8 Ways To Cook Broccoli
Broccoli is a vegetable that is eaten a lot in the Netherlands. We eat the still closed flower buds of broccoli. The trunk is also edible, but it is not often cooked in the Netherlands and unfortunately thrown away. Broccoli can be cooked in different ways for different uses. This blog tells you 8 ways to cook broccoli.
8 Ways To Cook Broccoli:
# | Method | Expensive |
---|---|---|
1 | cooking al dente | 5-8 minutes |
2 | Cooking in the microwave | 3-4 minutes |
3 | Blanch | 3-4 minutes |
4 | for baby snack | 10 minutes |
5 | for cheese fondue | 2-3 minutes |
6 | for stir-frying | 2-3 minutes |
7 | for wok cooking | 2-3 minutes |
8 | in broth | 5-8 minutes |
– cooking times are guidelines and depend on the size of the broccoli –
Broccoli Cooking al dente
Cooking broccoli al dente is the way to cook broccoli when we are not cooking it further. The broccoli is then eaten after cooking.
Broccoli Cleaning And Cutting
Before we can start cooking the broccoli, we first have to clean and cut the broccoli.
Broccoli Cooking
Now that the broccoli has been cut and washed, we can cook the broccoli al dente. To do this, go through the following steps:
- Place a pan with plenty of water on the heat source and bring the water to a boil. You can add salt if you want.
- When the water boils, put the broccoli in the pan and then bring the water back to the boil.
- Cooking the broccoli al dente takes 5-8 minutes. After 5 minutes, pierce the broccoli. If the fork goes in easily, the broccoli is al dente.
- Then drain the broccoli in a colander and serve the broccoli.
You can also season the broccoli. We have written a blog about this ‘ Which Herbs For Broccoli? ‘. These herbs really complete your dish!
Cooking Broccoli In Microwave
The microwave is not only used for heating. We can cook broccoli very well in the microwave. To do this, go through the following steps:
- Clean the broccoli and cut the broccoli into florets as shown in the video above. Try to cut equally sized pieces.
- Place the broccoli florets in a microwaveable dish.
- Add 3-4 tablespoons of water to the broccoli in the microwave dish.
- Cover the bowl and place the bowl in the microwave.
- Set the microwave to the highest setting and the timer to 3 to 4 minutes and press start.
- When the microwave is ready, pierce the broccoli with a fork. If it goes in easily, the broccoli is ready. If not, cook the broccoli for another minute.
- Serve the broccoli on a platter with tasty herbs.
Broccoli Blanching
We blanch broccoli if we want to freeze it or prepare it for further cooking.
Blanching is briefly heating the vegetable and then quickly cooling it again. Boiling kills any bacteria present and rapid cooling stops the cooking process.
The following steps are taken for blanching:
- We need to clean and cut the broccoli first. This is explained in the video above.
- Then place a pan with plenty of water on the heat source and bring the water to a boil.
- At the same time, prepare a pan with cold water, supplemented with ice cubes. If you don’t have ice cubes, put your colander in the sink.
- When the water boils, the broccoli goes into the pan.
- Bring the water to a boil again and cook the broccoli for 2-3 minutes.
- Drain the pan in the colander, then place the broccoli in the pan of ice water. Don’t have ice water? Then rinse the broccoli for a long time under cold running water.
- The broccoli is now ready for further processing.
Cooking Broccoli For Baby Snack
Cooking broccoli for baby food takes longer than cooking for al dente. Follow these steps for broccoli for a baby snack:
- Wash and cut the broccoli as explained in the video above.
- Place a pan with plenty of water on the heat source and bring the water to a boil.
- When the water boils, the broccoli can be placed in the pan. Bring the water to a boil again. Boil the broccoli for your baby snack for 10 minutes.
- Then drain the broccoli in a colander.
- The broccoli goes from the colander into the bowl of your mixer.
- Add a knob of vegetable butter for smoothness.
- For the baby snack, use 2/3 part broccoli and 1/3 part potato.
- If your baby is sensitive to taste, you can use a little more potato and a little less broccoli.
Cooking Broccoli For Cheese Fondue
Cooking the broccoli for cheese fondue doesn’t have to take long. The broccoli does not have to be very cooked, because the broccoli will continue to cook in the fondue pot.
- Cut and wash the broccoli as explained in the video above.
- Place a pan with plenty of water on the heat source and bring the water to a boil.
- When it boils, the broccoli can be placed in the pan. Bring the water back to a boil.
- When the broccoli is boiling, drain the broccoli in the colander.
- Rinse the broccoli with cold running water for a long time.
- Pat the broccoli dry with kitchen paper and you can now further process the broccoli for the fondue.
Cooking Broccoli For Stir Fry
Broccoli stir-fry is delicious. It gives you the opportunity to be creative. But first we have to cook broccoli before we stir fry. It won’t take long, but it should happen.
- Cut and clean the broccoli as shown in the video above.
- Place a pan of water on the heat source and bring the water to a boil.
- When the water boils, the broccoli goes into the water. Bring the water to a boil again.
- After boiling for 2 minutes, the broccoli is ready and we drain it in a colander.
- Rinse the broccoli now with cold water for later processing or use it right away in your stir-fry dish.
In our blog ‘Which Herbs For Broccoli?’ you will find delicious spice combinations that go well with stir-frying.
Cooking Broccoli For Woks
Wok is different from stir-frying. Stir-frying is cooking broccoli briefly at a high temperature. Stir-frying is cooking broccoli with other vegetables at a medium temperature.
- Watch the video above for cleaning and cutting broccoli.
- Place a pan with plenty of water on the heat source and bring the water to a boil.
- When the water boils, the broccoli can be placed in the pan. Bring the water back to a boil.
- After 2 minutes the broccoli is ready and can be drained in the colander.
- Rinse the broccoli with cold water if you are going to process the broccoli later or put the broccoli in the wok immediately after draining and get to work.
Cooking Broccoli In Broth
Broccoli does not only have to be cooked in water, this can also be done in stock. This immediately gives the broccoli a spicy taste. How are we going to cook broccoli in broth?
- Cut and wash the broccoli as shown in the video above.
- Place a pan of water on the heat source and bring the water to a boil.
- Put a stock cube in the pan and make sure it is well dissolved.
- Then put the broccoli in the pan and bring the water to the boil again.
- Cooking broccoli in stock takes 5-8 minutes. Check if the broccoli is cooked by piercing it with a fork. If the fork goes in easily, the broccoli is done.
- Then drain the broccoli and serve it on a platter.
Here are the 8 ways to cook broccoli. We have also written a blog about stir-frying, stir-frying, steaming and other preparation options for broccoli ‘ How to Prepare Broccoli? ‘. If you have broccoli about it, read our blog ‘ How to Store Broccoli? ‘. That way you will have tasty broccoli next time.