Steamed, Sautéed and Seasoned Broccoli
Broccoli is a vegetable I learnt to eat and enjoy much later in life. Earlier in my childhood in India, this vegetable was not known or available. Surprisingly now this vegetable is more popular at our home than cauliflower. It was my father’s favorite vegetable and when he read about the health benefits of Brocolli having potassium, calcium, Vit C and lowering risk of cancer, reducing cholesterol, and blood pressure and improving insulin sensitivity, it raked up more points to make it more often;) The recipe below is very simple to enjoy the vegetable in its full potential with little more flavor from seasoning.
Author: Birjis Adeni Rashed
Cuisine: Indian
Recipe type: Side
Ingredients
- Broccoli- 2 small heads, wash, cut in florets
- Oil
- Dry Red chillies-3
- Curry Leaves (Karyapak) - 2 twigs
- Mustard seeds-1 tsp
- Split Black Lentils (Urad dal) - 2 tblsp.
- Split Green Lentils( Mung Dal)- 1 tblsp
- Red Chili Flakes – 1 tsp (optional for more spiciness)
- Salt- to taste
Instructions
- Cut the broccoli head into florets and rinse with water. In a steamer steam this florets for few mins. I like to add salt to my steaming water too. Make sure you don’t over steam to avoid florets becoming soft and pulpy.
- In a pan warm some oil, add mustard seeds and curry leaves till they sputter and crackle. Break the dry red chilies into multiple pieces and also add to the oil. Next add the split black lentils (when split and husk removed they are white in color!) and split green lentils and make this seasoning or tadka ready before you add the steamed broccoli to this pan. Sautee the broccoli with seasoning and sprinkled salt for a few minutes. Toss around the broccoli till the flavor of the seasoning gets absorbed. If you like it spicier add crushed red chili flakes too.
- This broccoli recipe is a great side dish to any meal and a healthy and flavorful vegetable.
