Thai Shrimp and Broccoli is an easy and quick answer for a tasty and nutritious side dish to prepare for dinner!
Thai Shrimp and Broccoli is really just 2 very tasty ingredients that go great together. I made this easy dish one evening when I needed a vegetable side for my Rasam, which is almost like Indian Tom Yum.
Jump to RecipeThai Shrimp
Thai shrimp is a salty condiment (yes, I do believe it is a condiment) used liberally in my favourite Land of Smiles. In fact, you can find dried shrimp served at the side of street-side dishes such as soups, noodles and fried rice. I bought my jar of Thai shrimp from a speciality store near my old place, though I reckon this can be bought from Golden Mile.
The one I have used here is slightly spicy, and the shrimp pieces are fairly chewy and bite-sized. That is to say, they aren’t pureed like in the tradition Thai shrimp paste. Thai shrimp paste is a highly pungent and salty paste, derived from crushing shrimp or krill and fermenting it with salt for weeks. It may sound horrible, and in fact, the smell can knock you out even. However, it tastes absolutely divine when added to a stir-fry. In fact, Thai Shrimp Paste is a mainstay in many Thai dishes.
Broccoli
I have used broccoli here because it was easily available that day in the supermarket. Please feel free to experiment with vegetables of your choice, however. Cauliflower works great here, but you can try using Xiao Bai Cai as well for a green, leafy alternative. I’ve divided the broccoli into fairly small florets, more out of a need to have this cooked quickly than anything else.
This is essentially a very simple recipe and can be prepared in a matter of minutes. You’ll have to have certain pantry ingredients at the ready, including oil and salt. However, only salt this dish if you feel like it needs it; I did not salt it because the shrimp brings most of the salt here.
You can add different dimensions of flavour to this dish if you have time! Add sliced onions, chopped ginger/garlic and even scallions to this, if you prefer. However, fry the onions in the oil before adding the shrimp.
Thai Shrimp and Broccoli
Course: SidesCuisine: ThaiDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes15
minutesThai Shrimp and Broccoli is an easy and quick answer for a tasty and nutritious side dish to prepare for dinner!
You’ll need;
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Thai Chilli Shrimp (pictured above)
6 Cloves Garlic, smashed
2 Heads Broccoli, about 300g, broken into florets
2 Tbsp water
You’ll need to;
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, then add the shrimp and smashed garlic. Fry in the hot oil until cooked (about 2 mins) then add the broccoli florets.
- Stir the broccoli around in the heat, then add the water and cover with a lid, allowing the broccoli to steam and cook through.
- Cook the florets till you’re happy with the tenderness. Remove and serve warm.
Notes
- Some like their vegetables fully cooked and limp, while others prefer it with a bite. Taste as you go, and stop the cooking when you’re happy with the texture of the vegetable.