Savory Garlic Broccoli Stir-fry
Quick and Delicious Garlic Broccoli Stir-fry from Your Fridge!
Today, let’s create a wonderful dish using ingredients you already have in your refrigerator! No need to go to the grocery store. While rummaging through my fridge, I found some broccoli and decided to make a delicious stir-fry. Usually, I just blanch it and dip it in spicy-sweet sauce, but today I wanted to transform it into something more flavorful. The freshly stir-fried broccoli seemed like a perfect match for pasta, so I quickly boiled some pasta noodles. While I was cooking and taking photos, I received a message from my partner asking for Jeyuk Bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) for dinner! Since I didn’t have much for dinner anyway, I hurried to the supermarket. So, unfortunately, there are no photos of the Jeyuk Bokkeum. It’s impossible to photograph every single meal we make at home. But tomorrow, I might regret not taking pictures!
Ingredients- 1 head broccoli
- 5-6 cloves garlic
- 3-4 Tbsp olive oil
- 3-5 dried chili peppers (e.g., pequin or small red chilies), adjust to taste
- Salt to taste
- Coarse black pepper to taste
- Dried basil, optional
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the broccoli thoroughly under running water. To remove any wax coating, soak it in water with a few drops of vinegar for about 30 minutes. Then, gently scrub with a soft brush and rinse again. Drain well and cut into bite-sized florets.
Step 2
Peel and thinly slice the garlic cloves. The garlic will add a wonderful aroma and flavor to the dish.
Step 3
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and fry until golden brown and fragrant, like making garlic chips. Be careful not to burn the garlic; this step infuses the oil with garlic flavor.
Step 4
Once the garlic is golden, remove it from the pan and set aside. Add the prepared broccoli florets to the same pan and stir-fry. Raw broccoli takes a bit longer to cook, so if the garlic remains at the bottom, it might burn. Stir frequently to ensure even cooking. If you’ve pre-blanched the broccoli, you can add it directly and stir-fry with the garlic without worrying as much about burning.
Step 5
As the broccoli starts to soften, finely chop the dried chili peppers and add them to the pan. I used 7 peppers, which provided a pleasant level of heat for me and was also enjoyed by my child. Feel free to add more if you prefer it spicier.
Step 6
Broccoli tends to absorb oil, so you might need to add a little more olive oil during the stir-frying process to keep everything from sticking and to achieve a glossy finish. See how beautifully shiny it looks?
Step 7
Now, add the fried garlic back into the pan along with the chopped chili peppers. Stir-fry everything together, mixing the broccoli, garlic, and chilies well. The savory garlic and spicy chili will beautifully complement the broccoli.
Step 8
Finally, season the stir-fry. Sprinkle in salt to taste, adjusting the amount as needed. If you have coarse black pepper, grinding some over the top will enhance the aroma. A pinch of dried basil can add a lovely, subtle herbal note. Your delicious and fragrant garlic broccoli stir-fry is ready!
