Chinese Broccoli with Ginger Sauce

Lee Wan Ching's Chinese Broccoli with Ginger Sauce Excerpted from The Breath of a Wok: Unlocking the Spirit of Chinese Wok Cooking Through Recipes and Lore by Grace Young (Simon & Schuster, 2004). © 2004 by Grace Young.

Serves 4 as part of a multicourse meal

Chef Lee Wan Ching of Yee Hen restaurant on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, taught me this recipe. Traditionally ginger is always cooked with broccoli - its warmth balances the coolness of yin vegetables such as broccoli. Just a small amount of ginger juice intensifies the flavor of the vegetables. To make ginger juice, grate a small amount of ginger and then squeeze it with your fingers to extract the juice.

• 6 medium stalks Chinese broccoli (about 12 ounces)
• 1/4 cup Homemade Chicken Broth
• 1-1/2 teaspoons Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 teaspoon ginger juice
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 slices ginger

1. Cut the broccoli stalks in half lengthwise if more than 1/2 inch in diameter. Cut the stalks and leaves into 2-inch-long pieces, keeping the stalk ends separate from the leaves. In a small bowl combine the broth, rice wine, ginger juice, cornstarch, salt, and sugar.

2. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes within 1 to 2 seconds of contact. Swirl in the oil, add the ginger, and stir-fry 10 seconds or until the ginger is fragrant. Add only the broccoli stalks and stir-fry 1 to 1-1/2 minutes until the stalks are bright green. Add the leaves and stir-fry 1 minute until the leaves are just limp. Stir the broth mixture and swirl it into the wok. Stir-fry 1 minute or until the sauce has thickened slightly and lightly coats the vegetables.

On the day even non-cooks are busy in the kitchen, The Splendid Table team is ready to help on-air and online. We've also collected all our Thanksgiving Recipes in one place.

Be notified when new recipes are posted and talk with other fans of the show for people who love to eat.
See what it's all about»

Weeknight Kitchen® is a free weekly e-mail newsletter full of new recipes and tips from Lynne and our guests.
Sign up »
This week's newsletter »

The Splendid Table®, is available in podcast form. Follow the Sterns as they travel the country, hear all our unique and wonderful guests and, as always, Lynne takes your calls, downloaded direct to your computer every week.
Get the podcast