Whether you’re looking for a healthy meal to serve your family or a delicious side dish to serve at your next event, it’s important to know how to make broccoli. After all, it’s one of the healthiest vegetables on earth. Luckily, the process for cooking it is simple and a breeze.
How to Make Broccoli
Saute
Whether you’re cooking broccoli for a main dish or as a side dish, sauteing it is a quick and easy way to get a delicious meal on the table. You’ll have a flavorful and crisp-tender vegetable that you can add to pastas, rice, and other dishes.
There are a few steps you’ll need to take in order to cook this tasty vegetable. Start by cutting the head of broccoli into small florets. Next, rinse the broccoli thoroughly. Then, pierce the stem of the broccoli with a knife. This will help keep it’s shape and add visual appeal.
After piercing the stalks, put the broccoli into a pan with a little olive oil or butter. This will ensure the broccoli gets a nice brown color. It should also be stirred frequently.
Once the broccoli is brown, remove it from the pan and place it in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Then, sprinkle the florets with a half-teaspoon of kosher salt. You may want to add a little black pepper as well.
Depending on how long you want the broccoli to be cooked, you’ll need to adjust the amount of water. Aim for about two tablespoons. If you have more, you can always add it during the cooking process.
You can also add a spritz of lemon juice or a sprinkle of chili peppers. If you’re serving this broccoli as a side dish, consider sprinkling it with toasted sesame seeds. If you’re serving it as a main dish, serve it with a creamy tahini sauce.
Steam
Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a crowd, steaming broccoli is a quick and easy way to turn fresh broccoli into a delectable dish. Unlike boiled broccoli, steaming keeps the vegetable’s vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture.
Traditionally, steaming broccoli is done on the stovetop using a steamer. But you can also do it in the microwave or skillet.
To prepare the broccoli for cooking, begin by cutting it into one-inch florets. The crown of the stem should be cut off and the outer skin peeled. Break the crown into quarters and the remaining pieces into bite-sized florets.
For best results, use a large pot with at least an inch of water. Set the pot over medium-high heat. Make sure the water is rolling boil before adding the broccoli.
You may need a colander to help steam the broccoli. The colander should not be placed in the water.
Once the water is boiling, add broccoli florets. Be sure to space them out so that they can get the steam they need. A good rule of thumb is to steam for about 4 to 5 minutes.
Oven-roasted
Whether you’re looking for the healthiest way to prepare broccoli or simply want a tasty side dish, roasted broccoli can be made easily. It’s also easy to add your own flavors, depending on your preferences. You can choose to serve it with a lemon wedge or citrus juice, feta cheese, or a creamy chipotle sauce.
The key to a good roasted broccoli is making sure you use a hot pan. It will ensure the florets are cooked evenly. It’s also important to remove the stalks from the broccoli before roasting.
It’s also a good idea to toss the broccoli in olive oil. This will help to crisp up the broccoli. Then, sprinkle it with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Then, place the broccoli on the preheated baking sheet. Arrange the florets in a single layer, leaving space between them.
After 10 minutes, check on the broccoli. If it looks like it’s starting to burn, turn it over with tongs. Continue to cook it for another five minutes on the other side.
Once the broccoli has been roasted, you can enjoy it immediately, or put it into a meal prep container and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also freeze it for up to a month.
With other vegetables
Whether you choose to stir fry broccoli or bake it, this green veggie can be a delicious side dish. Its grassy taste makes it a perfect match for a wide range of other vegetables. For a quick and easy dinner, prepare a bowl of broccoli sabzi with potatoes and roti. Alternatively, serve it with rice and scrambled tofu for a healthy meal.
For the best results, you should consider using a large non-stick skillet. Heat it over medium-high heat and add a bit of olive oil. You may even want to add a little sliced fresh garlic to the mix.
To make the most of your veggies, make sure they’re prepped before you cook them. This involves making sure that they’re cut into suitable sized chunks, that they’re slicked with oil and that they’re seasoned with salt.
One of the easiest ways to roast vegetables is to coat them with oil and toss them around so they’re coated. You can also try adding a dash of salt and pepper before you pop them into the oven.
While you’re at it, why not try roasting a whole vegetable? You’ll probably have to cook it for twenty or thirty minutes depending on how you’re preparing it, but the end result is a more tender vegetable than the microwaved variety.
With rice or chapati
Adding broccoli to rice and chapati is a healthy choice. It is a protein rich food, perfect for a quick breakfast or a snack. It can also be used as a starter dish or a side dish.
First, add oil in a kadai and heat it. When the oil is hot, add cumin and mustard seeds. After they splutter, add the green chillies. When they are pink, add ginger and garlic. When you add all the ingredients, add salt. After 5 minutes, onions should be added.
After the mixture is mixed, you can serve the rice with the sabzi. If you want, you can add roasted peanuts and crushed peanuts just before serving. You can also serve the curry with Rotis.
You can add cooked potatoes and broccoli to the curry. You can also add curd and milk. When you add the vegetables, you should stir it so that the sauce gets thicker.
You can even add a pinch of red chili powder to the sabzi. You can garnish the sabzi with cilantro leaves. You can even replace the capsicum with ginger. The sabji has a crunchy taste from the broccoli.
You can even make a stuffed paratha with the broccoli masala. It’s very easy. If you want, you can even make a vegan version of the recipe.
You can cook the broccoli in the oven or in the microwave. You can also add some lime juice and salt to it. It’s an easy and healthy dish for your busy weekday mornings. You can also serve it with dal and rice.
You can also make this recipe with mashed daal. It’s a simple recipe that’s great for entertaining. It’s protein rich, and perfect for a cold winter day.