How one can cook dinner broccoli | BBC Good Meals

October 23, 2023

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Lengthy-stem sorts of broccoli, reminiscent of purple sprouting, want barely completely different preparation and cooking strategies. For extra info, check out our information for cooking long-stem broccoli.

How one can inform if broccoli is contemporary

Search for broccoli heads which are deep vibrant inexperienced. Because the broccoli ages, yellow and brown flecks will begin to seem on the florets. Broccoli additionally tends to develop into floppy when it is previous its greatest, so search for one with agency florets and stalks.

How one can put together broccoli

Wash the broccoli in chilly operating water, ensuring the water will get between all of the florets.
Depart to empty in a colander or pat dry with a clear kitchen towel.
Take away any robust leaves and reduce off and discard the top of the stem if it is dry and arduous.
Minimize the highest of the broccoli into florets. Slice or peel the stem into skinny strips.

How lengthy to boil broccoli

Boiling time relies on the scale of your florets and the feel you might be in search of. For tender broccoli with a little bit little bit of chunk, boiling time varies from 2-4 minutes for small florets, 4-5 minutes for medium and 6-8 minutes for giant.

Carry a big pan of evenly salted water to the boil. Fastidiously decrease the ready broccoli into the water and boil following the timings above.
Take a look at a chunk of the broccoli to ensure it is cooked to your liking earlier than draining nicely in a colander.
For those who like, return the broccoli to the recent pan over a low warmth to steam dry for 1 min, then season and add a little bit butter so it melts and coats the greens.

How lengthy to steam broccoli

Fill the pan of the steamer with 5cm water. Put a lidded steamer on high so it’s suspended over the water and convey to the boil.
Add the ready broccoli to the steamer, re-cover and cook dinner for 5-6 minutes for medium florets. Verify the tenderness of a floret with a small sharp knife. If proud of the feel, take away the broccoli from the steamer and serve instantly.

See our recipe for good steamed broccoli.

Roasted broccoli recipe

Roasted broccoli floret on a baking tray

When roasting broccoli, you may get inventive by including extra flavours to the roasting tin, whether or not that’s olive oil, garlic and chilli flakes, lemon zest and thyme, or sesame, honey and soy.
Warmth the oven to 220C/200C fan/gasoline 7 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
Wash and reduce a broccoli head into florets and slice the stem into strips. Toss the broccoli with 2 tbsp oil, seasoning and your alternative of herbs and spices, should you like.
Unfold out in a single layer on the tray. Roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping the florets over midway via cooking.

How one can cook dinner broccoli within the microwave

Wash and reduce the broccoli into bite-sized florets and the stem into skinny strips.
Tip the florets right into a microwavable bowl. Add 4 tbsp water, cowl and cook dinner for 3-4 minutes on excessive. If the broccoli continues to be agency, cook dinner in 30-second bursts till tender.
Drain nicely in a colander then serve.

How one can air-fry broccoli

Go for bite-sized florets and cook dinner for 8-10 minutes in an air-fryer preheated to 190C, turning the florets midway via.

How one can stir-fry broccoli

To stir-fry, warmth 2 tbsp oil in a big frying pan or wok and cook dinner for 3-4 minutes, stirring repeatedly.

How one can griddle broccoli

To griddle, warmth a griddle pan over a medium-high warmth. Minimize the broccoli into skinny steaks or florets, toss in a little bit oil and cook dinner for 3-4 minutes on both sides.

How one can deep-fry broccoli

Dip broccoli in a tempura batter and deep-fry in batches at 190C for about 2 minutes, earlier than draining on kitchen paper.

See our recipe for vegetable tempura to do that approach for different veg as nicely.

What’s the healthiest strategy to cook dinner broccoli?

Microwaving or steaming broccoli preserves probably the most vitamins. In case you are in search of optimum vitamins, watch out to not overcook and goal for al dente florets.

Water soluble compounds within the vegetable will be misplaced to the cooking water when boiling, although this isn’t such a difficulty for soup recipes, the place the liquid turns into a part of the dish.

Broccoli may also be eaten uncooked as crudites, shaved right into a salad or added to smoothies.

How have you learnt when broccoli is finished?

A knife ought to pierce the stem simply. It ought to have a little bit little bit of chunk however not an excessive amount of – undercooked broccoli will be very arduous to eat. Younger kids or older adults would possibly want the broccoli cooked for 1-2 minutes longer in order that it’s softer. Softer cooked broccoli also can work higher for soup recipes so it blends easily.

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Suggestions for cooking broccoli

Keep away from overcooking. Along with decreasing vitamins, the florets will develop into soggy and begin to disintegrate. It might additionally develop a bitter, sulfurous flavour when cooked for too lengthy.
Broccoli will be boiled both with the lid on or lid off. Some recommendation says this may flip the broccoli brown, however as long as the water is saved at a speedy simmer or boil, the broccoli ought to keep good and inexperienced. You would possibly have to boil with a free lid so the pot doesn’t bubble over.