This steamed broccoli recipe seems vivid inexperienced and crisp-tender in simply 5 minutes. Get foolproof timing, doneness suggestions, and simple taste variations.
Steamed broccoli may sound just a little boring, proper? However let me guarantee you: once you nail the timing, steamed broccoli is without doubt one of the quickest, most satisfying aspect dishes you may placed on a plate!
This recipe comes out vivid inexperienced, crisp-tender, and prepared in about 5 minutes. It’s Alex and my go-to after we want a wholesome weeknight aspect 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 steam broccoli so it seems excellent 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 vivid inexperienced florets!
- A wholesome aspect that pairs with every little thing. It’s nice with principal dishes, in a grain bowl, and even on a veggie tray.
Featured Reader Evaluations
“I needed a greater strategy to have broccoli, and this was it! We used pink onion with feta and a splash of daring EVOO. We shall 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 right 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. Your complete course of comes down to 1 precept: get the water boiling first, then don’t go away the pot. Right here’s make excellent 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. Observe that thicker items and bigger florets will take barely longer than smaller and thinner, so attempt to make them as uniform as attainable.
Step 2. Convey the Water to a Boil
Rule quantity one among steaming greens is that this: carry the water to a boil first! Don’t be tempted to only 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 and not using 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. Cook dinner with the lid on 3 to 4 minutes till simply tender. Check a bit with a fork and style to evaluate whether or not it’s finished. The cook dinner time shall be completely different each time based mostly 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 aspect, in order that’s what you’ll get on this recipe. If you happen to’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 (elective), and pink onions. As famous within the recipe beneath, we prefer to soak our pink onions in water for a couple of minutes, which helps to cut 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 various 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.
If you happen to don’t use this concept, there are actually a whole lot of strategy to season broccoli (and many different broccoli recipes). Listed here are a number of 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 sort of aspect dish you may construct weeknight dinners round. Listed here 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.
- Rooster: It’s a basic with lemon garlic rooster or do-it-yourself rooster nuggets (successful with children).
- 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 nicely 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 shall be barely softer than contemporary, however nonetheless scrumptious. You too can eat it chilly and it’s simply nearly as good.
Dietary Notes
This steamed broccoli recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the feta.
Incessantly Requested Questions
If you happen to favor comfortable broccoli, you may steam it longer, like 5 to 7 minutes. The florets will lose their vivid 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.
At all times season after steaming. Including salt or oil earlier than cooking gained’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 shall be barely extra tender.
Frozen broccoli works, although the feel shall be a lot softer than contemporary broccoli. No must thaw first. If you happen to like extra texture from frozen broccoli, my roasted frozen broccoli recipe is a good choice. You too can try my information on cook dinner broccoli for extra strategies.
Steamed Broccoli Recipe
This steamed broccoli recipe seems vivid inexperienced and crisp-tender in simply 5 minutes. Get foolproof timing, doneness suggestions, and simple taste variations.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook dinner Time: 5 minutes
- Complete Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Class: Aspect Dish
- Technique: Steamed
- Delicacies: Greens
Substances
- 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 (elective)
- 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 cut back onion breath and take away a number of the spicy chunk. If you happen to use inexperienced onion, skip this step!)
- Place 1 ½ cups water right into a saucepan or pot. If utilizing a steamer basket and not using a deal with, add it to the pot now: the water floor needs to be proper underneath the basket. Convey 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 finished. We like our broccoli on the crisp aspect: 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 will likely be overcooked!
- Rigorously take away the broccoli to a bowl. Toss with the olive oil, kosher salt, feta cheese (elective), 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.
- Pink onion soak: Even a 3-minute soak makes a noticeable distinction in taste and reduces the uncooked chunk.
- Cheese swap: Use goat cheese or shaved Parmesan as an alternative 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.
