How to cook frozen broccoli deliciously

Broccoli is a self-sufficient cabbage and one of the most elegant and vibrant sisters in its family. It contains a huge amount of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial substances. For example, broccoli is a champion in folic acid content, which is responsible for the production of serotonin, the hormone of happiness, and is essential for pregnant women. Broccoli is also rich in protein, vitamin C, B vitamins, phosphorus, carotene, and various antioxidants. You can buy a pack of frozen broccoli year-round at any supermarket.

It seems to be all advantages. However, many people hate broccoli or avoid it, considering it tasteless and «too healthy» in a negative context. Often, this attitude is the result of unsuccessful cooking. Rubber-like, overcooked, and completely flavorless broccoli is indeed a traumatic experience.

We decided to correct this situation and tell you how to deliciously cook frozen broccoli and what it pairs well with.

Preparing Frozen Broccoli

One of the advantages of frozen broccoli is that you can cook it right away without spending time thawing. Simply take the package out of the freezer, open it, and pour the contents into a pot.

You can also prepare in advance by moving the broccoli from the freezer to the fridge the day before cooking. Frozen broccoli is no different from thawed broccoli, except for the cooking time: frozen broccoli requires a bit longer thermal processing.

How to Boil Broccoli

To deliciously boil broccoli, pour water into a pot and place it on high heat. Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to a minimum. Add salt. Put the broccoli into the salted water and boil for no more than 4 minutes. Drain the cooked broccoli in a colander. “It’s important to preserve the bright color of broccoli, so it shouldn’t be boiled for too long. It’s best to put the florets into already boiling water and boil for no more than 2–3 minutes. You can add literally a teaspoon of rice vinegar to the water: it helps the cabbage retain its color. Rice vinegar is good because it’s the most neutral of all vinegars and won’t leave an aftertaste, like apple cider vinegar, for example. You can eat the cooked broccoli just like that.

Cooking Broccoli in a Pan

Heat a pan over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Put the broccoli in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and fry, stirring constantly, for 5–7 minutes. “You can slightly scorch the boiled broccoli in the pan. To do this, heat the pan over maximum heat and quickly fry the cabbage so that it remains juicy inside and forms a characteristic crust.”

Cooking Broccoli in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Finely chop a couple of garlic cloves. Line a baking dish with parchment paper. Place the broccoli in the dish. Sprinkle with garlic. Add salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Put it in the oven for 15 minutes. The cooked cabbage can be drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice, and sprinkled with grated Parmesan. “It’s best to always use the convection mode when cooking in the oven: it allows for more even and much faster cooking of anything.

Broccoli can be baked with fish: cod, tilapia, pangasius, salmon. Place the fish, scatter frozen broccoli around it, add your favorite seasonings. Put it in the preheated 180–200 degrees Celsius oven for 15–20 minutes.”