Broccoli is one of the most popular vegetables across the world. What's not to love about this cruciferous plant?
Broccoli is rich in vitamins, iron, fiber, sulforaphane, and many other key nutrients.
Even better, there are practically endless options for preparing it, so almost anyone can find a broccoli dish they love.
10 Broccoli Recipes to Try
Meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike can enjoy cooking with fresh broccoli. This versatile vegetable can be added to all styles of cuisine.
Delicious Entrees
1. Brussels Sprout and Broccoli Pizza
Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser, and this recipe keeps it simple by using store-bought dough and a few basic ingredients.
Broccoli and Brussels sprouts both add heartiness and good nutrition to this vegetarian pizza.
Cut the Brussels sprouts and broccoli into small pieces and blanch them before caramelizing them in butter.
Stretch out your pizza dough, drizzle it with oil, and sprinkle on your vegetables and cheese.
Bake the pizza for 10 to 15 minutes at 500 degrees.
2. Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
This beef and broccoli stir fry is full of protein, fiber, and iron and makes a great dinner or meal-prepped lunch.
The whole meal can be prepared in one skillet, making for easy clean-up. In addition to the broccoli, you can toss in your other favorite veggies, too.
Mix together the ingredients for your stir fry sauce.
Saute the broccoli for five minutes, remove it from the pan, and cook the beef on high heat for two minutes.
Combine the broccoli, beef, and sauce and cook on low until the sauce thickens.
3. Cheesy Quiche With Broccoli and Bacon
Quiche is one of the best savory dishes for breakfast or brunch. This recipe calls for bacon, but you can simply leave it out to turn this into a vegetarian-friendly meal.
You can easily make this quiche ahead of time and store it in the freezer, so it's a great option for potlucks, holiday gatherings, or busy mornings.
Fry the bacon over medium heat.
Remove the bacon and cook the veggies in the leftover grease. Chop up the bacon and add it back into the pan.
Mix together eggs, milk, and cheese.
Add the cheese, bacon, veggies, and egg mixture into the pie crust, and bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes.
Satisfying Sides
4. Broccoli Burrata Crostini
This broccoli burrata crostini is a delicious appetizer or side dish.
The crunchy crostini, creamy cheese, and tender roasted broccoli all combine into the perfect blend of textures and flavors.
Pomegranate seeds add another pop of color and flavor.
Slice a baguette, coat with olive oil and garlic, and toast in the oven at 375 degrees.
Place seasoned broccoli on a baking sheet and broil for three minutes before tossing it with butter, lemon juice, and garlic.
Top your crostini with the burrata cheese, broccoli, and pomegranate seeds.
5. Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan
Roasted broccoli is a classic side that goes with practically any protein.
You can top your broccoli with any seasonings you like, but if you're looking for inspiration, try this Parmesan roasted broccoli recipe.
It uses breadcrumbs to create an extra crispy texture alongside the Parmesan, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Mix together broccoli, olive oil, cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasonings.
Spread the broccoli on a baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes at 425 degrees, flipping halfway through.
6. Spicy Charred Broccoli
This charred broccoli recipe is another excellent side dish, especially if you like a little bit of kick to your food. The broccoli is topped with chili crunch, a spicy Asian sauce.
This recipe also includes toasted hazelnuts, which add extra flavor and texture. Everything cooks quickly, so you can put this recipe together in 15 minutes or less.
Roast the hazelnuts on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for about eight minutes, then chop them up and mix them with chili crunch, cheese, and olive oil.
Cook the broccoli on high heat in olive oil in a skillet until it starts to char, then flip the pieces over.
Add lemon juice to the broccoli while it's cooking, and drizzle the hazelnut sauce over it right before serving.
7. Broccoli Apple Salad
You can add broccoli to practically any salad, but we love how this recipe features it as a main ingredient.
Blanched broccoli, sliced apples, shallots, and candied walnuts all come together for a flavorful and nutritious dish.
You can serve it as a side dish with dinner or prepare it for an easy packed lunch at work.
Blanch the broccoli by boiling it for about 10 seconds before submerging it in cold water.
Combine the broccoli, chopped apples, red onion, shallots, and chives in a large bowl.
Mix together the dressing of garlic, almond butter, lemon juice, olive oil, and honey.
