These Aren't Your Mother's Broccoli Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for Tenderstem broccoli? ›

Substitutes for tenderstem broccoli – Substitute fresh broccoli florets, broccoli stems, or broccoli rabe for a broccoli flavour.

Blanching broccoli ensures that your broccoli is nicely cooked but also still has a nice crunch to it. It goes well with just about anything! This 10 minutes side dish is the perfect addition to any weeknight meal.

1. Drop Broccolini into a pan of salted boiling water. 2. Refresh in a bowl of iced water until cold.

You can soak the broccoli in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes or more to help it regain its firmness. Another method is to slice off a portion of the stem and place the remaining stem and crown in a pot with a cup of water. Store it in the fridge overnight, and the broccoli will be crisp and fresh in the morning.

Broccolini is more commonly known in the UK and Ireland as the branded Tenderstem® broccoli – it even has its own website. In some countries it's also known as Asparation.

Tenderstem^® broccoli is just like broccoli, but better. First produced in Japan in 1993, Tenderstem^® broccoli is a hybrid of Chinese kale and broccoli. It blends the best of Chinese kale's leafy, long stems and broccoli's tightly bunched florets to create an even better vegetable for your dinner.

Food safety and quality

Exceptions: Diced or cut onions, green onions, leeks and peppers do not need to be blanched before preserving.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food and safety basics states cooked food can be left at room temperature up to two hours. If the temperature outside (or inside your house) is 90°F or above, you should cut that time in half.

While boiled broccoli is often soggy, steamed broccoli is characteristically crisp-tender. Plus, when you boil broccoli, some of the nutrients leach into the boiling water. You don't have to worry about that with steaming. Your steamed broccoli will be a great meal-prep building block because it's like a blank canvas.

The easiest way to rid broccoli rabe of some of its bitter flavor is by blanching it first. Just a quick dip in boiling water extracts enough of the bitterness and jumpstarts the cooking.

Is broccolini OK to eat when it turns yellow? ›

An internet search shows the yellow flowers indicate the broccolini has aged, but is still safe to eat.

White blister is a plant disease that affects brassica crops and is caused by the fungus-like organism Albugo candida. There's no risk to consumers, as the fungus only affects the growth and appearance of brassica plants.

The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.

Blanching is a cooking process that removes the harsh, bitter taste of raw broccoli while setting its bright green color. You start by boiling raw broccoli florets for just a few minutes, then plunging the florets into an ice bath.

This is a bad practice, however, and you should avoid adding baking soda when boiling any type of vegetable. It has various unwelcome effects, such as softening the vegetable, altering the vegetable's flavor, destroying thiamine content, and hastening the loss of vitamin C.

Looking similar to broccoli, this hybrid vegetable goes by many names, including asparation, Aspabroc, broccolette, broccoletti, Italian sprouting broccoli, and sweet baby broccoli. Bimi, broccolini, and Tenderstem are trademarked names for the hybrid. It's primarily grown in Mexico, California, and Arizona.

First: Yes, they are different! Broccolini is actually a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale. It has longer stems. The flavor has a bit more bite — slightly bitter, slightly peppery.

Tenderstem^® Purple has a more mellow and buttery flavour with a distinct darker coloured stem, like the popular purple sprouting broccoli, but much more versatile, as well as being quicker and easier to cook.

Tenderstem® broccoli, also known as broccolini, is a versatile and nutritious vegetable that adds vibrant color and a delicious crunch to any dish.