Broccoli is a controversial vegetable: despite the fact that it is a vitamin treasury and a storehouse of trace elements, most residents of the post-Soviet space do not have warm feelings for it. The reason for this is banal - many simply do not know the true taste of such a product. But it has long been proven that it is entirely dependent on adherence to cooking technology. That is why it is important to know how to cook frozen broccoli, and what “goodies” should be made from it.

Do I need to defrost broccoli before cooking

Why is it about frozen cabbage? Yes, because in this form it is available year-round, which allows even winter to include it in the diet. However, do broccoli need to be thawed before cooking?

Doing this is not recommended for several reasons:

  1. Most vitamins will irretrievably disappear.
  2. Inflorescences will become shapeless, after cooking turned into porridge.

When striving to cook broccoli correctly, a bag of frozen vegetables is taken out of the freezer just before being dipped in boiling water.

If the pieces were frozen and stuck together, defrost them just enough to be able to separate the inflorescences.

How and how much to cook frozen broccoli in a pan

When choosing a pan for cooking asparagus, it is important to observe several rules:

  • We use large-capacity cookware so that the inflorescences touch each other less during cooking.
  • We pour just enough water so that the vegetables are only slightly covered with it.
  • Dip the cabbage in a slightly salted, boiling liquid.
  • Cook after boiling for 5 to 12 minutes. The duration of the boil depends on the size of the inflorescences: the larger they are, the longer the heat treatment takes.
  • Ready vegetable is extracted from boiling water. Remaining in it, it simply quickly "spreads".

How to cook broccoli in a pan in stages:

  1. Put the dishes with water on a strong fire, bring the liquid to a boil.
  2. Salt to taste (approximate proportions: 0.5 tsp. Salt per liter of water).
  3. We lay the frozen inflorescences (or the whole head).
  4. We wait for the boiling of water again, after which we set the fire to a minimum.
  5. Cook the cabbage until cooked the right amount of minutes.
  6. Using a slotted spoon we get the inflorescences, put them on a plate, pour them with melted butter or vegetable oil.

If you want to get a crispy vegetable that has perfectly retained its shape and rich color, wash the cooked broccoli with ice water.

Cook cabbage until cooked in a slow cooker

The use of such multifunctional technology greatly simplifies the cooking process.

You can cook frozen vegetable in it:

  • Steamed, which will maximize all the vitamins and minerals in broccoli.
  • In water, similar to cooking in a pan.

Features of steaming:

  1. Pour 2 to 3 glasses of water into the bowl.
  2. We install a special basket for steaming.
  3. We spread in it the right amount of frozen broccoli.
  4. We select the “Steam” mode and set the program for 10 minutes.
  5. After this time, leave the vegetables in the slow cooker for another 5 minutes, so that they “reach” to readiness.
  6. Turn off the equipment, get the inflorescences and, if desired, season with oil / sauce.

Read also:how to cook broccoli

Cooking method in a double boiler

You can cook frozen broccoli using the same technology in a double boiler. This method is optimal for people who follow a diet or adhere to the principles of PP and HLS. It also takes a minimum of time.

Sequencing:

  1. We boil 1.5 liters of water in a double boiler.
  2. We lay the cabbage inflorescences to the upper level.
  3. Cook for 10 minutes.
  4. If desired, sprinkle the vegetable with ice water and season with your favorite spices and sauces (soy sauce, garlic, vegetable oil, bitter pepper, etc.).

Note! If broccoli is frozen with a whole head, without separation into individual inflorescences, the cooking time for a couple is increased by 3 - 5 minutes.

Microwave cooking

You can also cook broccoli in the microwave, the process takes only 3 minutes. But you should choose this option only in extreme cases - when time is running out, or there is no other equipment at hand (for example, in the office). This approach is due to the fact that the vegetable cooked in the microwave oven is dry, compared with steamed or in a pan.

How to cook frozen broccoli in the microwave:

  1. Get the right amount of inflorescences from the freezer, put in a dish suitable for use in the microwave. If not, you can pour the vegetables into a regular plastic bag.
  2. Salt the product to taste, add 1 tbsp. l water.
  3. Cover the container, tie the bag tightly.
  4. Set the timer for 3 minutes at maximum power equipment. Time can be varied, starting from your taste preferences. The longer the cabbage will cook, the softer it will turn out in the end.
  5. Put the finished dish on a plate, season with sauce or use as a semi-finished product for other recipes.

