The exotic vegetable broccoli has been making waves. It's highly nutritious and filled with extreme goodness. But, how can you really eat it? Worry not, we'll help you with some easy to make dishes. Happy cooking.
I. Broccoli Bake: Health and cheese, taste and veggies – the broccoli bake is the perfect recipe that blends taste and nutrition. Oh, and the creamy flavour it has! We bet you'd lick your fingers.
Ingredients:
- 500 gm broccoli florets
- 300 ml milk
- 250 gm cheddar cheese
- 3 Tbsp plain flour or maida
- A pinch of nutmeg
- 2 slices stale white bread
- 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- Black pepper
- Salt
- 1 green chilli, finely chopped
Steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F / 200˚C.
2. Take the floret and boil them in salted water until they become tender. This will take about 7-10 minutes.
3. Take a pan and boil the milk. Now, add wheat keeping the mixture to a simmer. Add 75% of the total cheese at this stage.
4. Now, to the cheese sauce mixture, add nutmeg and garlic.
5. Put the broccoli in a microwave-safe dish. Pour the cheese sauce over it. Also, take some bread and break it into small pieces with hand and spread it all over along with the whatever cheese is left. Also, sprinkle over spices - black pepper, salt, and chilli. Pour some olive oil over it. This will help in making the bread crispy.
6. Bake for half an hour. A golden brown colour should appear.
7. Serve with a smile!
II. Broccoli Salad with French Dressing: We know what you think about salad. But this one is here to change your mind. Super delicious and a powerhouse of nutrients, this salad comes with french dressing. Can you ask for more?
Ingredients:
- 2 large broccoli florets, stalk included
- 1 medium carrot
- 4 celery sticks
- 1 sweet red bell pepper
- Ingredients for French Dressing:
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 Tbsp mild mustard
- 1/4 Tbsp salt
- 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 Tbsp sugar
Steps:
1. Take the pepper and remove the seeds. Cut it into small squares. Take the carrot and grate it after peeling.
2. Take the broccoli and slice it through the stems. This way you'll get the thinly-sliced stalks and chopped tops. Remove the outer layers and chop finely the celery.
3. Mix all these together. Now add the French Dressing and mix once again.
4. Refrigerate for half an hour. Serve on a layer of finely-shredded lettuce.
For French Dressing:
1. Take the ingredients and place them in a screw-top jar. Shake well.
2. Refrigerate before serving. Also, shake well one more time before using.
III. Chatpati Broccoli: This is what happens when broccoli meets the masala. Made with pepper and tamarind, this savoury dish can be your breakfast or evening snack. Suit yourself.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 250 gm small broccoli-cuts
- 4-5 curry leaves
- 2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/8 tsp asafoetida powder
- 3-4 whole red pepper
- 50 gm ginger-shredded fine
- 1 tsp cumin
- 20 gm tamarind-soaked in 1 cup water and strained
- 2 tsp garlic-chopped fine
- 2 tsp salt or to taste
Steps:
1. Take a pan and heat oil. Fry red pepper, curry leaves, cumin, asafoetida, and mustard.
2. When spluttering sounds start coming from the seeds, it's time to add garlic and ginger. Keep sautéing until a light brown colour develops.
3. Now, add the broccoli and sauté over for some time on high flame. Lower the heat after some time. Cover the lid and cook till it becomes a bit biteable.
4. Add salt and tamarind. Let the whole mixture boil. It is ready to serve now.
IV. Broccoli Pasta: What is quick, easy and cheesy? The Broccoli Pasta, of course. With the goodness of Broccoli and oodles of parmesan cheese, you know you're looking at a worldly dish!
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup pasta, boiled
- 1/2 tsp Red chillies, chopped
- 2 tsp Garlic, chopped
- 1/2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 Cup Broccoli
- Oil
- To taste Salt and pepper
Steps:
1. Take a pan and heat the oil. Sauté garlic in it.
2. Now, add some red chillies. Add pepper and salt as well.
3. Put broccoli in too. Cook for 2 minutes.
4. Now, add boiled pasta into it. Add parmesan cheese as well.
5. Cook for about two to three minutes. Serve it hot.
V. Wasabi and Broccoli Soup: Let's drizzle the French soup with spices! Extremely flavourful, this soup is infused with the Asian touch of wasabi. Amazing, isn't it?
Ingredients:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 tsp wasabi
- 1/2 garlic, chopped fine
- Olive oil
- Some cheese
- 1 bowl broccoli, chopped
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 apple, chopped
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 potato, chopped into small cubes
- Red chilly flakes
Steps:
1. Take a pan and fry the onions in olive oil. Put some garlic in too.
2. Put the broccoli in there as well.
3. To get the broccoli cooked, add some water to it.
4. In halfway between the process, add some cheese and wasabi as well.
5. Mix thoroughly. Add the cream.
6. Blend this mixture in a mixer. Keep it aside for some time.
7. Take another pan and fry the potatoes in olive oil until a brown colour appears.
8. After that drain all of the residual oil and sprinkle salt on potatoes. Keep it aside for some time.
9. Now, prepare for the apple compote. Take another pan and heat some butter. Now, add just a pinch of sugar and put the chopped apple in it.
10. Heat it on a slow flame until the apple becomes all brown and gooey.
11. Take a bowl and pour the whole soup prepared in it. Season with red chilly flakes. Garnish with the fried potatoes as well.
12. Serve it with the apple syrup.
Which dish appealed to you the most?
