Quick broccoli question

[iccanui]

Ok i cant cook. Im cooking impaired infact. I make a mean tuna fish with toast and a sick chicken marinated in italian dressing. But i wanna learn, a lot. Hence why i just subscribed finally to this show.


So to start off i want to make broccoli. The good stuff, thats crunchy still when you eat it. Any tips ?

thnx a bunch !

[tokenuser]

Cut off the bottoms.
Cut the head into bite size flowerettes.
Take the brocolli, rinse in water. DO NOT SHAKE OFF THE WATER. The water on the brocolli will help it steam.
Put into a microwave safe bowl. Cover with cling film. Leave a vent for steam to escape.
Nuke for 2.5 - 3 min.
Squeeze a little lemon juice onto it.
Done.

Dont add crappy cheese sauce. Spoils a good vegie.

I actually have a microwave "steamer" that does it better than this, but this is pretty fool proof. You might want to experiment with the time to get the right level of doneness.

[acidburn]

Sorry Token, I have to disagree. Don't use the microwave. It is easy, but take the time to cook on the stovetop and you'll be a better cook for the effort. More control over how the food turns out.

Do what Token says except, put the broccoli in a shallow pan on the stovetop on low heat. Maybe even add a little extra water in the bottom of the pan to help the steaming along. Cover for a few min. You'll know it's done when the broccoli looks bright green.

[tokenuser]

Sorry Token, I have to disagree. Don't use the microwave. It is easy, but take the time to cook on the stovetop and you'll be a better cook for the effort. More control over how the food turns out.

Do what Token says except, put the broccoli in a shallow pan on the stovetop on low heat. Maybe even add a little extra water in the bottom of the pan to help the steaming along. Cover for a few min. You'll know it's done when the broccoli looks bright green.I'd agree with you for everything except standalone vegies - nuking them maintains their nutrients. Not many people have a stove top steamer, so the minute they add water to a vegetable, half the goodnes and flavou of the vege is left in the water ... and people tend to overcook vegies on the stovetop.

Definately go with a microwave - but like all cooking equipment, you have to know your tools.

BTW - favourite vegie side dish ... swiss chard. Chop an onion, pan fry in a little butter and oil oil until translucent and soft. Throw in a huge bunc of rough chopped, rinsed swiss chard (silver beet for Aussies). Stir the onion into the chard, reduce heat, and let the whole lot sweat on the stove top for a couple of minutes. The leaves wilt down as they steam in their own juice, and the onion takes away the "iron" taste many people dislike.

[iccanui]

Well it worked out great, thnx for the advice. Ill try to stove too just to experiment i think. I think found a new snack though, it was quick, easy and clean. You were right about not adding anything to it, i melted some butter to use as a dip and i ended up dipping like 3 times then i kicked it to the curb. Tasted much better plain, much better then any broccli i had in a resturant too, bright green too, not washed out looking. I do have to experiment with cook times though, it came out softer then i wanted. Infact im gonna go make some right now, cook them a little less and see how it works out.


Thnx again guys :)

[tokenuser]

If its something you enjoy, try getting yourself a microwave steamer. These things are a three part system with a plastic bowl, a plastic steamer tray (basically another bowl with holes in it) that fits inside the first bowl, and a plastic lid that rests on top. You put a little water inside the bowl, put the vegies inside the steamer part, and the lid on top.

Easy side dish.

But dude ... brocolli as a SNACK?? Ewwwww.
Bet your mama must be proud :)

Another tasty side vegie - carrot sticks. Drizzle with a little honey, then place in microwave for 1.5 - 2.5 minutes. Honey melts, carrots cook. Yum.

[iccanui]

Carrots huh. Well i used to hate carrots when i was a kid, cooked carrots i mean, i love them raw. But then again i hated broccoli too so there ya go. Im gonna try that though, the honey sounds real good.

But check it out, one thing i figured out i can do is take chicken, soak it over night in low fat italian dressing. Cook it, chop it and put it in a tupper ware bin. Then later when im hungry i make a salad, put some of that chicken on it, then some broccoli on the side ala Tokenuser style and bam, its healthy, tasty and whats our 2 fav words ... quick and easy. Tried it for lunch today and it was great, with some pepper to boot. I think next batch im gonna add just a hint of honey.

[tokenuser]

Chicken ...

