Black-Bean Shrimp with Chinese Broccoli

A flavorful Chinese dish combining succulent shrimp with fermented black beans and crisp-tender gai lan (Chinese broccoli), all tossed in a savory sauce made with chicken broth, Shaoxing wine, and soy sauce.

4 servings
23 min

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup homemade chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons Chinese rice wine
  • 3 teaspoons light soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • lb gai lan
  • lb large shrimp
  • 1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
  • 1 piece fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons fermented black beans
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ½ piece fresh jalapeño chile
  • 1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
  • 1 piece flat-bottomed wok

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Stir together broth, rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a small bowl until cornstarch is dissolved.

    2 min

  2. 2.

    Remove any bruised or withered outer leaves from gai lan, then trim and peel stalks, halving thick ones lengthwise. Cut crosswise into 2 1/2-inch pieces, separating leafy parts from thick stems.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Cook stems in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add leafy parts and cook until all of gai lan is just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain well, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and pat dry. Transfer to a large dish and keep warm, loosely covered with foil.

    8 min

  4. 4.

    Pat shrimp dry. Heat wok over high heat until a drop of water vaporizes instantly. Pour peanut oil around side of wok, then tilt wok to swirl oil, coating side. When oil just begins to smoke, add ginger and stir-fry 5 seconds. Add black beans, garlic, and jalapeño and stir-fry 1 minute. Working quickly, add shrimp, spreading in 1 layer on bottom and side of wok. Cook, undisturbed, 3 minutes, then stir-fry until shrimp are just pink on both sides, about 1 minute more. Stir broth mixture, then add to shrimp and bring to a boil. Boil, stirring, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and drizzle with sesame oil, then stir to combine.

    7 min

  5. 5.

    Pour shrimp and sauce over gai lan.

    1 min