Broccoli is not very popular and it seems to be the Cinderella of veggies, but it could be the belle of the ball at your table! Even if you use frozen broccoli, you can still make it the star of your meal. You just have to know the right way to cook it!
Broccoli is the unluckiest veggie in the world. So healthy, full of nutrients, and still nobody wants to eat it! Well, almost nobody! Its bad reputation has two reasons. One: our mothers, grandmothers, and school cafeteria staff didn’t know how to make it taste good. And two: we were forced to eat it when we were children.
Give up on the idea that broccoli isn’t tasty! It’s all about the way you cook it! It’s true that steamed broccoli can be boring, but if you learn how to be creative in the kitchen, in time you’ll be able to tame it.
5 ways to cook tasty meals with frozen broccoli
1. Roasted
You can always make roasted broccoli. It’s easy and it won’t take much time! This tasty combo of balsamic vinegar and roasted broccoli is sure to be a favorite for the whole family. Thaw the broccoli in the microwave and then throw out the excess water. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Meanwhile, mix some balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and grated parmesan in a bowl. Put the broccoli in the same bowl and mix everything with your hands, then put it on a large baking tray, in one layer. Roast for 20 minutes or until the edges begin to singe and blacken. Remove it from the oven and let it cool just a little. Before serving it, sprinkle some more parmesan on it.
If you want, you can also sprinkle some chili flakes, for a spicy taste! Want even more? Try to combine it with almond flakes or dip it in hummus or a lighter sauce, like yogurt sauce.
2. Bites
Thaw the frozen broccoli and boil it in salted water for a few minutes, until it softens. Finely dice the boiled broccoli. We suggest you avoid a food processor because you risk turning the broccoli into a puree. Combine it with one or two eggs, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped parsley, and panko. If you want the broccoli bites to be sweeter, shred one or two onions and squeeze out the excess water before mixing it with the other ingredients. Don’t forget about salt and pepper!
Shape them like tots or balls. Shaping the tots might seem hard at first, but after a few tries, you should get the hang of it!
3. Soup
When you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen, but crave something hearty and warm, a broccoli soup may be the answer! It takes only 30 minutes and you’ll have a big bowl of steamy soup!
cBoil some chopped onion, carrots, potatoes, thawed broccoli, 1-2 garlic cloves, and salt. When they are softened, add butter, paprika powder, nutmeg, and shredded cheddar cheese. Blend them all together and serve the soup! You can also experiment with other veggies and spices because cooking means unlimited options!
4. As a topping
Did you ever imagine that broccoli can be a topping for other dishes? Like for mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower! If you need to sneak frozen broccoli into your children’s meal, this is the easiest way: mashed potato topped with broccoli and cheese! Cook the skin-on potatoes in the oven, cut them in half lengthwise, then scoop out the interior and mash it. Add salt, pepper, buttermilk, chives, and shredded cheese. Put the mashed potatoes back into the shells and top them with steamed broccoli and more cheese. Bake for about 10 minutes, or just until the cheese melts. You can make the same thing with mashed cauliflower, only you need some ramekins or other small cups for baking. Also, broccoli goes well as a topping for your pizza.
5. Batter-fried
Nothing beats the crispy crunch and delicate flavor of batter-fried-anything! If you like batter-fried vegetables, broccoli is a good choice for you! The batter gives it extra flavor!
Make the most basic batter in the world: mix flour with sparkling water and some salt. Add one egg if you feel like it. You can enrich the mixture with any of the spices that you like. Set aside to rest for 30 minutes before using it. Meanwhile, thaw the frozen broccoli and squeeze out the excess water. Dip each broccoli stalk in batter and deep fry it in a large quantity of hot vegetable oil. Batter-fried broccoli is crunchy, deeply flavorful, and entirely addictive.
Since frozen broccoli is available year-round, cook it anytime! Serve it as a snack, an appetizer, or as a side dish. Once you learn how to make it tastier, you’ll never have enough!
