Broccoli Recipes: 14 Ideas For The Healthy Vegetable

Most of us know broccoli as a relatively boring side dish -- when it's just steamed or boiled, it can be bland and mushy, and surely nothing to get excited about. But there are different ways to cook broccoli that bring out its incredible flavors -- if you've ever tried roasted broccoli, for example, you'll never think of broccoli the same way again. It's nutty, robust and delicious. No time is better than the present to start experimenting with some new ways to cook broccoli, because it's in season and looking better than ever.

Even if you've always hated broccoli, these recipes may convince you otherwise. But don't even think about broccoli smothered with cheese sauce or in a casserole -- our recipes are much more complex (and better for you). Check out the slideshow below for the ideas.

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Comments

[Binders-Full-Of-Women]

02:56 PM on 12/04/2012

lightly steamed, fresh lemon squeeze and cracked black pepper.

or...

lightly steamed, high quality extra virgin olive oil drizzle.

[tendril]

09:36 AM on 05/18/2012

Dip in egg, dredge in bread crumbs,fry, top with cheese sauce...Wooooooo!

[HowlingVoyager]

05:39 PM on 05/16/2012

Bland and mushy? I don't know how the HuffPo chefs cook their broccoli, but in our kitchen mushy went the way of those old frozen broccoli 'bricks' you used to be able to get in the frozen food section - remember those? More chewy stem and leaf than actual broccoli flower.

Simply steaming it to fork tender and then serving with your choice of balsamic vinegar - or apple cider in a pinch - or just plain butter, it's a wonderful side dish. These recipes are all nice - especially the black bean and garlic - but many seem to be a way of hiding the vegetable instead of enhancing it. Stir fried, baked, broiled, if it's done right broccoli is always tasty and is NEVER mushy.

Yes, I am an unashamed broccoli fan.

[carterwhitson]

11:08 AM on 05/16/2012

Sorry, but none of these sound appetizing to me. Maybe if you left out the broccoli. . .

[ClevelandLib]

09:34 AM on 05/16/2012

Love roasting broccoli tossed in balsamic, evoo and topped w/grated parm. Cut them in half, blanche for a couple of minutes to partially cook, roast in 400 degree oven ten minutes, top w/grated parm, put back in oven until cheese is brown&bubbly. Yum!

[MadMaddie]

10:04 AM on 05/16/2012

That's nearly identical to how I make it, too!
I just add plenty of roasted garlic and red peppers.
So yummy, my lil ones gobble it up.
....and I'm a N.E. Ohioan, also... we're stuck with Kasich for now, but
let's pray Ohioans have enough sense to vote for Obama/ Sherrod Brown.

[ClevelandLib]

07:10 PM on 05/16/2012

Fingers crossed Maddie

[blurredmolly]

07:39 PM on 05/15/2012

little sea salt works for me. yum

[bash]

07:32 PM on 05/15/2012

Don't have the recipe and don't have a picture but if you Google Alice Water's Slow Cooked Broccoli you will find the best broccoli recipe anywhere. Loaded with garlic and slow cooked in a bath of olive oil and lemon until it has become a creamy sauce I have never served it to anyone, even the most ardent broccoli hater (my dad), who didn't eat seconds and maybe more. Can be used as a sauce, salad, spread or anything you want.

[ChefWithAKnife]

07:01 PM on 05/15/2012

One dish will change the world's opinion on all of this-Southern Broccoli/Rice/Cheese casserole. Oh, and the chopping broccoli skit with Sigouney Weaver and Dana Carvey on SNL. Classic.

[georgemorris61]

06:19 PM on 05/15/2012

I love Broccoli, alone in soup, in my casserole, we'll have a long affair because we were made for each other.

[RedRat]

02:33 PM on 05/15/2012

I am one of those strange people, I guess, who happens to like broccoli and even Brussels Sprouts. Broccoli is very good stir fried, throw in some beef (or whatever meat) slices and oyster sauce and you have a great side dish.

[lilkitten22]

04:09 PM on 05/15/2012

I agree, I love them

[nancestef]

12:31 PM on 05/15/2012

How about RAW with Ranch Dressing?

[RedRat]

02:34 PM on 05/15/2012

Yup, very good. Though it is better if you blanch the broccoli, some people cannot tolerate the fiber in broccoli, blanching can help break down some of those fibers.