Have you ever walked down the produce aisle in the grocery store, gazed at those little green trees that we call broccoli, and thought to yourself ‘What’s up with these?’.
Well, pushing broccoli’s stinky reputation aside, this bullied veggie has so many hidden talents (and flavors) trapped in its tiny Q-tipesk buds. Grouped in the cruciferous vegetable family—along with cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, etc—the little green tree is high in sulfur-containing compounds, giving it a notably spicy or bitter taste that can be used to its advantage by pairing it with nutty or citrusy flavors. And if that fact hasn’t roped you in to the wonderful world of green, then maybe broccoli’s life-saving powers will.
This little green tree machine has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, improve eye and gut health, boost immune function, as well as our detox enzymes. Not to mention, a recent study shows that eating broccoli could reduce damages to our health by air pollution. But you can find all of this information about how broccoli is “rich in a compound called sulforaphane/ Good for your body, heart good for your brain” in a quick run-down by reggae singer Macka B.
So what should you do with the funky green stem-plant with tiny granules on top? Put it in your smoothies, juices, salads, pastas, and Buddha bowls. Put it on your pizza or flatbread, in your sushi rolls or pita wraps. You can steam it, sauté it, roast it, or grill it.
One of my favorite ways to incorporate this green into my life is by throwing it into a dip to bring for a dinner party or potluck.
Broccoli Dip
Ingredients
Instructions
Place a pot with an inch of water on the stove over medium heat and bring it to a boil
Cut the broccoli head into florets, and put them in the pot of boiling water
Boil/steam the broccoli florets for 3-5 minutes (or until bright green and you can easily poke through the florets with a fork)
Drain water, and cool for 2-5 minutes
Add broccoli, lemon juice, and yogurt to a blender and whizz together to combine. Add additional scoops of yogurt for a creamier consistency
Add salt and pepper to taste
Serve with chips (my favorite is with veggie chips)
Broccoli Steak
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200 °C on grill mode
Cut the broccoli stem so that it is flat across (has a stand)
Stand the broccoli upright, and cut 1-2 thick slices from the top of the head through to the bottom of the stem, creating large, thick ‘steaks’
Place the steaks on a baking tray
Coat the broccoli in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic salt/powder if using
Place the tray in the oven for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through
Serve on its own
Super Sesame Broccoli
Ingredients
Instructions
Cut broccoli into florets
Heat medium-large frying pan on stove over medium-low heat
Add 1-2 tablespoons of sesame oil and wait for pan to heat up. This should take approximately one minute
Add florets to the pan, and cook uncovered for three minutes, stirring occasionally
Add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and stir broccoli, and cook for an additional two minutes
Add 3 tablespoons of water, and cook for three minutes, or until evaporated
Add the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil, salt, pepper, chilli flakes and sesame seeds, and stir all together. The broccoli should be slightly crunchy on the ends, and have a brown coating from sesame oil
Serve and garnish with more sesame seeds
These salty, nutty, and bitter flavors perfectly complement your broccoli. If you’re looking to make your body and your tastebuds happy, don’t just walk past the little green trees in the supermarket: pick some up and try them.