Broccoli ten plus ways

Is it stereotypical to love broccoli like I do? It’s certainly one of the most widely available veggies all year long, so I guess that lots of people eat it. I tend to think I’m a little avant garde, enjoying broccoli uniquely, because in our house, we don’t just steam it or toss it into a stir-fry (though we do those things too).

One of the unique things about broccoli is that depending on how you prepare it, the flavors really can morph into something altogether different. Weird for some, but to me, that’s part of what makes it fun. Whether you love broccoli or need a little convincing to enjoy this sulfurous veggie, you’ll want to read on to see some of the fun ways we enjoy the taste and health benefits of this delectable cruciferous treat.

Roasted Broccoli
Broccoli takes on a whole new flavor when roasted; it’s sweet and toasty and completely addictive.

In a 400 degree convection bake oven (or 425 degrees bake, flipping once halfway through), cook broccoli spread evenly on a baking sheet, tossed with olive oil, sea salt and ground pepper for about 20 minutes. Use this yummy veggie in pasta, salads or as its own side dish. Try roasting with other veggies too — onions, red peppers and eggplant work well. You can even drizzle with a bit of balsamic vinegar before serving; you’ll be glad you did.

Raw Broccoli salad with Goddess Dressing
You can hop to your local health food store or Trader Joe’s and buy some pre-made Goddess dressing, or you can basically add some tahini to a lemon vinaigrette. Toss raw broccoli florets in the dressing with some sesame seeds, chick peas, fresh parsley, chopped red pepper, any combination thereof or anything else you think would be yummy to toss in there.

Pan Sauteed Broccoli
There are as many versions of this as your imagination will allow. Simply stir-fry your broccoli with the desired flavorings to the desired doneness. Bob adds garlic and red pepper flakes to his; here are three of my favorites:

• Pan sauteed broccoli with fresh garlic and ginger — Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon minced ginger to your broccoli. Drizzle with toasted sesame oil before serving. Heck, even sprinkle with some sesame seeds if you like.
• Pan sauteed broccoli with sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts — Perhaps a little garlic is in order with this combination as well.
• Pan sauteed broccoli with whole cumin seed and turmeric — You’ll probably want a little ground coriander in this one too, or at least some chopped fresh cilantro just before serving.

Steamed Broccoli with lemon dressing
After you steam your broccoli, toss with one part olive oil to two parts lemon juice. Mix in a salt-free seasoning blend, some fresh basil, chopped fresh tomatoes or rosemary.

We also toss raw broccoli into salads or dip it into hummus or white bean dip. Our cooked broccoli ends up in stir-fries with chicken or salmon, and pasta dishes with veggies and sausage, pesto or balsamic vinaigrette. There is really no limit to the ways broccoli will show up in the meals at our house.

What’s your favorite way to use broccoli?

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Jun 01, 2009 @ 14:00 EST5EDT