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Quick Broccoli Side Dishes




Source of Recipe


Cooks Illustrated


Recipe Introduction


Tossing broccoli with a potent dressing or sauce delivers maximum impact with minimum effort.

he challenge: As vegetable side dishes go, broccoli is certainly appealing. It’s available year-round and generally holds up well both in supermarkets and at home in the refrigerator. The challenge for many cooks, though, is figuring out how to flavor broccoli.
The solution: For instant flavor without fuss, uncooked dressings and sauces can be tossed with steamed broccoli. Like all brassicas (think cabbage and brussels sprouts), broccoli has a strong flavor, so equally strong dressings—flavored with chiles, ginger, garlic, citrus juices, and spices—are best. The four sauce recipes that follow offer some good examples.







List of Ingredients




MASTER RECIPE FOR STEAMED BROCCOLI

Serves 4

If you prefer, follow the instructions for rapidly trimming broccoli: Place the head of broccoli upside down on a work surface. Use a large, sharp knife to quickly trim off the florets very close to their heads. To trim the stalks, stand them up on the cutting board and square them off with a large, sharp knife. Then, proceed directly to steaming. While the broccoli cooks, prepare one of the sauces below.

1 1/2 pounds broccoli (about 1 medium bunch), rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Separate florets from stalks at points where floret stems meet stalks. Cut off woody bottoms of stalks; trim away 1/8-inch of outer peel. Cut stalk in half lengthwise and then into bite-sized pieces. If desired, separate florets into smaller sections and peel stems; arrange in steamer insert or basket.

2. Bring about 1-inch water to boil in deep, wide pot. Lower insert or basket with broccoli into pot so it rests above water; cover and simmer until just tender, 4 1/2 to 5 minutes. Remove broccoli; continue with one of the following recipes.

BROCCOLI WITH SPICY BALSAMIC DRESSING AND BLACK OLIVES

Serves 4

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 medium garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 recipe Steamed Broccoli
12 large black olives, such as Kalamata or Gaeta, pitted and quartered

1. Whisk first five ingredients in small bowl; whisk in oil until dressing is smooth.

2. Gently toss steamed broccoli with dressing and olives. Adjust seasonings; serve hot or at room temperature.

BROCCOLI WITH ORANGE-GINGER DRESSING AND WALNUTS

Serves 4

1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon grated zest and 3 tablespoons juice from 1 large orange
1 medium garlic clove, peeled
1 piece (about 1 inch) fresh gingerroot, peeled
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 recipe Steamed Broccoli
2 medium scallions, white and green parts, sliced thin
2/3 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped coarse

1. Process first seven ingredients in workbowl of food processor or blender, scraping down sides as needed, until dressing is smooth.

2. Gently toss steamed broccoli with dressing, scallions, and walnuts. Adjust seasonings; serve hot or at room temperature.




Recipe



BROCCOLI WITH LIME-CUMIN DRESSING

Serves 4

Caribbean flavors characterize this easy dressing, and residual heat from the broccoli tames the raw red onion.

1 teaspoon grated zest and 1 tablespoon juice from 1 large lime
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
Hot red pepper sauce
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 recipe Steamed Broccoli

1. Whisk first four ingredients (pepper sauce to taste) in small bowl. Whisk in oil until dressing is smooth; stir in onion.

2. Gently toss steamed broccoli with dressing. Adjust seasonings; serve hot or at room temperature.

BROCCOLI WITH SPANISH GREEN HERB SAUCE

Serves 4

The fresh herbs in this sauce will be pureed, so leaving a few small stems is fine.

2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup tightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup tightly packed fresh parsley leaves
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon juice from 1 small lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 recipe Steamed Broccoli

1. Process first six ingredients in workbowl of food processor or blender, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until sauce is smooth.

2. Gently toss steamed broccoli with sauce. Adjust seasonings; serve hot or at room temperature.