Take a chicken breast. Pound it between two pieces of ceran wrap until it is an even thickness (or buy chicken schnitzels - cos thats what you have just made). Brush it all over with ranch dressing (low/non fat is OK). Coat in bread crumbs (I often mix in parmesan cheese as well, fresh grated is best, out of a bag is OK, out of a can in bleah). I use panko breadcrumbs - they are a "fluffier", "crunchier" japanese bread crumb from the asian food section of larger super markets. Place on a cookie sheet, bake for 15-20 minutes on 375F. Eat them hot (love them in a hoagie roll with some swiss cheese and a little apple sauce), or let them cool, slice into strips and use with a salad.

The panko gives a deep fried stlye crunch to the coating, but being oven baked its pretty good. Ranch gives flavour.

[acidburn]

Well it worked out great, thnx for the advice. Ill try to stove too just to experiment i think. I think found a new snack though, it was quick, easy and clean. You were right about not adding anything to it, i melted some butter to use as a dip and i ended up dipping like 3 times then i kicked it to the curb. Tasted much better plain, much better then any broccli i had in a resturant too, bright green too, not washed out looking. I do have to experiment with cook times though, it came out softer then i wanted. Infact im gonna go make some right now, cook them a little less and see how it works out.


Thnx again guys :)

Try squeezing a lemon wedge over the broccoli for a little flavor after you steam it.

[iccanui]

wow, what a great idea acid. I'm gonna try that and a orange. I love oranges like you wouldn't believe.

Thnx guys. Gonna go shopping in few days and try some more stuff. Thinking of even trying one of the recipes for when pops comes over this weekend. I think he will have a heart attack :)

[tokenuser]

wow, what a great idea acid. I'm gonna try that and a orange. I love oranges like you wouldn't believe.Dont do it with OJ. You need the tartness and acidity of the lemon.

BTW - Its brocollini season. If you like brocolli, try brocollini - its even better.
BTW2 - Asaparagus is out as well. Melt some butter in a medium/high skillet, add in minced garlic, throw in asparagus. Stir fry for 3-5 minutes. Yum.

[hoodedrobin]

blanch them... easyest thing ever... google it

[bayareaking510]

Cut off the bottoms.
Cut the head into bite size flowerettes.
Take the brocolli, rinse in water. DO NOT SHAKE OFF THE WATER. The water on the brocolli will help it steam.
Put into a microwave safe bowl. Cover with cling film. Leave a vent for steam to escape.
Nuke for 2.5 - 3 min.
Squeeze a little lemon juice onto it.
Done.

Dont add crappy cheese sauce. Spoils a good vegie.

I actually have a microwave "steamer" that does it better than this, but this is pretty fool proof. You might want to experiment with the time to get the right level of doneness.

I'm trying this tomorrow! Thanks!

BTW, the first and only time I've ever tried to cook broccoli was a disaster! I filled it with like a liter of water and boiled it and after a few minutes later it smelt horrible and tasted like crap.

BTW, is there anything else you can add to make broccoli taste better?

[nelsonmaud]

george bush hates broccoli but i like it;)

[Catavarie]

Absolute best way to cook any crunchy vegetable is to start by cutting into bite size pieces. And don't throw away the stems they are full of crunchy goodness, as well as a large amount of the broccoli's nutrients. Place a pot of water on your stove and set to high. As the pot is heating up to a boil take a large bowl and fill half up with ice and then fill with water. Once water is boiling place the broccoli in the boiling water for approximately 30 seconds or until you see the broccoli turn a deep dark green, and then move directly to the ice water bowl and let them cool. This locks in the deep green color and crunch while not boiling out the nutritional value of the vegetable.

This also works great with carrots, peas, corn kernels, beans, cauliflower, or radishes.

Of course the fast and easy way is to buy a pack of frozen vegetables in the bag poke a few holes in the bag and place int he microwave for 30 seconds to a minute, this will perfectly steam the vegetables without them turning to mush.

[tokenuser]

The problem I have with blanching and then plunging into an ice bath is that I like my vegies hot. Ice bathes tend to cool things down (which they should, it is stopping the carry over cooking).

Also, you cook radishes? I have only ever had them raw in salads. I just learnt something new ... and the only time I eat corn is on the cob ... par boiled then put on the grill (BBQ) until it starts to brown - the high heat brings up the sweetness in the corn and adds a nice smokey flavour.

[skyz]

i do the microwave for 3 minutes too ~ i do everything in the microwave ~ but better than cooking brocolli is to make hummus and dip the flowerts raw other veggies too ~ hummus: chickpeas + sesame tahini in blender with olive oil and flash of lemon