Vegan Dishes
8. Creamy Broccoli Soup With Coconut Milk
Broccoli soup is a delightfully cozy meal for a fall or winter day, and this vegan recipe uses coconut milk for lots of plant-based richness.
It's topped with pan-fried tofu for additional protein and toasted almonds, scallions, and chives for flavor.
Stir together coconut cream, garlic, onions, and chiles.
Add coconut milk, broccoli, and spinach, and simmer for a few minutes.
Puree the soup with an immersion blender, and top with tofu cubes, almonds, and scallions.
9. Broccoli Farro Salad
This broccoli farro salad is packed full of flavor from the dill, onion, and lemon. The broccoli is a great green source of protein, and the farro adds a satisfying heartiness.
Make a big batch of this salad so you can enjoy leftovers the next day. As the flavors continue to mingle, it gets even more delicious.
Combine the farro and broccoli in a bowl with the lemon juice, olive oil, and salt.
Slice the cucumber, radish, and onions and add them all to the broccoli.
10. Vegan Broccoli Pasta
This one-pot vegan pasta recipe is simple, easy, and comforting.
The vegan Parmesan cheese and coconut cream make the meal rich and filling, and the broccoli adds plenty of protein and fiber.
Boil your pasta, and add the broccoli to the water when the pasta has just a few minutes left to cook.
Mix together the sauce made of lemon juice, olive oil, agave, pasta water, vegan cheese, and seasonings.
Drain the pasta and broccoli, add the sauce, and pour the coconut cream over the meal.
Top with as much extra vegan Parmesan as you want.
How to Choose, Prep, and Store Broccoli
It's hard to go wrong when preparing broccoli, but choosing and storing the vegetable correctly will help enhance your recipes.
We're happy to share our best tips for selecting, preparing, and storing fresh broccoli.
Selecting Fresh Broccoli at the Supermarket
Look for broccoli that's uniform in color with dark green leaves. Any discolored or soft spots are a sign that the broccoli is past peak freshness.
The florets should be tightly packed and firm to the touch. If the stem of the broccoli feels soft or rubbery, it's starting to age.
Avoid broccoli that has yellow flowers as this is another sign the vegetable is past its prime.
Storing Broccoli to Maximize Its Lifespan
Broccoli lasts about a week in the fridge when stored properly.
When exposed to ethylene gas, broccoli will start to break down rapidly.
Ethylene gas is produced by many fruits, including melons, bananas, and apples. Avoid storing broccoli in tight spaces near these fruits.
The best way to store broccoli is to keep it in its plastic bag in the back of your refrigerator.
Here, it will keep cool while also staying away from ethylene-producing fruits.
Alternatively, you can store broccoli in a glass jar with the stem submerged in an inch of water.
Broccoli freezes very well, too. You can freeze cut broccoli by placing it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and putting it in the freezer for a few hours.
Then, transfer the broccoli to a freezer bag for long-term storage.
Broccoli Prep Tips
You can prepare broccoli in different ways depending on the recipe you're following. Some meals call for larger pieces than others.
In most cases, you'll want to slice the floret stems at their base. Then, you'll slice the larger florets in half.
Broccoli stalks are versatile, too. Even if the recipe only calls for broccoli florets, you could save the stalk to make coleslaw or to cut into slivers and dip into your favorite dressing.
Healthy Cooking in the Heart of Winter
Broccoli is the perfect vegetable for fall and winter cooking. It fits well in stir fries, salads, and soups, and it stands on its own as a healthy side dish.
Hitchcock Farms provides fresh broccoli year-round. From our farms to your kitchen, we're committed to quality and sustainability.
FAQ
What is the best cooking method for broccoli?
There is no one "best" way to cook broccoli. You can enjoy it steamed, boiled, sauteed, or roasted depending on your preferences and what recipe you're following.
What is the healthiest way to eat broccoli?
Broccoli contains lots of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, iron, and protein.
Some research shows that blanching broccoli gives it the most powerful health benefits because it preserves the nutrients while activating certain compounds that may reduce your risk of cancer.
Can broccoli be eaten raw?
Yes, broccoli is often eaten raw in salads, and it's a popular addition to veggie platters.
However, some people find that eating too much raw broccoli causes gastrointestinal discomfort.
