Broccoli is one of the most versatile vegetables in the kitchen, also thanks to its not too strong flavor. If you are curious about how to cook broccoli and the different uses to which it lends itself in the kitchen, you just have to find out in this article.
Broccoli, belonging to the family of cruciferous vegetables, are vegetables also known as broccoli cabbage. Broccoli is a typical winter vegetable that is widely used in our diet, thanks to its pleasant taste and its countless beneficial properties. They are renamed for their high concentration of vitamin C, but they also contain B1 and B2, mineral salts, and fiber.
Among the other most important substances there is sulforaphane, with a high antioxidant and anti-tumor power. It is recommended to introduce them in the diet of those who suffer from high cholesterol and those who follow a slimming diet, because they have a lot of fibers, few calories and a high satiating power. Let’s find out together how to choose them and how to cook them at their best.
Prepation stage
Fresh broccoli should be firm to the touch, with compact and brightly colored inflorescences. It is good to check among the florets that there are no dark spots, synonymous of the broccoli being old or rotten. Once you have made sure broccoli is fresh, take care of cleaning it.
Cut off the florets of the broccoli, the larger stalks are best cut with a knife to aid cooking. Throw away the larger outer leaves, while the smaller ones wash them under running water along with the clumps of broccoli. For better cleaning, let them soak in water for a while and then rub them with your hands under running water. Let’s now move on to see in detail how to cook broccoli in the microwave.
How to cook fresh broccoli in the microwave?
Microwave steamed broccoli is a basic preparation for cooking broccoli in order to preserve its flavor and nutritional characteristics.
Microwave steamed broccoli prepared in this way is an excellent base for the preparation of first courses, main courses or side dishes, but it can also be enjoyed simply seasoned with oil, salt and garlic slices.
What goes well with broccoli
There are many vegetables that you can add to broccoli for your preparations, whether they are side dishes, soups or vegetable patties, we can recommend some: potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, tomatoes, and legumes, especially chickpeas and beans.
Other foods that go well with the taste of broccoli are fish, for example tuna, salmon and anchovies or cheese, especially cottage cheese. But also dried fruits such as hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts, almonds, raisins. In this regard we can suggest an excellent recipe with which to dress the pasta, just blend the boiled broccoli with pecorino cheese, ricotta cheese, a drizzle of olive oil and a few kernels of walnuts.
To enhance the flavor of broccoli and to limit the abdominal bloating that it can cause, we can advise you to use dill, but also herbs such as mint, paprika and marjoram, while among the spices best match nutmeg, turmeric and black pepper.
How to preserve broccoli?
Broccoli should be stored in the refrigerator in plastic food bags, where it will keep for about 4 days. Once cooked you can store them in the refrigerator until the next day, inside an airtight container.
Curiosity Broccoli is one of the foods that can be eaten raw, even sliced thinly and seasoned with lemon, salt and extra virgin olive oil. Some people used to eat them this way before meals and it was a way to allow them to better stand the wine drunk during banquets.
