Souped Up RecipesSINCE 2016

Oyster Sauce Gailan Stir-Fry Recipe (蚝油芥蓝)

Oyster Sauce Gailan Sti-Fry may seem simple and unremarkable at first glance — no fancy ingredients, no heavy seasonings — but it holds a special place on every Guangdong dining table. It’s refreshing, comforting, and deeply satisfying in its simplicity.

Although it’s one of the most basic Cantonese vegetable dishes, there are a few small tips that can make a huge difference. From cutting the gailan to balancing the slight bitterness with a touch of sugar, every detail matters. Follow along, and I’ll show you how to make this classic side dish perfectly — vibrant, flavorful, and full of wok aroma.

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Oyster Sauce Gailan Stir-Fry Recipe (蚝油芥蓝)

Mandy Fu

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

5 minutes

Oyster Sauce Gailan Sti-Fry may seem simple and unremarkable at first glance — no fancy ingredients, no heavy seasonings — but it holds a special place on every Guangdong dining table. It’s refreshing, comforting, and deeply satisfying in its simplicity.

Although it’s one of the most basic Cantonese vegetable dishes, there are a few small tips that can make a huge difference. From cutting the gailan to balancing the slight bitterness with a touch of sugar, every detail matters. Follow along, and I’ll show you how to make this classic side dish perfectly — vibrant, flavorful, and full of wok aroma.

Oyster Sauce Gailan Stir-Fry Recipe (蚝油芥蓝)

Ingredients

  • 400g / 14 oz of Chinese broccoli, AKA Gailan
  • 2-3 Tbsp of cooking oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic, diced
  • 1.5 Tbsps oyster sauce
  • 2 tsps soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp of ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp of water
  • 1/2 tsp cornstarch

Directions

  1. Separate the Gailan leaves and the stems; slice the stems into bite-sized pieces and roughly chop the leaves. If you don’t have access to Gailan (Chinese broccoli), Western broccoli will do just fine. Or you can use brocolini, which is a hybrid of Chinese broccoli and western broccoli.

  2. To make the quick stir-fry sauce, simply combine 1.5 Tbsps oyster sauce, 2 tsps soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, a touch of ground black pepper, 1 tbsp of water, and 1/2 tsp of cornstarch.
  3. Turn the heat to medium and preheat the wok for 20 seconds. Add a drizzle of oil and swirl it around. Toss in the gailan stems and stir for a 2-3 minutes or until cooked through. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant.
  4. Add the gailan leaves and pour in the sauce. Continue to stir until the leaves are wilted and serve it as a side dish.