Tips and Recipes
for Brookfield Farm Crops








 

 

 

 

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)

Broccoli began as a wild growing native of the Mediterranean region. The Italians gave broccoli its name; brocco means "sprout" and the Latin brachium means "arm" or "branch". The vegetable only became popular in the U.S. after World War II, when returning GIs, who had eaten broccoli abroad, created a demand. Broccoli is an especially good source of vitamin A, C, calcium, potassium, and iron. Broccoli is also considered to aid in fighting cancer due to an enzyme called sulforaphane.

 

Storage Tips:

  • Broccoli is best used within a couple of days. Store in plastic bag in the hydrator drawer of the refrigerator.

  • For long-term storage, broccoli freezes well. Cut into florets and slice stems. Blanch for 2-4 minutes, rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process, drain, and place in an airtight container such as a freezer bag.

Recipes:

Bang Bang (Broccoli) Chicken (from: Extending the Table...A World Community Cookbook)

1 whole chicken breast
1 tspn ginger root
1 clove garlic
1 scallion

In a wok or dep pan stirfry chicken briefly in 1-2 tbsp oil, until cooked through.

Add:
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp red wine vinegar

Simmer 5 minutes.

Add:
2 cups broccoli florettes and peeled stalks
1 cucumber, sliced

Cook until vegetables are crisp and tender - about 7 minutes. Serve over rice


Curried Broccoli Soup (The City Gardener's Cookbook)

1 tbsp butter
¾ cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
¾ tsp curry powder
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 cups vegetable stock
4 cups chopped broccoli
1 ½ cups cubed potatoes
1 cup milk

In soup kettle, melt butter and sauté onions and garlic until tender. Add curry powder, pepper, stock, and 2/3 cup water; bring to boil. Stir in broccoli and potatoes. When mixture returns to boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Puree soup in batches in food processor. Return puree to soup kettle, stir in milk and heat slowly. 6 servings.

Tofu Broccoli Cashew Peanut Madness (from: Rob Summerbell, MACSAC member)

1 tbsp butter/oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 lb. Herbed tofu, cubed
2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
½-3/4 cup peanut butter, preferably crunchy
2-3 tsp lemon juice
¼ tsp cumin
cayenne to taste
1 medium head broccoli, peeled & chopped
hot, cooked brown rice
handful of roasted cashews, chopped

Heat butter or oil in skillet; add onion and garlic; saute until soft. Add tofu and 1 tbsp tamari; sauté until brown. Remove from pan. In same pan, mix peanut butter, lemon juice, remaining 1 tbsp tamari, cumin, and cayenne. Thin with up to 1 cup of water to obtain gravy-like texture. Stir in tofu mixture. Steam broccoli. Serve sauce over broccoli and brown rice, topped with cashews. 4 servings.


 

 
 
5/22/01