What can be cooked from boiled broccoli

From a variety of options you can simply get lost. It can be cutlets, pancakes, omelets, soups, all kinds of salads (for example, with shrimp, chicken breast, tomatoes, Feta, pine nuts, orange, etc.), casseroles and pies. Asparagus cabbage is added to pilaf and pasta, fried in batter and breadcrumbs, prepared from it sandwich pasta and soufflé, used as the basis for stews and various snacks. You can always cook broccoli deliciously, starting from your gastronomic predilections.

Next, we offer 3 proven recipes based on this healthy vegetable. Their main advantages are the speed of preparation (maximum 20 minutes), minimum effort, as well as originality and nutrition.

Mashed soup

The undisputed leader among broccoli dishes. Cooking time: ∼ 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

  • a pound of boiled broccoli;
  • 2 large potatoes;
  • 1 onion;
  • 1 carrot;
  • salt, garlic, cream - to taste;
  • butter for frying;
  • crackers, greens - for decoration when serving.

Step by step recipe:

  1. Cut the potatoes into cubes, salt, cook until tender in a minimum amount of water.
  2. Grated carrots and diced onions are passaged in a frying pan in butter.
  3. Mix the prepared vegetables and beat until smooth with a blender.
  4. Add cream, adjusting the desired density of the soup.
  5. If necessary, add it. If you like garlic, add it, previously crushing in the garlic.
  6. Bring the soup to a boil.
  7. Serve, sprinkled with crackers and garnished with sprigs of parsley, mint leaves or other favorite herbs.

Cream can be replaced with cream cheese with creamy taste. We add it to the potatoes at the cooking stage.

Fritata

Broccoli blends perfectly with the egg. The finished dish turns out bright, with an unusual delicate taste.

Cooking time: ∼10 minutes.

Ingredients:

  • 3 eggs;
  • 100 - 150 g of boiled cabbage inflorescences;
  • 1 onion (it is better to take a sweet one);
  • 1 pepper (choose red or bright orange);
  • salt, paprika, ground black pepper - to taste;
  • olive + butter for frying;
  • greens for decoration.

Step by step recipe:

  1. We cut vegetables: broccoli - into slices, onions - into small cubes or half rings, pepper - into thin strips.
  2. Melt the butter in olive, fry the vegetable mixture for 4 minutes over medium heat.
  3. Beat eggs, add the specified spices to taste, salt.
  4. Fill the vegetables with a whipped mixture, cover with a lid, leave for 3 - 5 minutes until the eggs harden.
  5. Gently with a spatula, fold the frit tattoos in half (by analogy with a book), transfer to a plate, sprinkle with your favorite greens.

Breadcrumb Broccoli

This is the simplest recipe for delicious broccoli. At the same time, cabbage is fragrant and crispy.

Cooking time: ∼15 minutes.

Ingredients:

  • boiled broccoli - 500 g;
  • breadcrumbs - 40 g;
  • butter - 30 - 50 g.

Step by step recipe:

  1. We cut large inflorescences in half, leave small ones intact.
  2. Generously roll the cabbage in breadcrumbs.
  3. Fry it until golden brown over medium heat in pre-melted butter for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
  4. Serve as an independent dish or as a side dish for meat.

Cooking tips for housewives

Try freezing broccoli yourself. So you will be sure of the quality and freshness of the product, get the opportunity to disassemble it into inflorescences of a convenient size and pack in portions of the right size.

For this:

  1. Carefully choose cabbage for freezing. It should be fresh, with a bright, uniform color, without interspersing rot and an unpleasant odor.
  2. Wash the vegetable, remove unnecessary leaves, the hard part of the leg, divide the fruit into inflorescences.
  3. Place the latter for half an hour in a cool saline solution - this will get rid of insect larvae that may be inside the cabbage.
  4. Rinse the florets thoroughly under the tap.
  5. Dip them in boiling water for a couple of minutes, and then immediately dip them into a container of cold water and ice cubes.
  6. Wait for the inflorescences to dry completely, put the broccoli in sealed bags and put in the freezer.

The secrets of experienced chefs collected in the article will tell you how to cook frozen broccoli so that it turns out delicious, while preserving the whole variety of useful substances.

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