4 Simple Broccoli Recipes: How to Cook With Broccoli

Broccoli is an edible bright green or purple plant with a flowering head, sturdy stalk, and nutrient-dense leaves. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family and is rich in nutrients like vitamin C and K, as well as carbohydrates, calcium, and protein. A head of broccoli can be broken down into broccoli florets and prepared in myriad ways including raw, roasted, steamed, sautéed, and even battered and fried.

You don't need to cook broccoli in order to enjoy it. Fresh, raw broccoli makes for a yummy, crunchy appetizer. It can also be chopped up for a broccoli salad or shredded into a broccoli slaw. It can be a side dish to compensate for an indulgent meal, simmered in a creamy broccoli cheese soup, steamed for a quick snack, puréed into a pasta sauce, roasted in the oven for a main course, or chopped into florets and added to stir fries. Fresh broccoli is best for dishes that call for a little crunch and color, but frozen broccoli is perfectly suitable for soups, casseroles, and slow cooker recipes.

Consider trying one of these recipes and discover your new favorite way to prepare broccoli.

1. 1. Simple roasted broccoli: Roasted broccoli is one of the best broccoli recipes for an easy, weeknight meal. Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a sharp chef's knife, divide the head of broccoli until you have two cups of broccoli florets. In a bowl, toss the broccoli florets with a tablespoon of olive oil and one minced garlic clove. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Arrange the broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet, then roast for twenty to thirty minutes, or until the tops start to brown. Finish with a sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes, shredded parmesan, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve over lentils, rice, quinoa, or your favorite grain.
2. 2. Broccoli pesto pasta: Fresh basil pesto is one of the more flavorful perks of summer. Lush, peppery basil leaves with garlicky heat, the nutty umami of Parmesan cheese, buttery pine nuts, and bright acidity from a fresh lemon are as perfect a combination as they come. There’s still plenty of room for a range of other supporting vegetables to get in on the action. Broccoli can take a standard pesto to the next level.
3. 3. Broccoli cheese soup: A warm and savory broccoli cheese soup is a comfort food dish that features broccoli and typically cheddar cheese. Its main ingredients, however, are a jumping-off point for other toppings and add-ins, such as multiple veggies, herbs, and proteins.
4. 4. Broccoli au gratin: Broccoli au gratin is a casserole dish that combines cheesy broccoli with white sauce for a crisp-tender veggie dish. Gratin is a culinary technique that involves topping a dish with panko breadcrumbs, cheese, or melted butter before baking it under a broiler to achieve a crispy, golden brown crust. While a strong cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese are classics for this dish, you can also use Gruyère cheese or Emmental cheese for a more sophisticated broccoli casserole.

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