Ingredients

1 Head Broccoli Cut Into Florets
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp Fresh Ginger Grated
1 Garlic Clove Minced
1 tsp Honey
1 tsp Cornflour
2 tbsp Water
A Pinch of Chilli Flakes
1 tsp Sesame Seeds for Garnish

Method

Step 1: Add Broccoli to a Dish

Start by placing broccoli florets in a microwave-safe dish. Add a small amount of water to the dish—just enough to cover the bottom of the dish. This will help steam the broccoli.

Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or a plate. This step ensures that the broccoli cooks evenly and retains its nutrients.

Broccoli florets in a glass dish covered with cling film being held by two hands on a marble background

Step 2: Microwave

Cook the broccoli on high power in your microwave for about 3 to 4 minutes. The key here is to achieve tenderness without overcooking it. You don’t want mushy broccoli!

This timing is based on a 900w microwave. If you have a lower-wattage microwave, add 1 minute to the timings before checking the broccoli. If you have a higher-wattage microwave, check the broccoli after 2.5 minutes.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

In a separate bowl, create your sauce. Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, a touch of honey for sweetness, cornflour (to thicken the sauce), a little water to adjust consistency, and chilli flakes for some heat.

Small white dish containing a stiry-fry sauce on a marble background

If you want a less saucy dish that is still inspired by the flavours of Asian then check out my Asian-inspired microwave broccoli here.

Step 4: Combine

Once the broccoli is cooked, carefully remove the lid or plate (watch out for steam) and pour the prepared sauce over the broccoli. Make sure the florets are evenly coated with the sauce to ensure that every bite is flavorful.

Microwaved broccoli florets in a glass dish sitting in a ginger, garlic and chilli stir-fry sauce on a marble background

Step 5: Warm Through

Place the broccoli with the sauce back into the microwave. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Halfway through, pause to stir the broccoli and sauce.

This will only take 30 seconds in a higher-wattage microwave and will take closer to 2.5 minutes for a lower-wattage one.

Step 6: Serve

After the final microwaving, sprinkle sesame seeds over the broccoli before serving warm. The sauce should do all the seasoning for you so there’s no need for salt or pepper here.

Sesame seeds being sprinkled over microwaved broccoli in a stir fry sauce

Tweaks

Add Char Blowtorch or grill the broccoli once it has been microwaved to give it some charred edges.
Up the Heat Add a few drops of your favourite hot sauce to the sauce to give it a bit more heat. Remember, it already has chilli flakes in it though!
Add Freshness Garnish the finished broccoli with a few Thai basil or coriander leaves to balance out the richness of the sauce.

Substitutes

Use Other Veg Although this is a broccoli dish, you could swap this out for green beans, sugar snap peas or kale.
Make it Vegan Simply swap the honey out for maple syrup or agave to make this entire recipe vegan.
Use Other Broccoli Types This will work well with broccoli stalks or Tenderstem broccoli. You will need to lower the cooking time by about 20% for Tenderstem.

Storage

In the Fridge To store leftover microwave broccoli stir fry, first let it cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the Freezer To freeze your broccoli stir fry, let it cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.

Tips

Toast the Sesame Seeds: Give the sesame seeds a quick toast in a dry pan for a minute or two. This will release their oils and boost their flavour.

Taste the Sauce First: Before dressing the broccoli with the sauce, give it a quick taste. It’s far easier to adjust the flavour before you pour it all over the broccoli.

Cut the Broccoli Evenly: Unless you want some mushy and some hard broccoli, cut them into evenly sized pieces to cook them evenly.

Avoid Salt: It can become second nature to season everything with salt, but the sauce in this recipe is already salty from the soy sauce, so avoid salt.