Sesame Broccoli Recipe

5 from 3 votes

The perfect side dish to anything Chinese, this Sesame Broccoli is one of my go-to easy recipes. Loaded with garlic, sesame, and coconut aminos, it's a delicious mixture of sweet, salty, nutty, and garlicky. Ready in less than 20 minutes, you might just finish the whole bowl yourself!

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Sides

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: sesame broccoli

Servings: Servings

Calories: 132kcal

Author: Bethany Galloway

Ingredients

1 head of broccoli between 450-700g, 1-1 1/2 lbs
1 garlic clove minced
2 tbs toasted sesame oil
2 tbs coconut aminos see note 2 for soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

First, cut the broccoli into broccoli florets and steam them by adding an inch of water to a pot and placing a steaming basket on top. Add the broccoli to the steaming basket and cover it for about 10 minutes. *see note 1 for more options
While the broccoli is steaming, mix the garlic clove, coconut aminos, and sesame oil in a large bowl. The bowl should be big enough to add the broccoli later.
When the broccoli is just fork-tender, mix it with the sauce ingredients. Adjust salt as needed.
In a large saucepan, add the sesame seeds and toast them over medium heat until they turn golden brown.
Mix the sesame seeds with the broccoli and either serve immediately or allow it to cool, chill it for at least 2 hours, and serve it cold.

Notes

Steamed Broccoli: You can also boil them or roast them but I prefer to steam broccoli to keep more of the nutrition and have a bit of a crunchy texture.
Coconut Aminos: You can substitute soy sauce if desired. Add a touch of honey or sweetener if you do so
Raw garlic: Use less if you don’t want a powerful flavor. You can also sauté it for a minute before adding it to the sauce for a more subtle flavor.
Make and chill the day before: This also helps the flavors to develop beautifully, and it tastes even better the next day, straight from the fridge!

Hot or cold: One of my favorite things about this dish is that it can be served hot or cold. I love both but tend to lean towards the cold in summer, and hot in winter.

Different vegetables: Steamed or roasted vegetables like bok choy, sweet potato, cabbage, and cauliflower are great options and go well with this sauce.

Add flavor: A bit of Chinese 5 Spice is great in this delicious side dish. It goes so well with the coconut aminos.

Bring on the heat: 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes or powder and this recipe will rock up to a whole new level!

Lemon juice: Finish this Sesame Broccoli recipe off with a squeeze of lemon juice. The flavors really pop with just a touch of citrus.

Storage Instructions

Fridge: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Reheat (optional): Reheat for a few minutes in the microwave or on the stove until it's heated through, or eat it cold.

Nutrition