Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s the perfect side dish that literally goes with anything! Broccoli is one of the vegetables I make regularly for my family. It’s an easy choice because it’s quite delicious, and everyone likes it (or at least tolerates it) - including The Picky Eater. There are all kinds of fancy ways to prepare this vegetable, such as roasting and stir-frying. Caramelized roasted broccoli is delicious, and it’s so convenient that you can even roast broccoli from frozen. But I often find that my favorite way to cook this vegetable is simply to steam it, as long as it remains tender-crisp.
Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make steamed broccoli. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need: Fresh broccoli: When I want to make my life super easy, I buy a bag of pre-washed broccoli florets. Fresh lemon juice: It’s better than bottled. Fresher-tasting and more flavorful. Olive oil: I love drizzling this tasty oil on top pf the broccoli. Extra-virgin tastes best. Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you might want to reduce the amount you use. Garlic powder: Make sure it’s fresh! A stale spice can easily ruin a dish.
Instructions
Steaming broccoli is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps: You start by placing the florets in a steamer basket. Steam them until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, quickly prepare the dressing by whisking together the remaining ingredients. The final step is to toss the cooked broccoli florets with the dressing and serve.
Expert tip
Timing this dish when it’s part of a complete meal can be challenging. Sometimes I find that the broccoli is ready, but the rest of the meal isn’t. It’s tempting to keep it warm by keeping it in the steaming basket, covered. But I think that’s a mistake. It’s better to enjoy crisp broccoli at room temperature than to suffer through mushy, limp, warm broccoli! So as soon as the broccoli is ready, remove it onto a platter. Dress it with the olive oil-lemon dressing, loosely cover with foil, and serve when the rest of the meal is ready. Unless you prefer broccoli with cheese sauce, in which case the broccoli should be the last thing you make. You want the cheese sauce warm and gooey.
Frequently asked questions
Serving suggestions
This is such a versatile side dish. It goes with anything, really. I often serve it with pork roast, with baked chicken breast, or with baked salmon. It’s also good with a couple of fried eggs for a tasty and filling meatless dinner.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, in the microwave on 50% power. They won’t be as good as when served fresh, though. Sometimes I just add them cold to a salad.
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Recipe card
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