This steamed broccoli recipe seems vibrant inexperienced and crisp-tender in simply 5 minutes. Get foolproof timing, doneness suggestions, and simple taste variations.
Steamed broccoli would possibly sound slightly boring, proper? However let me guarantee you: while you nail the timing, steamed broccoli is among the quickest, most satisfying facet dishes you may placed on a plate!
This recipe comes out vibrant inexperienced, crisp-tender, and prepared in about 5 minutes. It’s Alex and my go-to once we want a wholesome weeknight facet dish. It’s nice with a drizzle of olive oil and pinch of salt, however you may add feta, a squeeze of lemon, or a handful of Parmesan too. Right here’s easy methods to steam broccoli so it seems good each single time!
Why You’ll Love This Steamed Broccoli Recipe
- It’s tremendous fast. It takes about 10 minutes to place collectively, with a cook dinner time of simply 3 to five minutes.
- Crisp-tender texture each time. Observe the timing and also you’ll get vibrant inexperienced florets!
- A wholesome facet that pairs with every little thing. It’s nice with essential dishes, in a grain bowl, and even on a veggie tray.
Featured Reader Evaluations
“I wished a greater option to have broccoli, and this was it! We used pink onion with feta and a splash of daring EVOO. We can be having this once more quickly. Thanks!” -Jeff
“That is SO scrumptious and simple!!! I used flaky salt as I didn’t have kosher salt.” -C. Smith
The way to Steam Broccoli (Step-By-Step)
Steaming is one among my favourite methods to cook dinner contemporary broccoli. It’s quicker than roasting and retains the florets tender and filled with taste. The whole course of comes down to at least one precept: get the water boiling first, then don’t go away the pot. Right here’s easy methods to make good steamed broccoli utilizing a steamer basket.
Gear required: You’ll want a steamer basket or steamer pan to make this recipe. Right here’s a steamer basket you should purchase on-line.
Step 1. Lower the Broccoli
Chop the broccoli into bite-sized items. Be aware that thicker items and bigger florets will take barely longer than smaller and thinner, so attempt to make them as uniform as doable.
Step 2. Carry the Water to a Boil
Rule quantity one among steaming greens is that this: deliver the water to a boil first! Don’t be tempted to simply throw every little thing within the steamer and produce the water to a boil. You’ll boil the water in a saucepan or pot earlier than you add the veggies. If utilizing a steamer basket with out a deal with, add it to the pot now: the water floor needs to be proper underneath the basket.
Step 3. Steam for 3–5 Minutes
As soon as boiling, add the broccoli (within the steamer basket, if it has a deal with), and canopy the pot with a lid. Prepare dinner with the lid on 3 to 4 minutes till simply tender. Check a chunk with a fork and style to evaluate whether or not it’s accomplished. The cook dinner time can be totally different each time primarily based on the thickness and age of the broccoli (tender, younger broccoli and thinner broccoli takes much less time).
Alex and I like our broccoli on the crisp facet, in order that’s what you’ll get on this recipe. In case you’d prefer it extra tender, cook dinner 1 minute extra. Simply watch out to not cook dinner for much longer or the colour will instantly fade and it’ll turn into mushy and overcooked!
Step 4. Drain and Season
Rigorously take away the broccoli to a bowl. Toss with olive oil, kosher salt, feta cheese (optionally available), and pink onions. As famous within the recipe beneath, we wish to soak our pink onions in water for a couple of minutes, which helps to scale back onion breath and take away a little bit of the “spice”. You are able to do this when you cook dinner the broccoli: it solely wants a couple of minutes.
Seasoning Concepts
As soon as your broccoli is steamed, there are a lot of methods to season it. On this recipe, I added pink onion for a form and shade distinction and seasoned with olive oil and salt and pepper. Including feta cheese crumbles takes it from good to nice.
In case you don’t use this concept, there are actually a whole lot of option to season broccoli (and plenty of different broccoli recipes). Listed below are just a few extra concepts:
- Garlic butter + lemon: Soften butter with a few minced garlic cloves, then toss with the steamed broccoli and end with contemporary lemon juice.
- Parmesan + black pepper: Bathe the florets with grated Parmesan and a beneficiant crack of pepper.
- Sesame + soy sauce: Drizzle with toasted sesame oil, a splash of soy sauce, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds
- Toasted almonds + goat cheese: Slivered almonds add crunch, and creamy goat cheese rounds all of it out.
