcium found in shrimp can help fight against bone degeneration.
Shrimp also contains omega-3 fatty acids that are known for reducing the risks of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Broccoli, on the other hand, is a powerhouse of antioxidants. It’s packed with vitamins C and K, and vast amounts of other micronutrients that help support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and help fight against infections.
Like most vegetables, broccoli is also high in fiber and low in calories. The presence of broccoli in main dishes can help your stomach feel full for longer.
Main Ingredients
- Shrimp:
Either fresh or frozen, peeled or unpeeled shrimp can work great in this recipe. For frozen shrimp, remember to defrost them properly before taking other steps.
To save time prepping, we recommend buying pre-shelled raw with heads removed and/or deveined. All you need to do is rinse them well and butterfly them open if preferred.
Shrimp cooks fast, so if you want them to be slightly crispy on the outside, heat up the pan until very hot before adding the shrimp to fry. If you want to give the shrimp a velvety texture, coat them in a thin layer of cornstarch first.
- Broccoli:
In this recipe, the broccoli is roughly chopped into bite-sized pieces and then stir-fried until just tender before being tossed together with the shrimp and sauce. Technically, you want the broccoli to be slightly crispy so that it won’t get mushy too fast when sitting in the sauce, thus there’s no need to par-boil them first.
- Sauce:
Our tasty thick sauce is made with rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, brown sugar, reduced-sodium soy sauce, oyster sauce, Sriracha, ground black pepper, paprika, and water. It’s a balanced mixture of sweet and savory to perfectly complement the rich flavor of the shrimp. Don’t forget to spoon it over a nice bed of rice or egg noodles.
How to Make Shrimp And Broccoli
If you follow today’s healthy shrimp and broccoli recipe, you’ll have a nutritious and fulfilling meal in just 7 easy steps:
Whisk together ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
Stir-fry broccoli for 5 minutes. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
Sauté ginger and garlic in the same skillet until fragrant.
Add the shrimp. Stir-fry until they turn pink.
Return the broccoli to the skillet. Stir occasionally.
Add the sauce mixture then turn off the heat. Toss and stir until well-coated.
Garnish and serve hot with cooked rice.
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?
Yes, absolutely. However, if you do use frozen shrimp, you’ll need to add an extra step and thaw them before anything else.
How To Thaw Shrimp
To thaw frozen shrimp, remove them from the freezer and put them in the fridge one day before cooking.
If the meal hasn’t been planned ahead and you need to thaw them fast, simply place the bag of the frozen shrimp into a large bowl of water. Wait for about 15 minutes and they should be defrosted and ready to cook.
It’s totally fine to make this recipe with shrimp that are still a bit frosty, so no need to wait for too long.
How to Store and Reheat Shrimp And Broccoli
Leftover shrimp and broccoli can keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days if stored properly in airtight containers. When frozen, the time can be extended to 3 months.
To reheat, first, leave the leftover portion to thaw in the fridge overnight. On the following day, put it in the microwave or in the oven to warm through before eating.
What to Serve with Shrimp And Broccoli
For a wholesome weekday dinner, we recommend pairing these two sides with our tasty shrimp and broccoli:
- Cabbage soup: An easy and wholesome green cabbage soup with ground pork, carrots, and white radishes to sneak more fiber into your meal.
- Orange pineapple juice: A 5-ingredient tropical fruit juice to help you get more vitamins and essential digestion-aiding nutrients in your body. It’s heavenly and refreshing as a side beverage for either breakfast, parties, or as a starter.
Shrimp And Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 oz raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp oyster sauce
- 2 tsp Sriracha
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 8 oz broccoli chopped
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 2 tbsp scallions chopped
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 3.5 cups cooked medium-grain white rice
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce, 1/2 tsp oyster sauce, 2 tsp Sriracha, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp paprika, and 2 tbsp water. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir-fry 8 oz broccoli for 5 minutes. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
- In the same skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Sauté 1 tsp grated ginger and 1 tbsp minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add 24 oz peeled and deveined shrimp and stir-fry until they turn pink (about 5 minutes).
- Return the broccoli to the skillet. Stir occasionally for 2 minutes.
- Add the sauce mixture then turn off the heat. Toss and stir until the sauce slightly thickens and everything is well-coated.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped scallions, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1 tbsp sesame seeds on top. Portion out with the 3.5 cups cooked rice. Serve hot.
Nutrition
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