- Tahini + lemon: Drizzle my favourite tahini sauce excessive
- Spicy: Add a pinch of paprika or pink pepper flakes, or a small spoonful of jarred Calabrian chilis
What to Serve It With
Steamed broccoli is the type of facet dish you may construct weeknight dinners round. Listed below are a few of my favourite pairings:
- Seafood: Serve alongside sauteed shrimp for a simple, wholesome dinner, or subsequent to baked cod or blackened salmon.
- Hen: It’s a traditional with lemon garlic hen or home made hen nuggets (a success with youngsters).
- Pasta nights: Pair with lemon ricotta pasta, cacio e pepe, or garlic butter sauce pasta.
- Bowls: Add to a farro bowl, grain bowl, or salmon rice crunch bowl for added fiber and vitamin.
Storage & Reheating
Leftovers retailer properly hermetic within the fridge for as much as 4 days. To reheat, toss in a scorching skillet with a drizzle of olive oil, or a fast zap within the microwave additionally works.
Reheated steamed broccoli can be barely softer than contemporary, however nonetheless scrumptious. It’s also possible to eat it chilly and it’s simply pretty much as good.
Dietary Notes
This steamed broccoli recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the feta.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
In case you favor comfortable broccoli, you may steam it longer, like 5 to 7 minutes. The florets will lose their vibrant inexperienced shade and turn into very tender. For a softer outcome that also tastes nice, attempt my boiled broccoli recipe: the direct contact with water makes it much more tender.
All the time season after steaming. Including salt or oil earlier than cooking received’t assist the flavour penetrate, and oil within the steamer can create a multitude. Season as quickly because the broccoli comes out of the basket.
Sure! Place an inch of water in a pot, add the broccoli florets immediately, and canopy with a lid. The broccoli sitting simply above the water line will steam, whereas items touching the water can be barely extra tender.
Frozen broccoli works, although the feel can be a lot softer than contemporary broccoli. No have to thaw first. In case you like extra texture from frozen broccoli, my roasted frozen broccoli recipe is a good possibility. It’s also possible to take a look at my information on easy methods to cook dinner broccoli for extra strategies.
Steamed Broccoli Recipe
This steamed broccoli recipe seems vibrant inexperienced and crisp-tender in simply 5 minutes. Get foolproof timing, doneness suggestions, and simple taste variations.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Prepare dinner Time: 5 minutes
- Whole Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Class: Facet Dish
- Technique: Steamed
- Delicacies: Greens
Elements
- 1 1/2 kilos (2 massive heads) broccoli
- ¼ cup pink onions, thinly sliced (or substitute inexperienced onion)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup feta cheese (optionally available)
- Freshly floor black pepper
Directions
- Chop the broccoli into florets.
- If utilizing, thinly slice the onion. Place it in a bowl of water when you’re making the remainder of the recipe, then drain. (This helps to scale back onion breath and take away a number of the spicy chew. In case you use inexperienced onion, skip this step!)
- Place 1 ½ cups water right into a saucepan or pot. If utilizing a steamer basket with out a deal with, add it to the pot now: the water floor needs to be proper underneath the basket. Carry the water to a boil.
- As soon as boiling, add the broccoli (within the steamer basket, if it has a deal with). Steam with the lid on 3 to 4 minutes till simply tender, testing with a fork to evaluate whether or not it’s accomplished. We like our broccoli on the crisp facet: for those who’d prefer it extra tender, cook dinner 1 minute extra. Simply watch out to not cook dinner for much longer or the colour will instantly fade and will probably be overcooked!
- Rigorously take away the broccoli to a bowl. Toss with the olive oil, kosher salt, feta cheese (optionally available), and drained pink onions. High with freshly floor black pepper.
Notes
- For crisp broccoli: Pull at 3 minutes. For extra tender broccoli, steam as much as 5 minutes.
- Purple onion soak: Even a 3-minute soak makes a noticeable distinction in taste and reduces the uncooked chew.
- Cheese swap: Use goat cheese or shaved Parmesan as a substitute of feta.
- Vegan/dairy-free: Omit the feta.
- Soy sauce variation: For an Asian-inspired twist, swap olive oil for sesame oil (or end with a touch of toasted sesame oil) and add a sprinkle of soy sauce and sesame seeds.